Spa's 'Vampire Facials' May Have Had Scary Consequence

"Vampire facials," in which a patient's blood is drawn and then injected back into their face after patelet-rich plasma is isolated, have resulted in real-life terror for the clients of a New Mexico spa. The state Department of Health says people who received the facials or other treatments involving injections at the VIP Spa in Albuquerque are at risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis, or other blood-borne diseases, NPR reports. People treated at the spa between May and June this year have been urged to come forward for free testing as soon as possible.

The health department says it investigated the clinic—which had a sign on the door this week saying it was closed for a "family emergency"—and discovered unsafe practices that could spread blood-borne infections. "We undertook the inspection because a client ... developed an infection that may have resulted from a procedure performed at the spa," epidemiologist Michael Landen tells KRQE. "It made me sick to my stomach right away," says a former customer. "Just everything starts coming to mind. The regrets, not knowing that you trusted someone so much." (More spas stories.)