PRP consists of injections of one’s own platelet-rich plasma. It is a concentrated mixture of platelets from your own blood. The benefit to platelet-rich plasma injections is that it has a sustained outcome, and is categorized as a permanent fix.
PRP is best for patients in good health who do not have any serious skin conditions. Patients with aging skin tend to see the most benefit with this treatment.
PRP initially gained recognition for being used to treat pain and accelerate healing in injured tissue and joints. Many professional athletes have been benefitting for years from PRP, and it wasn’t long before dermatologists started using this therapy to help bring a youthful glow to skin. PRP utilizes your own body’s healing ability to stimulate skin recovery and boost collagen production.
PRP can treat anything from fine lines and sun damage to deep wrinkles and acne scarring. It requires a simple blood draw from the arm and uses a centrifuge to separate the platelets into platelet-rich plasma.
PRP involves taking anywhere from one to a few tubes of the patient’s own blood and running it through a centrifuge or other specialized device to concentrate the platelets. The activated platelets are then injected directly into the area where you want more youthful skin.
Creation of platelet-rich plasma is done at the office in one visit and is a painless process. A small amount of blood is drawn from the patient similar to a routine blood test, and this process takes approximately 25-30 minutes. Once the blood is drawn and separated, the injection process is ready to begin, and the full preparation and injection procedure is normally complete within one hour.
The process is often combined with microneedling to enhance results. The number of injections varies based on each patient’s areas of concern and individualized conditions but typically range from two to six injections.
There will likely be some swelling and redness immediately after the PRP procedure, but no significant or lasting side effects have been reported.
Downtime varies depending on the procedure, but initial redness will usually occur in the treatment area and can last approximately from 2-4 days. Some patients heal in as little as 24 hours. When treating acne scars and deep wrinkles, patients may experience more downtime.
To book a consultation, or to learn more about Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections (PRP) and get on a customized treatment schedule, make an appointment with a Vitalogy Medical Spa Provider today in the Greater Austin area.