Are you thinking of getting a PRP treatment? You’re in for a truly unique treatment with powerful effects. Because PRP uses your own biological material, it’s a safe and biocompatible procedure. Hundreds of studies back its effects, and it’s used in many fields of medicine. To learn more about your first PRP treatment, here’s everything you need to know. 

 

What Is a PRP Treatment?

PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma, a healing material rich in growth factors. It’s commonly used in medicine to stimulate an anti-inflammatory response and improve the body’s healing process after surgeries or injury. 

PRP treatments don’t only speed healing, but they also ensure it happens in a normalized way, reducing the risk of complications or scarring. 

As part of the PRP injection procedures, plasma is first extracted from blood using a centrifuge. By injecting PRP, medical professionals can trigger a targeted and powerful regenerative response. It’s a phenomenal treatment for a broad range of concerns, including sports injuries, post-surgery recovery, and chronic pain. 

In aesthetic medicine, we harness the power of PRP to repair scarring and hyperpigmentation, fade wrinkles, improve hair growth, and increase collagen and elastin production in a natural way, using your body’s own growth factors.

 

 

Pre-Treatment Advice

If you’re considering undergoing a PRP injection procedure, here are a few key things to keep in mind prior to treatment. 

  • Remember that your pre- and post-care instructions will vary depending on the type of PRP procedure you’re undergoing. Always follow your medical provider’s instructions closely.  
  • Practice good sun protection in the days leading up to your treatment. 
  • Make sure that you’re a good candidate for PRP by reviewing all documents and consent forms shared by your provider. 
  • Stop using any medications with a blood-thinning or anticoagulant effect, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.  
  • Discontinue the use of anti-inflammatory supplements, especially fish oil and vitamin E. 
  • Avoid smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol in the weeks leading up to your treatment. 
  • Nourish your body with healthy food and plenty of water. On the day of your appointment, it’s best to come in hydrated and well-rested. 
  • For PRP microneedling treatments, discontinue the use of retinoids or chemical exfoliants. 
  • If undergoing PRP microneedling, come to your treatment with your face clean and free of makeup. 

 

What to Expect During the Procedure 

1) Consultation: Your treatment will always start with a consultation, during which your provider will go over your medical history to confirm you’re a good candidate for treatment. They’ll determine the best delivery method for your PRP, whether through injection or microneedling. 

They’ll ask you about your treatment goals, and give you an idea of what you can expect as far as recovery and results. Keep in mind that the results timeline can vary from person to person, and you may need to undergo more than one treatment to see the results you want. 

2) Numbing: A numbing cream might be applied to your treatment area, in order to prevent the pain from the injection or microneedling treatment. 

3) Blood draw: Next, the nurse will draw your blood. Since PRP is derived from the patient’s own blood, it’s very biocompatible and unlikely to lead to complications. The amount of blood needed for PRP treatments is small. 

4) Centrifuge: Next, the blood is spun through a centrifuge at a very precise speed. This process separates the healing and renewing platelet-rich plasma from your red blood cells. This usually takes around 15 minutes. Depending on the equipment used, it’s also possible to extract a more concentrated material called Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) which can only be injected. 

5) Injection: Finally, the PRP is introduced into the treatment area through injection, microneedling, or other methods depending on the purpose and treatment. At SEV, we carefully apply the PRP to your skin first, and then microneedle with SkinPen, Morpheus8, or Potenza to enhance even and wide-spread penetration of the PRP to the level of skin where your main concerns are based. 

 

Post Procedure Advice

Different PRP procedures can come with slightly different aftercare advice. Always follow your doctor’s advice in cases of PRP injections to treat specific health concerns. At SEV, this is what we usually recommend. 

  • Be extra diligent about sun protection in the days following treatment, and consider wearing hats or UPF-rated clothing in addition to using sunscreen. 
  • If your skin feels irritated or tender, rinse it with cool water to calm the area down. 
  • For at least a week, avoid using harsh or exfoliating skincare, and instead stick to a gentle, moisturizing routine with fragrance-free products. 
  • Avoid activities that can raise your body’s temperature, such as intense exercise or trips to the sauna, for at least a few days following treatment. 

 

Common Side Effects

The most common side effect after PRP microneedling treatments is slight inflammation in the treatment area. This may include swelling, redness, tenderness, and itching at the treatment site. You may also experience some delayed effects like discomfort or a “full” feeling at the injection site. These normal PRP side effects usually fade within days. 

Mild bruising or pinprick bleeding can occur in cases of deeper microneedling treatments. When it comes to deep PRP injections, there is also a risk of nerve or tissue damage, although your practitioner should know how to mitigate those risks. 

Other complications, like allergic reactions, are incredibly rare since PRP is biocompatible. That said, to ensure your safety, make sure your treatment is carried out by a qualified medical professional. 

 

Conclusion

If you’re curious to try aesthetic PRP injections, check if they’re available at your nearest SEV! PRP treatments are available as an add-on to our Morpheus8, Potenza or SkinPen microneedling treatments at select SEV med spas or as a standalone PRF injectable. From correcting texture to reducing fine lines, we can trigger your skin’s own repair mechanisms for your natural transformation.