Platelet-rich plasma treatments, or PRP treatments for skin, have numerous benefits from skin surface conditioning, and stimulation of hair growth to assisting in injury healing. One of the main benefits of PRP injections is that the treatments use the patient’s own platelets, making it a safe procedure to be administered by itself or in conjunction with other cosmetic or rehabilitation treatments.
What Are PRP Injections?
PRP treatments started with sports therapy and have begun to gain popularity as a facial—sometimes called the vampire facial in pop culture. PRP injections can be used alone as a treatment or part of a comprehensive rejuvenation plan of cosmetic treatments. The platelets break down and release growth factors. This triggers the natural growth and healing processes of cells, which promotes growth and healing. Studies have shown PRP treatments to be a way to address male pattern baldness and can be used to thicken existing hair as well as help increase the growth of hair transplants. PRP injections in the face can be used to improve your skin’s quality, tone, and overall complexion. Often, PRP facial injections will be accompanied with microneedling treatments that can help to increase surface area and penetration of the PRP into the top skin layers.
Here’s what you can expect from a PRP treatment.
1. Your doctor will draw blood from your arm.
2. The PRP will be separated from the rest of your blood’s components.
3. The treatment area will be numbed to ensure patient comfort.
4. Your doctor will then inject the PRP into multiple places under the skin, and as an optional add-on will follow up with a microneedling treatment throughout the treatment area.
5. Multiple treatments are usually needed, and the procedure’s effects are most noticeable after six months.
The entire procedure should take around an hour, and the treatment area may be sore for a few days after the treatment. Often PRP treatments are paired with microneedling, a procedure in which tiny needles puncture the skin to stimulate collagen production – the so-called Vampire face treatment.
Is PRP Treatment Effective?
Research into the efficacy of PRP treatments is very promising and has been used more and more frequently in rejuvenation and rehabilitation treatments. While PRP therapy does not work for everyone, PRP therapy is relatively low risk. Like many other treatment options, PRP injections could work best when coupled with other treatments and therapies.
Researchers are still exploring who would be a good candidate for PRP injections. Most doctors recommend reaching out to your doctor if you have tried traditional nonsurgical treatments to no avail. Currently PRP treatments are used to help in the healing process following an injury and for cosmetic procedures such as stimulating hair growth and to improve the tone and texture of skin. When paired with microneedling, PRP treatment has been shown to stimulate the skin’s natural collagen production, resulting in smoother and more youthful looking skin.
