What is PRP Facial Therapy?
Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (or PRP Therapy, for short) is a non-invasive procedure, whereby blood is drawn from the patient and after separating the platelet-rich-plasma, it is then injected in to the skin to reverse the tell-tale signs of aging.
Made popular by celebrity Kim Kardashian PRP enhances collagen production while stimulating your body’s natural repair and rejuvenation process. The combination of PRP and microdermabrasion enhances the result – these platelets contain growth factors which help to stimulate rapid cell replenishment. While dermatologists use PRP facials, orthopaedic doctors have used PRP injection to heal injured joints. It is a tried and tested method with a long history of excellent results in pain reduction and anti-inflammatory effects.
What is the treatment like?
Before you go for PRP Therapy you will need to avoid sun exposure or tanning for a week prior to your appointment. Drinking lots of water and eating healthy will assist in getting the best quality blood/ PRP for the treatment. You may opt to come bare face but the Aesthetic nurses will remove any make-up that you have on.
Methods of preparation of PRP: The process of preparing PRP isn’t as straight forward as drawing blood and re-injecting it into the required area – the blood has to go through a special process, to separate out the PRP. The amount of blood required depends on the individual and the area to be treated.
Step 1: Blood is placed in a centrifuge and will be softly spun to isolate the plasma, platelets, red and white blood cells.
Step 2: The centrifuge will then undergo a hard spin that further concentrates the platelets into the final product, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-poor plasma (PPP) components.
Step 3: After the blood has been spun into various components, the platelet-rice plasma (PRP) will be extracted. The microneedling (PRP) treatment opens channels into your skin which allows better penetration of the solution. It is then massaged into the face either during or after microneedling process.
Step 4: Once the procedure is finished, your Doctor will apply a serum or balm to help soothe any redness or irritation.
You are free to return home or back to work after the procedure is over.
Why do people seek PRP?
PRP Facial Therapy is minimally invasive procedure as it doesn’t involve any incisions and gives a younger, more natural-looking appearance with rejuvenated skin. The best part is that the side effects of the therapy are limited, as it is your own blood which is used for the treatment.
The benefit of PRP Facial:
- Stimulate Collagen Growth
- Increases Elastin which Tightens and Thickens Skin
- Improve Skin Tone (Good for those who suffer Rosacea or Acne)
- Smooth Out Fine Lines and Wrinkles
- Improves Sun Damaged Skin
- Acts as Antioxidants
- Has Hydrating Properties
Considerations
Before undergoing PRP Facial, you need to be aware of certain things. If you have a history of Blood Disease, clotting or bleeding disorders, you will need to inform our doctors beforehand to see if PRP is suitable, and whether we can combine it with other treatment programs to achieve a better outcome.
If you have certain skin conditions such as acne, facial eczema or rosacea and you scar easily, please do let the Doctor know before hand so that they can advise accordingly or provide creams to help with scarring/ wound healing.
You will also need to inform the Doctor if you are pregnant, intending to be pregnant or if you are breast-feeding.
It’s also important to find a licensed clinic with professional doctors to do the treatment for you using sterile equipment. We can’t emphasize it enough, going to a beauty parlour with unlicensed doctor will result in doing more harm than good on your skin. In some cases, needles have not been sterilized and some unscrupulous centres have even gone so far as needle sharing which will result in blood disorders like HIV, etc. It’s dire to do research on the centre and doctors before your treatment so that you are getting PRP done professional done.
Maintenance
In order to maintain the glow from PRP Facial, repeated process every 4 weeks will ensure that your skin stays radiant.
In the meantime, to reduce redness and irritation, you will need to avoid putting too many products on your skin. A simple procedure will do, just cleanse and moisturize your skin twice a day. You may put some lightweight foundation or powder to minimize redness.
Do avoid putting alcohol-based products and exfoliants in the recovery stage. As always, our doctors will emphasize on putting sun screen.
It is best to not do any rigorous activities that may cause excessive sweating or heat production. This may cause your skin to get irritated and increase the chance of swelling and bruising. Do avoid activities such as running, basketball and heavy workouts. You may do so after 72 hours.
Possible Side Effects/ Risks
PRP Facial Therapy is considered a low-risk treatment. The only risks that you are likely to experience is bruising around the site of treatment, minor discomfort from the blood draw and some potential bruising from injection or micro-needling. You will also want to avoid sun exposure and any harsh skin treatments for the next couple of days (such as scrubs, chemicals peels and lasers.)
The benefit of doing PRP is that it comes from your own blood, so there is little chance of contamination or infection.
What our Dr says:
It is a treatment that is quickly gaining popularity in the field of aesthetic procedures. It’s even sometimes referred to as the “Vampire Facelift”! PRP itself comprises of a large number concentration of platelets of about 4 – 5 times more than normal blood and, en masse, stimulate cell repair and regeneration. This treatment is therefore great for rejuvenating the skin – improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, sun-damage and dull skin. “The idea behind PRP Therapy is to fuse advanced technology with our body’s ability to heal itself,” says Dr Karen Po, our Consultant Aesthetic Physician. “I believe that’s the reason why so many people are interested in this therapy, as it only uses the natural substances of your own body – no need to worry about allergic, adverse reactions.”
