PRP treatment, or platelet-rich plasma treatment, is a nonsurgical method of rejuvenating the skin of the face. PRP facial benefits are widely reported. The procedure is safe and widely used, although not enough evidence exists to support all the claims about the effects a PRP treatment may have on your aging skin. However, as the number of those who swear by the procedure keeps growing, so does the interest in the therapy.
What is PRP?
PRP is a non-surgical treatment that uses your own blood plasma to restore the looks of your skin. It leaves no scars or marks on the skin, and it gives results that are apparent after a few days. Immediate results are possible as well if the treatment is combined with hyaluronic acid for better results and more volume added to the face.
What Does PRP Do?
PRP uses your own blood to extract blood plasma, platelets, and growth factors. Once they are injected back into your skin, the concentrated concoction works to restore the fullness of the skin, correct minor wrinkles, and provide a better complexion. PRP is claimed to also correct aging and sun-related damage to the skin and speed up skin recovery. As such, it has a variety of applications:
PRP Facial Benefits
The most common PRP treatment is the PRP facial. It is a treatment in which your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into your face by means of a medical syringe. PRP facial benefits and treatments are very common because they give good results, require no downtime, and are comfortable for most patients.
PRP Hair Treatment
PRP also provides treatments for those who would like thicker hair. The most common group of people who take PRP hair treatments are men in their 30s and 40s, as their hair starts thinning out. Personal reporting and some research have shown that it is possible to restore hair thickness to an extent. For more serious conditions affecting your scalp, such as alopecia, you may want to consider other treatments.
Penile PRP – P-Shot
A penile PRP or a PRP shot is similar to any other PRP, but the injection site is very different. Penile PRP or a P-Shot is given straight into the well, you know. The treatment has shown effects in reducing ED – Erectile Dysfunction, a common condition in elderly men. Some even report seeing an increase in girth, especially if plasma is mixed with hyaluronic acid before injection. The increase in girth is only temporary, as the body naturally decomposes hyaluronic acid.
Microneedling with PRP
One of the ways to administer PRP, especially if there is a large area to be covered, is microneedling. The results can be similar to PRP facial benefits, but in this approach there are two ways to administer PRP into the skin:
- Your dermatologist can apply a layer of PRP to your face and use a microneedling device to create holes in the skin where the plasma can enter,
- Your dermatologist can use a microneedling device that injects PRP into the skin on its own.
Both approaches have a similar idea, but the latter may end up with more platelets and growth factors being injected into the skin.
PRP Under Eyes
PRP for under the eyes is different from facial PRP because it focuses more on the area around your eyes rather than the whole face. It is the perfect treatment for eyes that look tired even after a full night of good rest. You can ask for this treatment if you have skin complexion changes, such as dark circles around your eyes.
What Does PRP Do for Mature Skin?
As your skin ages, it loses its natural ability to restore its looks and correct the damage caused by a number of environmental factors. You may start to notice damage on your skin due to:
- Too much sun exposure,
- Bad dietary habits,
- Bad or no exercise regime,
- Smoking,
- Excessive alcohol intake,
- Overall aging.
The changes you may see on your skin as you age include:
- Skin laxity,
- Changes in the complexion, such as dark circles around your eyes,
- Thinning of the skin and hair,
- Changes in the texture of the skin, including bumps and indents,
- Fine lines,
- Wrinkles,
- Deep-set lines, especially those coming from regular face and neck movements.
In all these cases, PRP can offer some help. As a PRP treatment injects your own blood plasma back into the body, it is safe, and the platelets and growth factors that are injected with the plasma work to repair the damage. The extent of the damage that this treatment can correct in your skin is limited, so try not to have unrealistic expectations.
Should I Get a PRP Treatment?
You should get a PRP treatment if you think that your skin looks dull, relaxed, dry, or simply aging. You may also get it if you are dissatisfied with the way your skin looks overall and as a part of the skin rejuvenating process, especially if you are considering surgery. This could be a good first step, and it may even replace surgery for you, especially minor corrective surgeries, such as a baby facelift.
PRP Facial Before and After
Before a PRP treatment, your skin may look tired. Over the years, it may have lost radiance and volume, and it may look as if you did not catch enough sleep even after a good night’s sleep. If you think that you’ve aged faster than you would like to or have undergone a period of intense damage to the skin, such as a summer holiday with little or no SPF, are making changes in your lifestyle, etc., you should get a PRP treatment.
After the treatment, it will take a few days for the results to be noticeable. Your skin will restore some of its radiance and that plump, youthful look. It may also improve its complexion and reverse some of the damage that the sun has done to it. You may also consider this treatment in preparation for a big event, where you want to show the world all you’ve got.
PRP Procedure
The PRP procedure is relatively simple and takes less than an hour to complete. Once you are in your surgeon’s office, they will draw some blood from your vein. While the blood is being centrifuged, your surgeon or dermatologist will proceed to sterilize your face or any other area where you may need the treatment.
Once the blood has been separated, the dermatologist will extract the PRP – Platelet Rich Plasma. Then, the surgeon will proceed to inject or otherwise administer the solution to your face or another area. Once done, the doctor will clean your face again, and you will be free to go.
PRP Recovery
PRP recovery is very quick and painless. While some patients may experience mild discomfort and swelling, most patients say they do not feel any discomfort. You should stay indoors and away from the sun for a few days. You should also avoid excessive tobacco and alcohol use to maximize the results of the procedure.
PRP Side Effects
There are very few side effects you can expect to get from your PRP treatment. As the treatment is relatively safe and involves only your own blood, there are no reactions, such as hypersensitivity reactions in the area. Very rarely, you may experience hypersensitivity due to the damage to the skin that has been done with the microneedling device. A common occurrence is small droplets of blood that may appear on the injection site.
How Much Is PRP?
The cost of a PRP varies depending on your needs and the initial state. It also depends on the place the injection should be made and the volume of blood plasma that is to be separated and treated before the application. In general, you should pay in the price range of $500-$2,500.
PRP FAQs
What Does PRP Stand for?
PRP stands for Platelet-Rich Plasma. It is a type of plasma that is extracted from your own blood that contains a lot of growth factors and platelets which may significantly improve your skin’s ability to restore itself and correct the damage caused by the sun and aging.
What Are the PRP Facial Benefits?
PRP Facial is a treatment for the face in which your own blood plasma is used. The plasma is extracted from the blood taken from your vein. This plasma can be mixed with dermal fillers, such as hyaluronic acid, for an immediate effect and is likely to improve the looks of your skin.
How Much Does PRP Cost?
PRP, in general, costs between $500 and $2,500. The treatment itself is short and lasts less than an hour in most patients. You should beware of any overly cheap or expensive treatments since they may be done by under-trained professionals and in backdoor clinics.
How Long Does PRP Last?
A PRP treatment is not a permanent treatment. The effects will be visible for 6-9 months. Needless to say, the treatment can be repeated as you wish, and you may even have several repeated treatments with a week or so of spacing in between to ensure a more thorough approach and longer-lasting results.
Final Considerations
A PRP treatment is a great way to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines on your aging skin. The procedure itself involves taking a small amount of blood from your vein and extracting platelet-rich plasma from it. The plasma is then injected into your face or another body part you wish to have treated, with good but limited results and very few side effects. Not ready to go see your doctor just yet? Check out this article we wrote on natural anti-aging skincare products and strategies.
About the Author
Leona Small is a freelance writer and former caregiver. She has experience working with people who have Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias, and has worked in hospice. Her passions include writing about healthy aging, finding resources to help older adults and caregivers, and travel. She has written for various publications, including fiction stories and the Wall Street Journal. Now, she is a freelancer who enjoys writing about a variety of interesting topics.