Most of us are aware of how important platelet function is with the clotting mechanism to stop the bleeding when our skin is initially injured open. But did you ever wonder how the temporary clot over the open wound transforms into a completely healed skin? Yes you guessed it! It is largely due to the regenerative process of the platelets. The increased concentration of platelet clotting over the open wound releases a flood of growth factors that trigger tissue repair through increased cell renewal and collagen production. Using this understanding, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy has evolved into a highly advanced treatment that nourishes the skin with plasma containing high concentration of platelets to promote greater cellular regeneration and thereby improve the ever weakening foundation and aging appearance of the skin.
The greatest advantage of this therapy is the fact that the Platelet Rich Plasma is entirely of your own so there is little to no risk of side effects and treatment is safe for all skin types.
So who can benefit from PRP therapy? Anyone wishing increased cellular regeneration and collagen production, and thereby improvement of their:
1. Wrinkles and Fine Lines
2. Uneven skin texture
3. Uneven skin tone
4. Lax skin
5. Stressed skin
6. Adult acne
7. Scar revisions
8. Hair restoration
Typically 3 to 4 treatments are recommended for optimal results, and often more for hair restoration. The result can last up to a year and possibly longer by adding follow up maintenance treatments every 6 to 12 months to the regimen.
Not all PRP therapy is alike!
Before the Platelet Rich Plasma can be re-introduced back into your skin, it first needs to be optimally prepared from your blood. It involves placing your blood into a PRP preparation tube and spinning the tube in a dedicated PRP centrifuge to optimally separate the plasma and platelets from unwanted components including the red and white blood cells. In our office, Dr. Kang uses the Eclipse PRP purification system to collect a purified solution of plasma containing one of the highest concentration of platelets amongst the PRP purification system commercially available. Please ask your Clinician which PRP purification system is being used to treat you. This is essential to obtain consistently a good and predictable result.
PRP therapy is best re-introduced into your skin through conduits made through micro-needling, often in conjunction with sub-dermal infiltration technique, similar to injecting dermal fillers. Upon comprehensive consultation with Dr. Kang, he will recommend the best method of PRP therapy. In addition, at the time of consultation, he may advise use of PRP therapy in combination with other therapies to optimize your outcome. Some of our favorite combination include using PRP therapy to further improve:
1. Dermal Fillers
2. Volumetric fat grafting
3. Microdermabrasion for greater glow
4. Hydrofacial for greater glow
5. Thermage
6. Ultherapy
7. Thread Lifting
When used in conjunction or in tandem with these treatments, PRP can help further enhance the results and extend their duration.
Finally everyone experiences hair loss and for most people, it goes relatively unnoticed when we are young since regeneration occurs almost as quickly as the loss. However as we age, in addition to the genetical predisposition and hormonal changes, our inherent reduction in growth factors inevitably weaken the existing hair follicles in our scalp similar to the aging changes to the tone, texture, and laxity of our skin. Recently it has come to our realization as Clinicians that the growth factors in the PRP can be a powerful catalysts in allowing our scalp to activate the fair follicles to strengthen and re-invigorate our existing hair cells. In addition to other hair restoration treatments, for those seeking further improvement to their thinning hair dilemma, PRP therapy should definitely be considered as a viable option.