What exactly is PRP?
PRP is Platelet-Rich Plasma injection. It is administered in 3-step procedure that involves having your blood drawn from your arm; placed into a machine that separates the platelets from the rest of your blood; re-injected into you, only the part of your blood that contains a high concentration of platelets.
In dermatology, PRP is being used for hair loss treatment and, also, to give patients younger-looking skin. PRP may also speed up wound healing.
If you have PRP to treat signs of aging on your skin, here’s what to expect:
- Blood drawn. You would have a small amount of blood (about 2 to 4 tablespoons) drawn from your arm.
- Blood spun. The tube containing your blood would be placed in a medical device called a centrifuge, which separates your blood into layers. One of these layers contains a high concentration of platelets.
- Blood injected. Your specialist injects the blood that contains the high concentration of platelets into your face or scalp, using a syringe or microneedling device.
The entire procedure takes about 45 minutes to one hour. You may have a bit of pain, bruising, and swelling afterwards. These tend to go away within a few days. There is little to no downtime after the procedure. The full effects of PRP skin treatment appear within a few weeks to months and can last as long as 18 months. The positive outcome of PRP therapy is significant for
- Freshened up facial skin appearance
- Reduced wrinkles
- Plumped up sagging skin
- Flattened deep creases
- Improved one’s skin complexion
- Diminish acne scars
All these benefits have created a high demand for a procedure.
Few studies have been conducted on the outcome of the PRP skin treatment and concluded that both superficial and deep dermal applications resulted in skin rejuvenation and global facial volumization. PRP is a form of biostimulation that is safe and creates an immediate, long-lasting volumetric effect with natural-looking results. The technique is easy to perform and has virtually no side-effects. The PRP injections provided a high level of patient satisfaction.
How many PRP injections do you need?
Researchers have found that most patients who get results have 3 or more treatments. That means, you’d have to go to your specialist’s office 3 or more times to have blood drawn, treated, and injected back into you.
To give their patients more immediate results, some doctors inject a filler along with PRP injection. This allows a patient to see immediate results.
Who can have PRP rejuvenation?
While PRP is considered safe for most people, it’s not recommended for anyone who has one of the following medical conditions
- Hepatitis C
- HIV or AIDS
- Any type of blood cancer
- Cardiovascular disease, which requires taking a blood thinner
- Skin cancer in the area to be treated
These conditions affect your platelets, making them unable to deliver the expected results.
Is PRP right for you?
If you’re thinking about trying PRP skin treatment, see a doctor who has in-depth training and expertise required to evaluate your skin and tell you what proven treatments can be most effective for you.