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Clients who received ‘vampire facial’ at spa are urged to be tested for HIV

Clients who received ‘vampire facial’ at spa are urged to be tested for HIV
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      WEBVTT TESTED FOR HIV OR HEPATITIS B OR C. >> THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT BECAUSE THE OWNER HADN’T HAD A BUSINESS LICENSE -- SINCE 2013, SHE WENT UNNOTICED. THE STATE LICENSING DEPARTMENT SAID THEY HAD BEEN KEEPING AN EYE ON THE SPOT AND RELEASE BETWEEN 2011 AND 2013, UNTIL SHE FELT SOON SHE FAILS TO RENEW HER BUSINESS LICENSE. >> WE USE IT AS A MONETARY MECHANISM, NOT ONLY FOR LICENSING PURPOSES BUT ALSO BECAUSE IT ACTIVATES OUR INSPECTION PROGRAM. REPORTER: DURING THAT TIME, THE COSMETOLOGIST WAS DOING THINGS LIKE HAIR AND MAKEUP, BUT THEN EXPANDED TO MORE SERIOUS PROCEDURES. >> YOU CHANGE THE SCOPE WHEN YOU GET INTO THE DEEPER LAYERS OF THE SKIN AND THEN YOU BEGIN TO ACTUALLY ACTIVATE OTHER REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIALLY OF BLOOD PATHOGENS AND OTHER THINGS REPORTER: THAT PROCEDURE, THE VAMPIRE FACIAL. IT USES THE CLIENT’S OWN BLOOD AND THEN IT’S RE-INSERTED WITH MICRO-NEEDLING TO GIVE A PERSON A YOUTHFUL LOOK. DOCTOR DEAN BAIR IS LICENSED TO PERFORM BLOOD FACIALS AND SAYS IT NEEDS TO BE PERFORMED BY A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. >> ANY SORT OF CROSS CONTAMINATION WITH SOMEONE ELSE’S BLOOD PRESENTS THE RISK OF THINGS LIKE HEPATITIS, HIV. REPORTER: RUIZ GRADUATED FROM LAS CRUCES BEAUTY COLLEGE WITH HER COSMETOLOGY DEGREE WAS NOT AND WAS NOT CERTIFIED TO DO THE FACIAL. STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY ITS WHY IT IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE BUSINESS DOWN EARLIER THIS WEEK. RUIZ STILL HAS HER COSMETOLOGY LICENSE, SO SHE COULD WORK SOMEPLACE ELSE, BUT OFFICIALS SAY FUTURE EMPLOYERS ACROSS THE STAGE CAN SEE HER HISTORY OF PAYCHECK OR RECORD. HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE STILL INVESTIGATING RUIZ, IF THE D.A. FINDS SHE WAS PRACTICING ILLEGALLY, SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH A CRIMINAL MISDEMEANOR. FOR TARGET 7, KAY DIMANCHE, KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS. DOUG: IN ORDER TO SUSPEND THE LICE
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      Clients who received ‘vampire facial’ at spa are urged to be tested for HIV
      The state health department said it is not aware of any new blood-borne infections after the department announced the closure of an Albuquerque spa being investigated for concerning practices. VIP Spa, located on 809 Tijeras Avenue in Albuquerque, is closed indefinitely.The New Mexico Department of Health, along with the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department and the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists Board, inspected the spa on Friday after a client developed an unspecified infection that may have resulted from a procedure done there, according to a news release from the health department. The health department is now urging any client who received a "vampire facial" or other injection-related procedure at the spa -- specifically, in May or June of this year -- to get tested for HIV and hepatitis B and C. New Mexico Department of Health epidemiologist Dr. Michael Landen said that time frame is when the client's infection may have occurred. Landen said one red flag upon inspecting the spa was the storage, handling and disposal of needles. "That's concerning, because if needles aren't handled appropriately, you could potentially increase the risk of a blood-borne infection," Landen said.The spa offered beauty treatments, including the vampire facial a procedure that extracts platelets from a client's own blood that is then injected into the face through micro-needling. The facial purportedly produces a more youthful-looking complexion. The owner of VIP Spa told Action 7 News she uses only disposable needles."I open them in front of my clients every time they come," owner Luly Ruiz said.Ruiz said she is cooperating with state health officials and encourages any clients who are concerned to take advantage of the free testing. "I want everybody to be sure, everybody to be happy and to know they don't have anything," Ruiz said.The health department is offering free testing and counseling for concerned clients at the Midtown Public Health Office, located on 2400 Wellesley Ave. NE in Albuquerque. Several clients have come to the clinic for the free testing, according to Landen. The office is open this week through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call 505-670-8615.What is a vampire facial?A vampire facial is when a small amount of a client's blood is drawn and then spun to extract its plasma. That plasma is then injected into the face with a needle.The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department said the owner of VIP Spa did not have a licensed professional to draw blood. Only a medical professional can do that.

      The state health department said it is not aware of any new blood-borne infections after the department announced the closure of an Albuquerque spa being investigated for concerning practices.

      VIP Spa, located on 809 Tijeras Avenue in Albuquerque, is closed indefinitely.

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      The New Mexico Department of Health, along with the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department and the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists Board, inspected the spa on Friday after a client developed an unspecified infection that may have resulted from a procedure done there, according to a news release from the health department.

      The health department is now urging any client who received a "vampire facial" or other injection-related procedure at the spa -- specifically, in May or June of this year -- to get tested for HIV and hepatitis B and C.

      New Mexico Department of Health epidemiologist Dr. Michael Landen said that time frame is when the client's infection may have occurred.

      Landen said one red flag upon inspecting the spa was the storage, handling and disposal of needles.

      "That's concerning, because if needles aren't handled appropriately, you could potentially increase the risk of a blood-borne infection," Landen said.

      The spa offered beauty treatments, including the vampire facial a procedure that extracts platelets from a client's own blood that is then injected into the face through micro-needling. The facial purportedly produces a more youthful-looking complexion.

      The owner of VIP Spa told Action 7 News she uses only disposable needles.

      "I open them in front of my clients every time they come," owner Luly Ruiz said.

      Ruiz said she is cooperating with state health officials and encourages any clients who are concerned to take advantage of the free testing.

      "I want everybody to be sure, everybody to be happy and to know they don't have anything," Ruiz said.

      The health department is offering free testing and counseling for concerned clients at the Midtown Public Health Office, located on 2400 Wellesley Ave. NE in Albuquerque.

      Several clients have come to the clinic for the free testing, according to Landen.

      The office is open this week through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call 505-670-8615.

      What is a vampire facial?

      A vampire facial is when a small amount of a client's blood is drawn and then spun to extract its plasma. That plasma is then injected into the face with a needle.

      The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department said the owner of VIP Spa did not have a licensed professional to draw blood.

      Only a medical professional can do that.

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