Dr. Nerina Wilkinson + Associates is the house of aesthetic couture and skin science, located in the prestigious V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa.

It’s a whole experience just being there.
Besides the amazing treatments on offer, being in their light pink and rose gold space is transformative! As you enter, you’re welcomed with the most beautiful scent. There are artworks, coffee table books, and interior decor to admire, fabulous skincare products on offer and sparkling ocean views.

Why was I there? I was having my first signature 3D MD PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) facial , also known as the advanced Dr Vampire Facial 🧛‍♀️

What is it?

Simply put… Your own blood is drawn and separated in a centrifuge so that your own plasma can be concentrated. It’s then injected back into the skin to rejuvenate cells, promote new collagen growth and reduce the signs of age. I’d heard amazing things about it, but as it’s also been hyped on social media, I wasn’t 100% sure if it really was as beneficial as the claims. I was feeling confident though.

What’s the difference between Dr Nerina Wilkinson + Associates 3D MD PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) facial and a normal Vampire Facial?

Their customized 3D MD PRP treatment enhances the traditional Vampire facial by incorporating sterile medical-grade hyaluronic acid and a specially selected active ingredient tailored to your skin’s unique needs. This combination, injected with the platelet-rich plasma, results in superior skin rejuvenation.
The PRP and active ingredients are also introduced into the skin in two ways, first by an Aesthetic Doctor using a mesotherapy technique, and then by a Skincare Specialist using a microneedling technique.

What makes their Signature 3D PRP MD Bespoke method so sought after is the fact that they target 3 areas of the skin in one treatment session. 

1. The dermis: to deeply stimulate the renewal of the support structure of the skin. 
2. The deep epidermis: to provide essential nutrients to the skin. 
3. The superficial epidermis: to provide essential peptides to leave it feeling plump and hydrated. 

The Benefits:

It repairs the skin barrier, which I need for my Rosacea. It reduces pore size, acne scars, improves fine lines and wrinkles, improves skin tone and pigmentation. It stimulates the the production of essential structural components that support good skin health, such as elastin, collagen, and hyaluronic acid. This improves the skin in just 6 weeks, with results that can last for months.

My Experience:

I was a little nervous to begin. Even though it’s a minimally-invasive cosmetic procedure, I was apprehensive on what to expect and if it would be painful.

I was instantly put at ease by being in the excellent hands of Senior Skincare Specialist, Kim van Zyl and Dr. Marisa Heyns.

I changed into a soft robe, lay down on a bed and Kim cleansed my face and applied a topical anaesthetic / numbing cream. I was also supplied headphones and listened to calming Binaural beats. Another beautiful experience.

Dr. Heyns came in to draw some blood, which was quick and painless and I carried on listening to the calming music. My blood was taken away to run through a centrifuge to separate each cellular component, removing the platelets from the plasma. 

My platelet rich plasma was ready to be injected into my skin, which releases powerful growth factors that activate fibroblasts in the skin. That produces collagen and Hyaluronic acid. Yes please!

I experienced a little discomfort, not from the needle, but from the feeling of the platelets doing the work, like a slight zing but honestly, it wasn’t unbearable at all. I was expecting worse. 

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Next, more of the plasma was micro needled into my skin and this didn’t hurt at all. 

I had a hydrating mask applied and put under red light therapy which promotes wound healing and tissue repair, enjoying those Binaural beats again.

A tinted SPF was applied after, which also masked some of the redness and I was on my way! No down time and slightly pinkish the next day!

The whole treatment took about 2 hours from the time I walked in, to the time I was in my car driving home.

They say that you notice results 6 weeks after the treatment, so I put it in my diary to remind myself to look closely at my skin. I’m glad I had, because I don’t know about you, but time seems to race and before I know it months have passed.

What was remarkable to me, was that I started getting a lot of compliments on my skin around the 5 week mark, and it was only when I got the calender reminder a week later, that all the compliments made sense.

Dr. Heyns and Kim, thank you for taking such good care of me and making me feel so special, whilst also taking such wonderful care of my skin.

If you’d like any extra information about this you can click here: Dr Nerina Wilkinson + Associates 3D MD PRP Facial

To book your consult click here and don’t forget to mention that I sent you 🙂