Platelet Rich Plasma therapies (known as PRP) form regenerative medicine. It utilises the gold liquid of whole blood to amplify the natural growth factors your body uses to heal itself. These growth factors, vitamins, nutrients and protein within the plasma generate new collagen to grow. This heals and rejuvenates the treated area from the inside out via stem cell division and angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels in the skin). These therapies have successfully treated soft tissue injuries in the orthopaedic world for years, including joint and muscle regeneration.
In dermatology and cosmetics, PRP has assisted in faster wound healing, scar revision and skin rejuvenation. More recently, PRP has had tremendous results in treating alopecia, otherwise known as hair loss. PRP is liquid gold!
PRP improves the elasticity, tone and thickness of the skin’s dermis. It is an excellent treatment for people with tired, dry, thinning skin and uneven pigmentation. With one treatment, you will see an improvement in fine lines, texture and wrinkles as remodelling of collagen fibres begins. While any skin on the face or body is suitable for PRP treatment, the under-eye area is particularly popular. As a result, medicines help smooth the fine lines and thicken the crepey under-eye site that anti-wrinkle and ablative laser treatments can’t reach. Your clinician can treat both upper and lower eyelids in one treatment.
To obtain the nutrient-rich liquid gold, we will collect 8-10mls of your blood and run it through a centrifuge. This process concentrates and separates the platelets from other cells. We then re-inject these activated platelets into the desired area or use them as a serum to infuse the dermis via skin needling.
As this process is autologous – meaning the product is 100% your natural creation, there is minimal chance of adverse events or rejection. This makes PRP treatments preferable for those who cannot have other injectable treatments or have an increased risk of allergic reaction.
There are minimal restrictions after your PRP treatment which means you can return to your daily activities almost immediately!
It is normal to experience swelling, bruising, redness, and some itching after PRP treatments. This swelling can last up to 3-10 days following your procedure. If you experience any pain or discomfort, You can take paracetamol.
For the next 24 hours, it is essential to avoid any skincare with active ingredients (such as Vitamin A/C), which may irritate the area. In addition, avoid vigorous exercise, sun and heat exposure (especially post-micro-needling), and increase your water intake to have at least 1.5L a day (more is always better!)
If you are receiving PRP for alopecia, please avoid wearing head coverings for at least two days until any swelling has been reduced. Refrain from any shampoo/conditioning agents for the first 24 hours. Any salon treatments should be avoided for two weeks until fully healed.