If you are struggling with fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone, or lax skin, Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can help. PRP can dramatically improve the appearance of your skin and rejuvenate it, making you glow and look younger. Read on to learn more about this popular nonsurgical treatment and how it can benefit your skin’s needs.
What is PRP?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), also known as autologous conditioned plasma, consists of the liquid portion of blood (plasma) and small colorless cell fragments in our blood that form clots called platelets. This therapy accelerates your body’s natural healing process by stimulating collagen production to add more volume to your skin.
PRP rejuvenates the skin by regenerating damaged tissues and producing new blood cells to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, diminish the appearance of scars, promote hair growth, and improve the health and quality of your skin. It also promotes quicker healing after plastic surgery and chemical peels.
What Does Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Do?
PRP is extremely rich in plasma proteins, growth factors, and cytokines, and these are usually given as injections (shots). PRP has properties that:
- Act as a hemostatic agent
- Causes endothelial and epidermal regeneration
- Enhances angiogenesis, collagen synthesis, and healing
- Reverses the inhibitory effect of steroids on healing
How Are PRP Injections Processed?
- Your provider will draw a sample of your blood. The sample amount depends on where the PRP will be injected.
- This blood sample will be placed in a centrifuge that spins rapidly, separating the blood components in a process that takes about 15 minutes.
- Your provider will take the separated plasma and prepare it for using it on the treatment area.
- The PRP solution is applied or directly injected into the treatment area
What Are PRP Treatments Used for?
Aging causes your body to stop producing collagen, making your skin sag or lose its elasticity. PRP treatment helps promote your body’s ability to heal and regenerate new tissue, making your skin firm and younger-looking.
PRP injections for facial rejuvenation and other cosmetic procedures have shown positive results. It can also be used in cosmetic medicine to address alopecia. It is injected into your scalp to stimulate cell growth around the hair follicles and other skin conditions such as skin ulcers. Additionally, PRP can be used as part of facelift surgery to the lower layers of the skin and at the edges of the wound, which helps promote faster healing.
PRP is not only used for dermatological purposes. The combination of orthopedic surgery and the injection of activated PRP to deliver growth factors locally that mimic and amplify the spontaneous healing response in injured areas and particular cell niches has helped to stop the progression of diseases and improve function in the shortest time possible. PRP helps in orthopedic conditions, such as relieving chronic tendon pain and helping repair sprained knees and ankles or other soft tissue injuries.
The addition of Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can make cosmetic surgical results more effective since both treatments stimulate collagen growth.
PRP can treat the following cosmetic concerns:
- Facial volume loss (plumping deflated cheeks or fill-in thin under-eye skin)
- Acne scarring
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Skin tightening
- Rosacea patches
- Skin toning
- Crepey skin
- Hair loss such as androgenic alopecia
- Crepey skin
- Nasal labial folds
How Many Treatments Are Required?
A minimum of three treatments spread out 4 to 8 weeks apart are recommended. However, this varies from person to person depending on their skin’s needs and your doctor’s assessment of their skin condition.
How Long Does It Take to See Results?
PRP results are long-lasting. Healing starts immediately after the procedure, and you might start seeing results after three to four weeks, with effects lasting up to 18 to 24 months. Optimal results are noticeable three months after the initial treatment. You may also decide to go for touch-ups after a year.
What Are the Benefits of PRP Treatments?
PRP offers the following benefits:
- It’s a safe, non-invasive, and non-surgical treatment
- Low risk of allergic reaction because you are using your own blood
- No significant downtime
- The treatment has minimal discomfort
- Treats skin imperfections
- Short treatment time
What Procedures Can Platelet-Rich Plasma Be Combined with?
Platelet-rich plasma is effectively combined with other dermatological procedures, such as:
Chemical Peels
A chemical peel procedure involves the application of one or more solutions containing glycolic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, or trichloroacetic acid to the skin. Peels help to exfoliate and remove the outermost layer of the skin, revealing regenerated skin that is smoother in texture and tone. Combining a chemical peel with PRP microneedling gives you the best results and boosts collagen production in the deeper layer of the skin. It would be best if you had a chemical peel first to exfoliate the upper layers of the skin. After 4-6 weeks of your chemical peel treatment, you can begin with Microneedling with PRP.
PRP Microneedling
Microneedling is a cosmetic procedure that uses a special roller or device with needles to prick the skin and stimulate new collagen production. Plate-rich plasma (PRP), collected from the patient’s blood, is needled into the dermis with the microneedling device to improve the healing and decrease the duration of redness and swelling seen after microneedling. The PRP’s cytokines, proteins, and growth factors help the skin repair itself more quickly. Microneedling with PRP can be used for the following:
- Loose skin
- Large pores
- Wrinkles and fine lines
- Acne scars and stretchmarks
- Crepey or rough skin texture
PRP Breast Lift or Vampire Breast Lift (VBL)
VBL is a procedure to improve (augment) your breasts’ look without surgery. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) enhances skin texture and makes your breasts appear fuller.
For more information, schedule an appointment with Dr. Kass.