What is PRP?

PRP is a preparation made in a lab from a patient’s whole blood, where platelet-derived growth factors are concentrated and injected back into the same patient to stimulate healing, and promote tissue remodeling in aging skin. It is an office procedure.

How does PRP work?

Platelets containing growth factors are concentrated to create a potent serum that promotes and accelerates the rejuvenation of aging skin. The growth factors stimulate collagen formation to replace collagen lost due to aging. Collagen and elastin provide the skin’s flexibility, vitality, and radiance. Growth factors also promote the growth of new blood vessels to oxygenate the skin. PRP treatments also recruit stem cells to repair damaged tissue. In addition, PRP has anti-inflammatory properties.

Therapy with PRP supports and enhances healing. And, because it is made from the patient’s own blood, it stimulates natural healing, so there is no risk of an adverse reaction, allergy or disease transmission.

Due to the high concentration of growth factors, PRP has been used in many surgical procedures such as skin grafting, burn care, scar treatments, and hair loss disorders because of its healing properties. It can be used alone or as an adjunct to laser skin resurfacing and laser treatments, or microneedling for acne scars.

PRP may be applied topically or as injections. PRP can be used in combination with microneedling, neuromodulators like Botox, and hyaluronic acid fillers. After microneedling creates tiny channels in the skin, PRP is applied topically and penetrates into the dermis and epidermis.

Aesthetic benefits are dramatic, and results are impressive. It uses the healing power of a patient’s own platelets. 19 growth factors are released from platelets.  Improvements will appear gradually over 3-5 weeks. Rejuvenation continues over the course of 3 months after treatments. Several treatments may be recommended to obtain the best results.

When is PRP used?

PRP treatments will improve skin’s texture and strength, soften fine lines and pores, treat deep wrinkles, and reduce the visible signs of aging and sun damage.

Scars

Microneedling combined with PRP therapy stimulates collagen formation, which can raise and fill in depressed acne scars from beneath the skin. It can also be used to improve post-surgical scars and burns to rejuvenate damaged skin, and improve the appearance of scars.

Stretch marks

Microneedling combined with PRP applied to stretch marks promotes the growth of thicker skin. Stretch marks affect teenagers as they grow, and pregnant women who experience rapid stretching of the skin and connective tissue.

Male and Female Pattern baldness

PRP contains essential proteins that stimulate hair growth, and strengthen hair follicles for hair restoration, when applied topically. As we age, almost everyone will experience some hair loss or thinning. PRP applications can grow healthy new hair, stop hair loss, and rejuvenate your appearance.  It is exceptional at treating hair loss and thinning hair. PRP treatments for thinning hair will increase thickness, and provide natural looking results. However, it only works where there are dormant hair follicles. If the area is completely bald, PRP will not restore hair. PRP may be used in conjunction with hair grafting to dramatically increase hair density.

Under Eye Bags

PRP treatments are less invasive than traditional approaches such as surgery, fat removal, and laser treatments used to treat under eye bags. Treatment can improve the appearance of dark circles, hollowness and wrinkles around the eyes. In this case, there is a minimal amount of downtime.  After treatment, the area will be puffy. But this can be easily hidden with sunglasses.

Melasma

Melasma is a discoloration of the skin caused by hormones, and is a particular problem for women, and especially for young mothers. Melasma is usually difficult to treat successfully. With PRP, patients are seeing dramatic results improving their melasma. Melasma can reoccur due to sun exposure, but PRP treatments tend to reduce the return of melasma.

Facial rejuvenation

PRP recruits the body’s natural healing processes to reduce lines, wrinkles, scars, pigmentation issues, as well as skin volume, texture and firmness.  It is minimally invasive, and safe and effective for skin rejuvenation, firming, and hydrating. It is superior for thin skin, enhancing thickness and quality because it regenerates tissue.

When PRP is combined with hyaluronic acid filler injections, such as Juvederm, it can visibly augment soft tissue, rebuilding facial volume to create fuller cheeks, improving under eye hollows, and eliminating nasolabial folds. It can be used on the face, neck, and cleavage for improvement, and for hand skin improvement.

PRP facial rejuvenation is also often referred to as a “Vampire Facelift”. When combined with microneedling, it can smooth and tighten the skin, and aid in healing scar tissue.

PRP treatments can also rejuvenate the hands, feet, and neck area.

Contact Horizon Dermatology and Cosmetic Center to find out how PRP can help you restore and rejuvenate your appearance.