Platelet
Rich
Plasma (PRP)

The Scientific Stuff

OK so let's get the scientific stuff out of the way first.

Subjected to bad weather and pollution, exposed to the suns rays, worn down by the adverse treatment inflicted by tabacco and hormonal variations, and subject to the classic effects of aging, your skin finds its production and growth of collagen (a component in the skin which gives the skin its plumpness) severely diminished. The skin on your face, your neck, your décolletage and your hands is drying out, becoming dull and as a result is more susceptible to the appearance of wrinkles and lines. The texture of the skin has become dull and the elasticity and tone is poor. Open pores have become more dominant and that youthful radiance has been replaced with a more tired appearance.

The Good Stuff

OK let's skip to the good stuff.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatments have been popular in the UK and parts of Europe for a few years and it has now finally reached our shores. PRP is a process of using a patient's own blood, to stimulate collagen production and improvement in skin texture, tone and its healing/rejuvenation capacity.

PRP treatments are:

Safe and physiologically active.
Preparation is simple and quick, and completed on the cosmetic practitioners premises in the appointment time.
Can be used in multiple areas for skin rejuvenation.

Whar You Need To Know

Yes this treatment does involve the use of several superficial injections in the skin. Each session takes approximately 60 minutes (usually for one area eg face). You will need to attend the clinic 45 minutes before the treatment so that an anaesthetic cream can be applied to the area to minimise any discomfort during the treatment. When the anaesthetic cream has been applied, your cosmetic practitioner will draw off a small amount of blood from your arm (like having a blood test). The blood is then spun in a centrifuge for approximately 10 minutes to separate the platelet rich plasma. This is then injected into the area to be treated.

What I Need To Tell You

It is advisable and preferable that you do not take any blood thinning medications (eg aspirin or nurofen) for 3-4 days prior to your treatment and do not take any herbal or vitamin supplements (eg glucosamine, multivitamins, fish oils, Vit B or Vit E) for 7 days prior to your treatment. After the treatment, ice will be applied and the area will be massaged firmly with a greasy moisturizer for several minutes. Most patients look 'puffy' in the treated area immediately afterwards and treatments around the eyes can result in marked swelling. The swelling settles in 1-5 days. Bruising at the site of injection is also possible and clears completely in 1-10 days. A light liquid or mineral-based makeup can be worn immediately after the treatment if necessary. You MUST massage the area firmly with a greasy moisuriser for 10 minutes 15-30 minutes after the treatment has been completed and then 2 x daily for 5 minutes for 5 days after the treatment.

To ensure the best results and reduce any possible complications from these injections it is important that you follow the aftercare instructions given to you by your cosmetic practitioner.

What Will Happen Next?

Initial swelling and any bruising will subside and then over a few weeks the Platelets will stimulate the growth factors in the body, which will assist in increasing collagen growth and development within the skin. Results begin to appear at 3 weeks and improve gradually over the following months with improvement in skin texture and tone.

The skin will begin to 'tauten' and 'plump', erasing the surface micro-lines and smoothing away that look of 'crumpled' skin. However, already distinct wrinkles and deep lines on the face or neck may need an additional treatment with a dermal filler.

Cosmeceuticals (medical grade skin care products such as Skinstitut and ASAP), Microdermabrasion with Facial Peels, Skin Dermal Needling, light-based treatments such as IPL and Laser treatments such as Laser Genesis can all enhance the results. The degree of effect from this treatment may differ from person to person depending on your age, general health, lifestyle factors and social habits. The treatment involves the injection of YOUR platelet rich plasma and the effectiveness is therefore linked to the 'healthiness' of this blood product. Minimal improvement is predictable in persons with drug, alcohol and tobacco usage. Severe deep scarring may not respond to PRP treatments.

How Many Treatments Are Required?

This will depend upon the your general health and the health/age of your skin. PRP treatments can be a one off treatment. Normally it is advised to have 2–3 treatments 4-6 weeks apart followed by maintenance treatments 12-18 months later if required.