PRP-Magical Rejuvenation in Your Own Blood!
Platelet rich plasma has gotten a lot of attention in recent years for everything from hair growth, skin repair and even heal joint injuries. but what exactly is it, and does it really work? So, let’s start by explaining what platelet rich plasma is.
What is PRP?
Platelet-rich plasma consists of two elements: plasma, or the liquid portion of blood, and platelets, a type of blood cell that plays an important role in healing throughout the body. Platelets are well-known for their clotting abilities, but they also contain growth factors that can trigger cell reproduction and stimulate tissue regeneration or healing in the treated area. Platelet-rich plasma is simply blood that contains more platelets than normal.
How is PRP Created?
To create platelet-rich plasma, we simply take your blood and place it into a device called a centrifuge that rapidly spins the sample, separating out the other components of the blood from the platelets and concentrating them within your own plasma
Then what do you do with PRP?
This platelet rich plasma can then be re-injected into the face for facial rejuvenation, mixed with a dermal filler for volume restoration, or even applied topically post procedure for rapid recovery and enhanced healing, after a pro-fractional laser resurfacing. Let not forget about the benefits of hair regrowth! Yes PRP…re-injected into the scalp can stimulate hair growth and prevent loss. If you are bald this will not help but for thinning hair absolutely, it helped me tremendously after I had a massive shed from my accident (one of the many lol).
IF you are someone like me and you want to see the research and are not just going to believe it because I said it here are some links below. there is a tremendous amount of data supporting the use of PRP for hair, skin, and even for pain such as joints.
‘One of the most popular uses for PRP is for facial skin rejuvenation in the form of dermal injections and topical application during micro needling. The promising nature of PRP makes using it for injection and/or in conjunction with micro needling a good addition to any practice that deals with skin rejuvenation.
Peng GL. Platelet-Rich Plasma for Skin Rejuvenation: Facts, Fiction, and Pearls for Practice. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2019 Aug;27(3):405-411. doi: 10.1016/j.fsc.2019.04.006. PMID: 31280855.
“platelet-rich plasma have reinvigorated research in wound repair and regenerative science. An overall positive clinical response toward the use of platelet-rich plasma as an adjuvant to fractional photothermolysis and percutaneous collagen induction is observed”
Badran KW, Nabili V. Lasers, Microneedling, and Platelet-Rich Plasma for Skin Rejuvenation and Repair. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2018 Nov;26(4):455-468. doi: 10.1016/j.fsc.2018.06.007. Epub 2018 Aug 16. PMID: 30213427.
“PRP in dermatology has recently increased. It is being used in several different applications as in tissue regeneration, wound healing, scar revision, skin rejuvenating effects, and alopecia.”
Alves R, Grimalt R. A Review of Platelet-Rich Plasma: History, Biology, Mechanism of Action, and Classification. Skin Appendage Disord. 2018 Jan;4(1):18-24. doi: 10.1159/000477353. Epub 2017 Jul 6. PMID: 29457008; PMCID: PMC5806188.
PRP is a safe therapeutic option for patients with hair loss. It is used alone or in conjunction with topical and oral therapies. Most studies of hair restoration with PRP report positive outcomes.
Justicz N, Derakhshan A, Chen JX, Lee LN. Platelet-Rich Plasma for Hair Restoration. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2020 May;28(2):181-187. doi: 10.1016/j.fsc.2020.01.009. Epub 2020 Mar 2. PMID: 32312505.
This is just a sampling of the multitude of studies out there supporting the use of PRP for hair restoration and skin rejuvenation and there are many other therapeutic uses as well.