As far as aesthetic treatments go, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is fairly new to the scene. After all, there is some evidence of chemical peels being used as far back as the ancient Egyptians. But despite its young age, PRP already has a number of uses, making it a must-try for anyone looking to brighten and rejuvenate their complexion. If you’re curious, these Q & A’s can give you a crash course in the treatment and whether it may be right for you.
How does PRP work for anti-aging?
One of the primary factors in cosmetic aging is the breakdown of certain components of the skin—primarily collagen and elastin, which give the skin its youthful firmness, thickness, and elasticity. Platelet-rich plasma is a part of your blood which contains natural growth factors, and when these growth factors reach the deeper layers of the skin, they stimulate the growth of new collagen and elastin. This causes the skin to gradually regain some of its youthful appearance.
How much blood do you draw for a PRP facial rejuvenation treatment?
There are a few different ways to use PRP for wrinkle reduction, and your recommended procedure will affect the exact amount of blood which will be drawn. However, it’s approximately the same amount that is drawn for most medical tests, so you shouldn’t need to worry about blood loss. Just be sure to discuss the treatment with your provider in advance and follow any pre-treatment instructions they give you.
What will my PRP wrinkle reduction treatment entail?
There are two primary ways to use PRP: as an injectable or topically with micro needling. The right choice will depend on what aesthetic concerns you want to address (for instance, if you only want to reduce wrinkles and restore a youthful plumpness, injections may be the way to go, but if you have acne scars or other skin texture concerns, these are best improved through micro needling).
If your PRP is to be injected, your provider will begin by drawing the blood they need and processing it to separate the PRP from the other components of your blood. The PRP is then injected into the desired areas. In some cases, artificial fillers (like Juvéderm® or Restylane®) may be injected as well, to provide quicker and more comprehensive results.
The micro needling treatment begins in the same way: with blood being drawn and then processed. Next, your provider will perform any of a number of micro needling treatments, like Réjuvapen®, Infini™, Fractora™, or even a fractionated laser procedure in some cases. This stimulates the body’s healing process and creates pathways to allow the PRP to reach the deeper layers of skin when it is applied immediately after.
Can I just apply PRP to the surface of my skin and see benefits?
PRP works when its growth factors come into contact with the stem cells within the deeper layers of your skin (and other areas of the body) and are activated. As a result, simply applying the PRP topically (without giving it a way to penetrate into your skin to activate stem cells through an injection or micro needling) is not thought to produce any true improvement.
PRP has become a popular and highly effective method for restoring a more youthful and revitalized appearance. But because of the nature of the treatment, it’s a powerful tool in a number of other medical uses as well, from hair restoration to orthopedic injuries and more. To find out more about the many uses for PRP, explore PRPTreatments.org.
The following blog post was written by Dermatology Associates of Atlanta.
