What Is a PRP Facial and What Can it Do For Your Skin?
Medical review by Emmanuel Loucas, MD
Is your skin in need of a little rejuvenation? If you’re looking to brighten a dull complexion, tighten sagging skin or lessen the appearance of scars, wrinkles or sun damage, a relatively new treatment called a PRP facial, popularly known as a vampire facial, could be just the ticket.
What is a PRP facial?
PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. In a PRP facial, plasma is taken from your own blood and then injected into your skin. That plasma is rich in platelets that contain proteins called growth factors.
“These growth factors stimulate fibroblasts, which are cells in the skin that produce collagen,” said Emmanuel Loucas, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Water’s Edge Dermatology. “When you get PRP therapy, new collagen forms and plumps the skin, making it smoother and minimizing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and scars.” PRP therapy also boosts production of elastin, which increases skin’s elasticity.
PRP injections have been used for decades to help athletes heal from injuries. Only more recently have skin care providers begun using PRP injections for facial rejuvenation.
“Patients really like PRP therapy because it’s so natural,” said Dr. Loucas. “You’re being treated with platelets taken from your own blood.”
What to expect
When you arrive at your appointment, the doctor will draw 1 to 2 ounces of blood by placing a needle in your arm. The needle contains a small amount of anticoagulant to prevent the blood from clotting, so it may sting a little, Dr. Loucas said.
The blood is placed in a centrifuge to separate it into various components. The plasma rises to the top, and the lower part of the plasma layer, which is especially rich in platelets, is what is used for the injections.
The number of injections depends on the size of the area treated, but at least a couple of dozen injections with a small needle are typically needed for best results. Don’t worry, topical and injectable anesthetics can be used to minimize any discomfort.
Microneedling with PRP
In some cases, your provider may recommend adding microneedling to your treatment. Microneedling with PRP is performed by spreading the PRP on the skin and using a dermaroller (which resembles a mini paint roller coated with tiny needles) to create shallow pricks in the skin. The PRP enters the skin through these pricks. Microneedling on its own also boosts collagen production.
Some doctors use both injections and microneedling. “Combining the two approaches can lead to better results because you’re triggering collagen production in both the dermis [the thick layer of skin beneath the epidermis] and the epidermis,” Dr. Loucas explained.
PRP facial downtime
Recovery from a PRP facial is brief. The treated areas of skin may be a little red at first, but the redness fades in a few hours. You may experience minor swelling for a couple of days. Microneedling may also cause slight bruising, which clears up within four or five days.
How many treatments are needed?
A full course of PRP therapy is three treatment sessions spaced eight weeks apart. Improvement builds over time as collagen production increases. You’ll see the most improvement several weeks after you’ve had all three sessions, but many patients say they can see a difference after just one session, according to Dr. Loucas.
To maintain optimal results, consider undergoing maintenance treatments every six to 12 months.
The best candidates for PRP therapy
PRP facials work best when the skin still has a fair amount of collagen in it, said Dr. Loucas. “PRP isn’t very effective once the skin is very thin and has lost elasticity.”
Most people can safely undergo PRP treatments. Those who have severe inflammation in the area to be treated from a condition such as eczema or psoriasis should wait until the inflammation is cleared. People with a severe immune system disorder should talk with their doctor before undergoing treatment.
Possible risks and side effects
Because it uses your own plasma, PRP treatment is generally safe and well-tolerated. While there’s a risk of infection whenever you puncture the skin, the provider takes steps to minimize it. Other risks include injury to the blood vessels or nerves, calcification at the injection site and development of scar tissue.
When it comes to choosing a provider for your PRP facial, training and experience counts.
“There is an art to performing PRP therapy, so you really want to see a knowledgeable provider who won’t administer it robotically,” Dr. Loucas. “That way, you’ll get the best results for your money.”
Written by Jessica Brown, a health and science writer/editor based in Brooklyn, New York. She has written for Prevention magazine, jnj.com, BCRF.org and many other outlets.
PRP for Hair Loss: Does It Work?
Medical Review By: Emmanuel Loucas, MD
If you’re losing your hair, you may think your choices are Rogaine, a hair transplant or lifelong embarrassment. But there’s another option, called platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, which can help trigger new hair growth. PRP therapy has been used since the 1970s to help athletes heal from injuries, but health practitioners have discovered it can also treat a variety of other issues, including hair loss.
“PRP therapy isn’t a magic cure for hair loss, but it can be very effective in certain people, particularly when it’s used with other treatments such as Rogaine and Propecia,” said Emmanuel Loucas, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Water’s Edge Dermatology who specializes in PRP therapy.
What is PRP therapy?
PRP therapy is a series of injections of platelet-rich plasma taken from your own blood. (Platelets are cell fragments that are essential to blood clotting. Plasma is a yellowish liquid that makes up about half of a person’s blood volume.) Platelet-rich plasma contains proteins called growth factors that stimulate the growth of tissue. It’s believed that these growth factors, when injected in the scalp, are what trigger new hair growth.
“Your hair follicles don’t die when you lose hair, so the goal of most available hair loss treatments is to reactivate them,” Dr. Loucas said. “PRP therapy is another method of ‘waking up’ the hair follicles so they’ll function properly again.”
What the treatment entails
When you arrive at your appointment, the doctor will draw about 1 to 2 ounces of blood by placing a needle in your arm. The needle contains a small amount of an anticoagulant to prevent clotting. It can cause a brief stinging sensation, Dr. Loucas said.
Next, the doctor will place your blood in a centrifuge to separate out the plasma. The plasma is then injected in multiple locations on your scalp. Patients usually need 40 to 50 injections per session.
“I know that sounds painful and a little scary, but your doctor will numb the area first with a topical anesthetic or nerve blocker so the injections don’t hurt,” Dr. Loucas explained.
The whole process takes about an hour or two. Recovery is quick. Your scalp may be a little red following treatment, but any redness fades in a few hours. You may also experience some swelling of the scalp for a couple of days.
How many treatments are needed?
A full course of PRP treatment for hair loss involves three sessions spaced eight weeks apart. You should notice new hair growth in four to six weeks following treatment. The effects of PRP are not permanent. You’ll need to get maintenance treatments every six to 12 months to continue seeing results.
The best candidates for PRP therapy
PRP therapy can treat androgenic alopecia, the most common type of hair loss, also known as male-pattern and female-pattern baldness. However, it’s more likely to be effective if you start treatment in the early stages of hair loss, Dr. Loucas said. “You can’t show up with a huge bald spot and expect great results.”
It can also be effective in people with alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that causes hair to fall out in clumps, leaving round bald spots.
PRP therapy is less likely to work if your hair loss is due to a condition that causes scarring of the scalp, such as lupus. Once scarring has occurred, hair follicles typically can’t be reactivated.
You may get better results by combining PRP therapy with other hair loss treatments, though some people see good results with PRP therapy alone.
PRP therapy may not be recommended if you have an inflammatory skin condition such as psoriasis or a weakened or suppressed immune system.
Possible risks and side effects
Because it uses your own plasma, PRP is generally safe and well-tolerated, Dr. Loucas said. It’s possible to develop an infection, but your doctor will take measures to prevent this, such as cleaning the scalp with alcohol. Other risks include injury to the blood vessels or nerves, calcification at the injection site and development of scar tissue.
To reduce the risk of side effects, it’s important to choose a provider who has taken a training course in PRP therapy and has been performing it for at least a couple of years.
“Technique and training really matter here,” Dr. Loucas said. “Plus, an experienced provider can more accurately determine if you’re a good candidate for PRP therapy, so there’s a greater chance that you’ll get the results you’re seeking.”
Article Written By: Jessica Brown, a health and science writer/editor based in Brooklyn, New York. She has written for Prevention, Johnson & Johnson, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and many other outlets.