PLATELET RICH PLASMA
ADVANCED SKIN-REJUVENATION TREATMENT

PRP is a new, ground-breaking, injectable aesthetic treatment that dramatically transforms the appearance of the skin, softens the sun-damaged skin and improves the signs of aging. It is completely natural because patients are treated with their own blood platelets and plasma. There is no possibility of an infection or allergic reaction, it doesn’t hurt and the treatment is over quickly. It is sometimes referred to as Vampire facial because it involves drawing the patient’s blood. This revolutionary skin rejuvenation procedure combines two treatment concepts into one – PRP infusion and micro-needling. PRP therapy provides increased collagen production, tighter and firmer skin, improved moisture retention, reduced fine lines and wrinkles and enhanced skin tone and texture.

Procedure info at a glance

Is it painful? No since anesthetic cream is used
Is there any downtime? Possibility of swelling, bruising and redness after the injection
How many sessions are needed? Usually 3-4 sessions
How long does the procedure take? Around 30-40 minutes
When can I see the results? After the course of sessions
How often should I do it? Every 4 weeks

How It Works

WHAT IS PLATELET-RICH PLASMA?

A PRP skincare treatment method makes the body naturally heal itself. Platelet-rich Plasma is beneficial for the skin as it makes it smoother, tighter and rejuvenated.

The blood consists of four important components – red and white blood cells, plasma and platelets. Platelets are a type of blood cells, and plasma is the liquid that holds the platelets together. Platelets are important for skin wound healing PRP has been used in orthopedic medicine, reconstructive surgery and dentistry for a long time. Its usage in dermatology is becoming more and more popular as it has been scientifically proven that PRP stimulates the growth of new collagen when it is injected into the skin.

For facial rejuvenation, platelets in the plasma need to be concentrated. This is achieved by centrifuging the blood which results in the separation of all four components by density. For the PRP treatment, red and white blood cells are excluded and only the plasma with injected platelets is used.

BENEFITS OF PRP TREATMENT

After PRP facial, patients look rejuvenated, healthier and radiant in a short period of time. The treatment is fast – it can last between 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the size of the targeted areas. It is a completely natural procedure and above all effective.

INCREASED COLLAGEN PRODUCTION

As the body becomes older its ability to produce collagen significantly drops. This is a normal sign of aging and can’t be reversed. Signs of aging can be visible on the face, neck, decolletage or arms in a form of unhealthy and tired-looking skin. PRP enhances the quality of the skin because it stimulates collagen build-up. The benefit of PRP is that it is a completely natural treatment and it disrupts the collagen cells when it is injected into the upper layers of the skin.

When the skin is injected with PRP the collagen immediately starts to heal it. Simultaneously, the body starts to produce new, healthier and stronger collagen. After the treatment, the skin is significantly tighter, but the collagen regrow takes a few weeks to happen. The results of the PRP treatment carry on with improvement for several weeks post-treatment.

REDUCED FINE LINES AND WRINKLES

One of the most common reasons why patients want a vampire facial is wrinkles and lines. They are a normal sign of aging but they can be effectively treated with PRP as this facial treatment awakens the dormant cells in the skin. It triggers the forming of new skin cells and elastin which results in reducing the wrinkles as the skin naturally gets tighter. Deeper folds are eliminated as the skin in the hollow areas gets plumper.

FIRMER AND TIGHTER SKIN

As the level of collagen diminishes over time the skin becomes thinner and starts to sag in some parts of the face and body. Especially lips become visibly thin and cheeks appear sunken. PRP treatment enables more plumping to the skin on the face and body which results in a rejuvenated appearance.

ENHANCED SKIN TONE AND TEXTURE

PRP facial is especially effective in treating acne or surgical scars, stretch marks or hyperpigmentation as it stimulates the body’s natural healing processes. As the old skin cells are replaced with the new and healthy ones, the appearance of the skin gets drastically improved a few days post-treatment.

PRP AND OTHER TREATMENTS

Platelet-rich Plasma treatment can be combined with other facial treatments like laser, chemical peels, Juvederm, Wrinkle Treatment, Restylane, microdermabrasion and/or Dysport®. A combination can be decided depending on the patient’s skin problems and the expected results of skin rejuvenation.

Overall, the PRP therapy behaves like a matrix that stimulates the collagen to increase, regenerates tissue and smooths and tightens the skin in a natural way. It improves the quality of the skin and provides improved moisture retention and reduced fine lines and wrinkles. The vampire facial is a fast, simple and effective procedure that can be finished in 30 minutes. It is entirely natural as it uses the components that are already in the body.

WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR PRP TREATMENT?

One of the best advantages of PRP treatment or a vampire facial is that it is suitable for almost everyone. Since it is a natural procedure and uses blood from the patient’s own body, there can’t appear any allergic reactions or infections. Also, the body will not reject it as an unknown agent since it is a substance already present in it.

Patients who wish to undergo PRP therapy can greatly benefit in different ways. They can achieve:

  • Improved acne scars
  • Tighter and firmer skin
  • Improved hyperpigmentation
  • Improved moisture retention
  • Reduced wrinkles and fine lines
  • Improved uneven skin tone

Also, patients who shy away from surgery or feel that their skin looks older than it should, can improve their skin effectively and in a non-surgical way.

However, people who suffer from certain blood disorders and have clotting conditions that require the use of blood thinners are not the best candidate for PRP facial treatment.

FREQUENT QUESTIONS

  • WHAT AREAS DOES PRP TARGET?

    When used in anti-aging procedures, PRP can be used on any part of the face or body.

    The most common areas of treatment are:

    ● The skin around the eyes - this area is especially delicate as the skin is very thin and prone to wrinkles and fine lines
    ● Upper and lower eyelid
    ● Chin
    ● Forehead
    ● Neck
    ● Cheeks
    ● Jawline
    ● Nasolabial folds
    ● Chest and décollétage
    ● Lips
    ● Hands and arms

    Another advantage of PRP is that it can be used on all skin tones and types.

  • WHAT DOES THE PRP TREATMENT INVOLVE?

    When patients arrive at Lucia Clinic, first they are consulted with PRP therapists. They discuss the skin concerns and results they wish to achieve. The therapist closely examines the patient’s skin especially the areas that can be treated with PRP. Depending on the severity of the skin condition and expected results, the therapist creates a tailor-made treatment plan for the patient.

    Prior to the scheduled treatment, the patient is advised to apply sunscreen when he/she goes out for seven days. Also, the patient should drink a lot of water to keep the hydration on a high level. On the day of the treatment, the patient should come without makeup, moisturizer or other skincare product.

  • THE TREATMENT

    Before the PRP treatment can start, a small amount of the patient’s blood is drawn and placed in centrifuging machine for 5 minutes. This is when a process of separating the blood’s components takes place. After the separation, the platelets are injected into plasma and the treatment can start.

    In the meantime, the patient’s face, neck and chest are thoroughly cleaned. After that, the PRP therapist applies a local anesthetic to the targeted area. The skin around the lips, eyes and hairline is especially delicate and sensitive so a topical cream helps the patients to be more comfortable during the treatment.

    The PRP is first injected into the top layers of the skin at specific points on the face, neck or decolletage. Next, the PRP therapist uses a micro-needling device to spread PRP on the upper layer of the skin, all over the face - forehead, cheeks, neck and other parts in order to allow PRP to be absorbed by the skin and go into the deeper layers. Micro-needling is really effective in stimulating collagen growth and when it is used together with PRP infusion the patient is getting a double effect of collagen increase.

    So once the plasma is absorbed by the skin it starts rejuvenating the patient’s entire face, smoothing the wrinkles and improving the overall look.

  • ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS AND DOWNTIME?

    As PRP treatment is only minimally invasive, there is little to no downtime after it. Most patients can normally return to their everyday activities.

    Possible side effects may occur like pain at the site where the injection was administered. Also, some irritation, redness and swelling can happen but these sensitivities seize after one or two days. The swelling is actually part of the healing process and shows that the the therapy was successful. For patients who tend to bruise easily, darker or purple marks may appear on the treated sites, but putting some ice on them greatly helps the discomfort.

    Patients are advised not to touch or apply any product on the treated area for several hours. Also, patients should apply sunscreen in the first week post-treatment, and use moisturizer after 12 hours because the skin might become flaky and dry in the first day or two.

  • WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF PRP TREATMENT?

    After a few days, patients start to notice the first results of the procedure - the skin gets tighter, the entire face is fuller and has an overall healthier appearance. The immediate results show after just one treatment and they continue to improve in the course of several weeks. The results can last for a long time - up to several months. The full results show after a few weeks post-treatment because it takes some time for the new collagen to regrow.

    The PRP therapists usually advise 3 to 4treatment sessions for the best results.

    Patients can have additional touch-ups a few times a year to maintain the results of this anti-aging treatment.

    If the skin condition is more severe and patients are dealing with acne and surgery scars or other skin damage it is recommended initially to have 4 to 6 treatments with the two-week pause between each session.

    The results of PRP are long-lasting and can be visible for 18 or more months.