Is PRP an acronym you are familiar with? If not, you should think about adding it to your daily vocabulary immediately because it truly is that good! Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) might sound a little daunting when you first hear the term. The bottom line is PRP injections are an innovative way to help your skin look its best and feel its healthiest! Here’s everything you need to know about PRP injections to help determine if this service is right for you (and I bet you’ll want to try it)!
What are the benefits of PRP injections?
When will I see the results?
You will begin to see results right away, with the full results to be expected approximately one month after. The benefits are long-lasting, but a more precise timeframe depends on several factors, including how your body responds to treatment, your skin’s overall quality, the severity of your skin condition, age, etc.
The list of benefits is lengthy, and this isn’t even comprehensive! The science behind PRP truly speaks to the “liquid gold” nickname time and time again. It has proven its worth to countless La Fleur clients so far, and I’m excited to continue offering PRP therapy for others to experience its benefits for themselves. Here are some of the key benefits it can provide:
- It is effective as both a preventative and reparative treatment.
- PRP is natural and chemical-free. There are no foreign materials introduced internally, reducing the risk to the body.
- PRP diminishes the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, revealing tighter skin.
- It significantly improves additional areas of concern, such as the under-eye area, crepey skin, sagging skin, and crow’s feet.
- It naturally improves skin’s elasticity and plumpness with increased higher-quality collagen and elastin.
- PRP therapy enhances skin tone and improves texture, including reducing the appearance of pores.
- It dramatically reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation, such as sun damage and acne scarring.
- PRP treatments improve overall skin health and strength from the inside out.
- It boosts cellular turnover, ultimately creating a more youthful, radiant appearance.
- Total facial rejuvenation occurs through a series of treatments.
- The process itself is quick, and the results are long-lasting.
What to expect during a procedure?
I don’t mean to get too deep into the science behind the process, but I do want to explain a bit about PRP. I think it is very important for anyone considering this treatment to understand the basics of PRP when considering if this is a viable option for themselves.
The first step of the procedure is for the patient to have a small blood sample taken. The sample contains several components including red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and platelets. The sample is spun through a centrifuge to separate the components and concentrate the platelets. Once the platelets and plasma are separated from the other blood components, what remains is the liquid, which is a beautiful, goldish color…hence the nickname “liquid gold.”
Next, the now-activated platelets are injected directly into your skin. You may experience some mild, temporary discomfort, as with any small needle injection as the serum is injected. The platelets in your blood are amazing because they contain regenerative, healing, and anti-inflammatory properties. Those properties send a signal to your body to immediately begin producing more of a protein called collagen, promoting elasticity.
The healing of any damaged, aging skin begins at that moment as the PRP helps your cells reactivate and restore your skin’s natural layers of collagen, elastin, and more. The process during each session only takes about 30 minutes.
Following your treatment, you may notice some slight, temporary bruising or mild redness, if any at all. Any discomfort should be improved within hours. Regarding downtime post-treatment, there is no significant recovery time at all. Typically, patients immediately return to their regular day feeling normal following their appointments.
Although every client and his/her needs are unique to them, I typically recommend repeating the process through a series of 3-4 treatments for optimal results. Each treatment is spaced out about a month apart, so your series would most likely be completed in about four months to achieve facial rejuvenation.
Can PRP be combined with other treatments?
Absolutely! As you can (hopefully) easily tell, PRP works incredibly well as a stand-alone treatment. Its benefits are undeniable and long-lasting. Especially if you have never tried a procedure like this before, I would encourage you to explore PRP to address your skin concerns.
If, however, you are interested in treating deeper levels of the skin, you can consider combining PRP with microneedling. Microneedling is a highly advanced technique that treats beyond the surface layers of the skin. It is a minimally invasive procedure that creates tiny holes or microchannels in the targeted area of the face, reaching beyond the epidermis. Microneedling with PRP has the capability of effectively treating more significant skin issues and concerns, such as deep hyperpigmentation, extensive acne scars, surgical scars, large pores, and rough skin texture.
Adding the PRP injections into this process helps expedite the body’s healing process, regenerating the injured tissue immediately following the procedure. This method has proven to maximize speedy collagen production so patients can notice tightened skin following the initial treatment with significant, lasting results following a recommended treatment series.
Patients receiving this procedure will enjoy the same benefits as the PRP injection therapy mentioned above, and the minimal downtime is the same as with PRP. However, because microneedling involves reaching deeper layers of the skin, the results are more significant and can be more dramatic.
Who is the ideal candidate for PRP therapy?
The great news is practically everyone is a good candidate for PRP. The treatment is safe for adults and all skin types. It is especially beneficial for those of us 25 and over as collagen production begins slowing down around this time. This treatment works on both existing skin concerns as well as for preventative measures.
I hope this helps demystify the overall idea of what platelet-rich plasma is. While it is not a new treatment, it has gained popularity over the past several years, and the amazing results are the reason why!
Ready to feel refreshed and rejuvenated with healthier skin? If you think PRP may be what you’re looking for to brighten, tighten, or address other skin concerns you have, let’s discuss this treatment option together. I’ll answer your questions and create a customized plan that is right for your needs!
What are PRP injections?
More and more patients are turning to PRP for good reason. It is an all-natural solution to stimulate cell growth within the body. Essentially it is a skin-rejuvenating procedure that uses your blood to help revitalize your skin by amplifying the natural growth factors your body uses to heal tissue. It effectively treats common skin concerns such as wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, scarring, and more!
The under-eye area is an especially common concern for women. We often experience darkness, sagginess, crepiness, and discoloration even at an early age due to genetics, skin tone, allergies, or several other factors. Despite our best efforts in attempting to conceal or correct the issue with concealer, color-correcting makeup, over-the-counter creams, serums, and more, it can feel like there is no way to improve how they appear. That is where PRP comes in. PRP is a non-surgical cosmetic treatment that is a highly effective and, most importantly, safe solution to treating many types of skin concerns, including the under-eye area.