The Vampire Facial: A Graphic Medicine Comic
I find myself somehow, on the path to reclaimed youth. As time speeds up, so does my reading on anything facial rejuvenation—Botox, facial acupuncture, oxygen facials, chemical peels, ultherapy. The kookier it sounds, the more intriguing it is. Nothing has been more intriguing than the infamous, Vampire Facial, made famous by Kim Kardashian when she posted a picture of herself with blood smeared all over her face.
While I haven’t had a Vampire Facial (its real name is the Platelet-Rich Plasma or PRP treatment), I’ve had something similar done by the velvety-voiced aesthetic nurse, Jessica Varga. In July 2021, I interviewed Jessica about the PRP cosmetic treatment and turned the interview into a graphic medicine comic.
Graphic medicine is the “intersection of the medium of comics and the discourse of healthcare”.
Graphic medicine is a communication field that’s growing in popularity. It’s a community of academics, health care providers, authors, artists, and fans of comics. To learn more, go to the Graphic Medicine.
In a later post, I’ll explain why I think graphic medicine comics are a perfect way for medical writers to communicate with their audience.
About the Collaborators
Illustrator Rizqi R. Mosmarth.
Rizqi Mosmarth is an artist from Jakarta, Indonesia. He creates illustrations, comics, and simple animation. Mosmarth is an editor at BumiLangit and co-creator/founder and editor at FIGHT comic magazine.
Aesthetic Nurse and Interviewee Jessica Varga.
Jessica Varga started her career as a registered nurse in Alberta, Canada. She was a charge nurse and labour and delivery nurse in a rural hospital serving many surrounding reservations. Since relocating back to Ontario, she has trained extensively in aesthetic nursing. Jessica currently works in three medical spas, including her own. She has a passion for women’s health, skin health, and functional medicine.
References and Resources
Czerwiec, M. K, Williams, I., Squier, S. M., Green, M. J., Myers, K. R., & Smith, S. T. (2015). Graphic medicine manifesto. Penn State University Press.
Jessica Varga [@aestheticnursejess]. (n.d.). Posts [Instagram profile]. Instagram. Retrieved October 4, 2021, from https://www.instagram.com/aestheticnursejess/
Kim Kardashian. [@Kimkardashian]. (2013, March 10). Tonight on Kourtney & Kim Take Miami!!! #VampireFacial #kktm” [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/WsspMAuS2A/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=abf89a27-a581-43c7-aa95-7a28e6047271
