The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that three women diagnosed with HIV after getting “vampire facial” procedures at an unlicensed New Mexico medical spa are believed to be the first documented cases of people contracting the virus through a cosmetic procedure using needles. The investigation into the clinic from 2018 through 2023 revealed that disposable equipment intended for one-time use was apparently reused, leading to the probable infections.
Although HIV transmission from contaminated blood through unsterile injection is a well-known risk, this is the first documentation of infections involving cosmetic services. Many popular cosmetic treatments involve the use of needles, including Botox, fillers, tattoos, and the “vampire facial” procedure, which involves injecting plasma into the face using tiny needles to rejuvenate the skin. The New Mexico Department of Health began investigating the spa in 2018 after a woman tested positive for HIV with no known risk factors, linking her exposure to needles through the procedure at the clinic.
As a result of the investigation, the spa was closed in 2018, and its owner was prosecuted for practicing medicine without a license. The report highlighted the importance of requiring infection control practices at businesses offering cosmetic procedures that involve needles and emphasized the need for better record-keeping to facilitate contacting clients if needed in the future.