Charles Runels is doctor from Alabama with expertise in endocrinology, wellness, cosmetic medicine, and sexual medicin. He became widely known in December 2019, when Kim Kardashian filed a lawsuit against him accusing him of using her name to advertise his "Vampire Facials" services without her permission.

Charles Runels graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Birmingham–Southern College. He worked for three years as a product developer and research chemist at Southern Research Institute. ^[3]

He then completed medical school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, after which he completed residency and became board-certified in Internal Medicine.^[3][9]

During twelve years as an ER physician Runels founded the largest group of ER physicians in his state while also serving as the medical director of a hyperbaric chamber used for wound care.

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He then began medical practice and research in areas of endocrinology, wellness, cosmetic medicine, and sexual medicine.

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He contributed to multiple peer-reviewed scientific publications in areas of hypertension, hormone replacement, and immunology.

His professional organizations include the Association of Clinical Research Professionals & the American Cosmetic Cellular Medicine Society.

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Based on his research, Runels authored a book for men, Anytime...for as Long as You Want, which ran for three years as the best selling sex manual on Amazon.com.

In cosmetic medicine, he designed a specific way of using growth factors to rejuvenate the face, commonly called the Vampire Facelift, and founded the American Cosmetic Cellular Medicine Association to help promote further investigation in that area.

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His innovative approach to sexual health made him a sought-after practitioner and lecturer.

Over the past 10 years, he trained numerous physicians worldwide in the areas of cosmetic medicine and sexual health.^[3]

In December 2019, reality TV star and businesswoman Kim Kardashian sued Runels over allegations he wrongfully used her image to promote a medical procedure called a "Vampire Facial." She asked a federal judge to bar Runels from using her name or photo and to make him and any other doctors who benefited from using her likeness to pay her profits.^[1][9]

Runels said in a telephone interview to CBS News that West wrongfully used his trademarked name for a medical procedure to promote herself. He called the lawsuit "disappointing." His website, vampirefacial.com, posted a statement saying Runels hadn't asked her to use the name or promote the treatment, but that the site would take down her name and image. ^[1]

"I've already taken all the stuff off my website, but I'm not going to let her call me a thief.

First she works to let everyone in the world know she had a Vampire Facial and now she doesn't want anyone to talk about it," Runels said.^[1]

"We're trying to do good medicine.

The last thing we want to do is spend millions of dollars arguing with a celebrity," he said.^[1]

In his statement, Runels said he "designed the procedures, coined the words, and owns the marks - registered in his name at the US Patent & Trademark Office" for the Vampire Facial.

Runels said about 2,300 physicians in 50 countries are licensed to perform the procedure.^[1]

West underwent the procedure from an associated doctor in Miami in 2013 before posting a photo of herself online with blood on her face, he said.^[1][9]

Runels is the father of three sons and lives in Fairhope, Alabama.^[3]