Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment is gaining popularity and earning a legitimate role in the field of cosmetic treatments — surgical and nonsurgical. The overwhelming amount of information about PRP makes it hard for many people to fully grasps its many uses in aesthetic medicine.
Dr. Robert Cristel and our Synergi Facial Surgery team have extensive experience with PRP and can help you navigate its uses. We also offer a comprehensive lineup of surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures that work well with PRP. Here’s what you need to know.
PRP 101
Your blood contains several components, but the main players are white and red blood cells and platelets that swim in the liquid plasma.
Platelets help clotting and tissue healing, releasing over 30 growth factors and other proteins. The more platelets you have, the faster your tissue heals, so it makes sense that creating a serum with concentrated platelets can be a game-changer in any medical field.
In orthopedic medicine, PRP treatments help patients with ACL tears, knee osteoarthritis, and other musculoskeletal problems.
It’s also an attractive option for plastic surgery. Dr. Cristel may use it to enhance your cosmetic procedures, such as:
Minimally invasive treatments also get a boost from PRP, and we incorporate it into many of our services.
Where does PRP come from?
To prepare PRP, we take a small sample of your blood and spin it in a centrifuge to separate the platelets and plasma.
Once we have the concentrated PRP, we inject it into your skin or add it to your treatment so it penetrates your tissues and releases growth factors. These growth factors:
- Reduce inflammation
- Help regenerate damaged tissue
- Accelerate healing times
- Stimulate collagen and elastin production
Because it comes from your own cells, there’s little-to-no risk of adverse effects.
What treatments work well with PRP?
Dr. Cristel evaluates your skin and overall health before determining whether PRP is a suitable addition to your cosmetic treatments. Here are some nonsurgical cosmetic procedures that may benefit from PRP.
Microneedling with PRP
Microneedling creates tiny punctures in your skin to stimulate collagen production — PRP supercharges this process. The PRP delivers a concentrated dose of growth factors into the deeper layers of your skin, enhancing its natural healing process and promoting more rapid cell turnover. Your takeaway is a more radiant, youthful appearance with improved skin tone and texture.
Laser skin resurfacing with PRP
Laser skin resurfacing treats skin conditions like wrinkles, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. PRP enhances its effects by reducing inflammation and speeding up the healing process. The growth factors in PRP also stimulate collagen and elastin production, improving the elasticity and firmness of the skin.
Chemical peels with PRP
Chemical peels involve applying a chemical solution to the skin to exfoliate and eventually peeling it off, revealing fresh, new skin underneath. Incorporating PRP minimizes redness and swelling, speeds up recovery time, and enhances overall results. PRP works hand-in-hand with the chemical peel to stimulate cellular renewal, resulting in smoother, brighter, and younger-looking skin.
PRP facial treatment
This treatment, also known as “vampire facial,” involves injecting PRP into your face. It’s a natural cosmetic procedure that uses your own body’s plasma to rejuvenate your skin and address common skin concerns.
Find out if PRP can boost your cosmetic procedures — call Synergi Facial Surgery in Chesterfield or O’Fallon, Missouri, or book online.