If you’re looking to give your cheeks a little lift or alleviate eye wrinkles, Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment is an innovative non-surgical procedure that will help you achieve a youthful, beautiful glow.
Platelet-rich plasma treatment is also called “a vampire facelift,” and here’s everything you need to know about the process.
The nickname “vampire facelift” stems comes from one simple factor: blood. Vampires love it, and so does your facial tissue.
Specifically, the procedure works by injecting your own blood, in the form of plasma-rich platelets, into whichever area you want to rejuvenate or repair—commonly on the face, but sometimes elsewhere too. This may sound unnerving, but it’s actually a non-invasive, straightforward process.
The power is all in the platelets, which inherently contain growth factors that stimulate the following:
Platelets are a funny little hybrid of cell and molecule, sometimes called “cell fragments.” They have amazing, restorative “clotting” power, which can help heal skin when concentrated.
Because the blood is yours, your body will adopt it without complication. The procedure essentially mimics the body’s own healing process: no chemicals, no foreign substances, and no allergic reactions. Treating affected areas heals the skin and can slow or reverse the affects of aging, like wrinkles and sagging.
PRP treatment is fairly basic, and shouldn’t take longer than an hour all together. Your dermatologist will likely clean your skin and apply antiseptic before beginning, and maybe take a picture for a before and after look.
Step 1) Extraction: About 10-20 oz of blood is extracted from the patient. This about the same amount as a standard blood sample, so it’s fairly quick and painless.
Step 2) Blood treatment: After it’s extracted, your blood is put into a centrifuge where it is spun in order to separate red and white blood cells from the platelets and plasma. The latter, called “platelet-rich plasma” is the solution used in this procedure.
Step 3) Injection: The platelet-rich plasma is injected into your skin where it releases its growth factors, stimulating cells surrounding the injection site and causing them to increase in volume. This “plumping” effect reduces fine lines and wrinkles by sending a signal out to cells to come fix the injury site. The influx of repair cells improves the overall quality, texture, and tightness of the skin treated. You may receive several injections in the vicinity of your target area.
After the procedure, your dermatologist may apply ice to reduce inflammation. Patients may experience mild swelling, bruising, and discoloration, which will fade from 1-3 days. In general, side effects are rare.
Many people don’t want plastic surgery, but still want to do something when their skin isn’t cooperating or looking its best. For those that are shy about invasive procedures, chemicals, and skin removal or filler, a PRP treatment is a great option that is just about as natural as a cosmetic procedure can be, and as safe too.
A look at the research shows that those treated report the results lasting up to four of five weeks. A peer reviewed study from 2010, for example, concluded after analyzing patients over the course of their treatment that the procedure was satisfactory, the results effective, and the side effects neither serious nor persistent.
A PRP treatment is also incredibly synergistic with other treatments, like microneedling, so you can approach your issues holistically rather than picking just one option and calling it a day.
When all else fails, ask your doctor or dermatologist for more information. The Dermatology Specialists is proud to offer PRP treatments at several of its New York City locations. Make an appointment today!
