In Albuquerque, New Mexico, three women have been diagnosed with HIV after receiving “vampire facial” procedures at an unlicensed medical spa. According to federal health officials, this is the first documented instance of people contracting HIV through a cosmetic procedure involving needles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted an investigation from 2018 to 2023, revealing that the clinic in question had reused disposable equipment meant for single use.
The “vampire facial,” which is a platelet-rich plasma microneedling procedure, also uses needles to inject plasma into the face for skin rejuvenation. Many popular cosmetic procedures, such as Botox injections and fillers, involve the use of needles as well. While HIV transmission from contaminated blood through unsterile injections is a known risk, this report marks the first time that infections related to cosmetic services have been documented.
In 2018, the New Mexico Department of Health initiated an investigation into the spa after a woman in her 40s tested positive for HIV without any known risk factors. She reported exposure to needles during a procedure at the clinic that spring. The spa closed in the fall of 2018, and the owner was prosecuted for practicing medicine without a license.
The CDC report emphasized the importance of enforcing infection control practices at businesses offering cosmetic procedures with needles. It also highlighted the need for improved record-keeping, as poor documentation slowed down the investigation. Businesses providing these services should maintain better records to facilitate contact with clients if necessary in the future.