If you’re on social media, chances are, you’ve probably noticed the buzz around Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP). PRP is used in so many ways, in wound healing, sports medicine, hair loss treatment and in particular, beauty treatments.
Trending commonly as the “vampire facial”, Kim Kardashian gave the procedure plenty of airtime a decade ago, way before the technique was refined to the impressive standards it holds today. So what’s all the fuss about?
Kardashians aside, platelet rich plasma treatment works — astoundingly well — for a vast array of concerns where healing and tissue regeneration are the aim of the game. Plus, PRP uses your own blood, so there’s no concerns about allergic reactions or unknown substances.
Here’s how it works.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is essentially blood with extra platelets in it. It’s derived from a small sample of a patient’s blood, which is collected painlessly at the beginning of the consultation. This blood is ‘spun’ in a centrifuge (a machine that’s a bit like a spin dryer) to extract various components, such as red and white blood cells, platelets and plasma.
The platelets are collected and concentrated to anywhere from 2 to 8 times the usual number within the plasma. (Platelets contain growth factors and other bioactive proteins that can accelerate healing and tissue regeneration by stimulating collagen production.) They are then mixed into a liquid base and injected directly into the treatment area.
PRP Benefits
There are so many specific benefits of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in aesthetic medicine. For example, they include:
- Reduction of fine lines and wrinkles
- Improved skin texture and ton
- Enhanced skin firmness and elasticity
- Treatment of acne scars
- Hair growth stimulation
- Minimization of pore size
- Reduction of dark circles
And, when it comes to benefits as a treatment, PRP boasts:
- Minimal downtime
- No side effects
- The advantage of using your own blood products — therefore reducing the risk of any negative reaction
Frequency of treatments
PRP treatment needs to be performed several times for best results. However, the frequency depends on the treatment area and your objectives.
Typically, though, you’ll require 3-4 initial treatments, 4 weeks apart. Once you’ve reached your desired result, you can simply book in for a follow-up treatment every 6 months.
Suitable candidates
As PRP is versatile and effective, there are many suitable candidates, such as those experiencing/having:
- Early signs of aging
- Hair loss
- Acne scars
- Hair thinning
- Sun damaged skin
- A desire for skin rejuvenation
- A desire for natural treatments
A word of warning: PRP might not be suitable for individuals with certain medical conditions, such as blood disorders, active infections, pregnancy or cancer. This is why a consultation with a healthcare provider is essential to determine individual suitability.
Your treatment process
- Depending on the treatment areas, your clinician will apply topical numbing cream to the area. If hair loss is the concern, we may apply topical numbing cream to the specific area.
- Your clinician will collect some blood and place it in a machine called the centrifuge.
- This machine will rapidly spin the blood sample to isolate the platelets and plasma from the red and white blood cells, creating a concentrated PRP solution.
- The areas will then be cleaned in preparation for the small microneedle injections.
- Your practitioner will then inject the plasma into your skin with a very fine needle
- You may be placed under the Healite II to help sooth any inflammation and encourage healing.
The good news is, with PRP, there’s minimal downtime, and although a touch of bruising may occur, it will typically subside after 24 hours. You can resume your daily routine after your treatment, so it suits busy people!
Book an appointment
Book an appointment for PRP therapy or to duscuss your skin concerns at Samara Aesthetics today. Call 1300 726 272 or contact us here.
