It’s rare for us to think we can’t do better, whether we’re speaking of our commitment to exercise or our diligence in meeting deadlines. The same is true of medical treatments: they can often be improved upon, and one that promotes healing in a multitude of ways–and works more effectively than many other options–is platelet-rich plasma therapy. Also known as PRP therapy, this therapy is one we use at Revive MD Center in Glen Allen, VA to correct, heal, and rejuvenate.
The human body is equipped to maintain itself in a variety of ways, including through cellular repair. This happens thousands of times a day but is most visible after a bleeding injury. When healthy, the body responds with the targeted delivery of platelets; “first responders” that cluster together and clot to stop bleeding. The body then goes to work regenerating cells and synthesizing collagen until the wound is fully healed.
We can harness this impressive ability with platelet-rich plasma therapy, a treatment designed to trigger cell proliferation, stimulate tissue regeneration, and repair/replace damaged cells. These unique abilities allow us to use PRP for:
This might be the treatment you’re most familiar with thanks to social media posts and celebrity photos. The basic process begins by drawing blood from your arm. We then place it into a centrifuge to separate out the red cells (we don’t need them for this treatment) and obtain platelet-rich plasma. That plasma contains the healing properties we’re looking for and forms the foundation of your treatment.
Your actual facial will start with microneedling, a long-used treatment also known as collagen induction therapy. This involves gently pricking your skin with tiny, sterilized needles. The micro-wounds that ensue allow the PRP to sink effectively into underlying tissues, but it serves another equally important purpose; this treatment in and of itself prompts the body to synthesize more collagen and elastin, both of which are integral to healthy skin.
These two proteins work in harmony together, providing skin with its firm texture, elastic nature, and smooth appearance. When levels are high, your skin is like the flesh of a fresh peach: taut and youthful. But levels wane with time, and your face develops lines, wrinkles, and folds in response. This is why the goal of any great cosmetic treatment is to boost these proteins; they can restore the skin’s structure and beauty in a very natural way.
Once we finish microneedling, we apply the PRP and let it go to work. This treatment has enjoyed a surge in popularity because it improves skin health in ways other therapies cannot. Notably, patients see:
Many patients opt for a series of treatments to amplify their results, which last between three and six months. You’ll notice a tightening of the skin first, which normally develops within a few days. Then your face will reflect a smooth, luminescent glow. This is the result that takes many patients by surprise – how radiant their skin looks after treatment. Results will continue to improve over several months as collagen and elastin production increase.
PRP therapy can be used for numerous aesthetic purposes, including restoring volume to hollow facial areas. People tend to focus on correcting lines and wrinkles as they age, but hollows deserve equal attention. We’re talking about those that develop under the eyes, in the temples, and in the cheeks, which contribute to a burdened, fatigued appearance.
Injectable dermal fillers quickly and effectively give fullness to key areas. Our office uses Juvederm, a family of fillers that, when combined with PRP, improve and extend treatment results. We inject each separately to ensure one doesn’t dilute the other. But once they are below the skin’s surface, they work synergistically to promote smooth skin and a youthful look.
Juvederm products are formulated with hyaluronic acid (HA), a sugar that occurs naturally in the body and attracts and holds water. This ingredient makes for multi-faceted fillers that immediately plump thanks to their thick, silk-like textures. They also hydrate for overall healthier tissues. You therefore see instant fullness in addition to results that continue developing in the coming days as water binds to the HA molecules.
Adding PRP to fillers can deliver broader results, as each treatment goes to work in a slightly different way. PRP, as we discussed, encourages the production of proteins that naturally lift and support skin, while fillers restore volume and diminish wrinkles. The cumulative effects are a fresher, more refined appearance.
When you hear “facelift,” you probably think of surgery, and that’s an understandable reaction. But we have good news: platelet-rich plasma therapy can deliver results that are akin to surgery without forcing you into a long recovery or scarring your skin. We combine our PRP facelift with exosomes, tiny molecules that exist within all of the body’s cells.
Exosomes are responsible for cell to cell communication. They also deliver crucial cytokines, genetic material, and growth factors. People often confuse growth factors with growth hormones, but they’re not the same. Exosomes carry-out completely different tasks, which include:
When delivered to certain cell receptors, growth factors activate those cells so they behave in ways that are beneficial to the body. These include growing and dividing, synthesizing more collagen, and increasing blood flow. Skin, in turn, becomes stronger, thicker, and more supple.
The combination of PRP and exosomes delivers effects that are both immediate and delayed. Here’s what we mean. Right after treatment, your skin tone and texture will instantly improve. Then, as cells are reprogrammed, the skin will look tighter and brighter and lines and wrinkles will fade. This gradual rejuvenation is often preferable to the immediate results provided by surgery because few will know you’ve had work done.
Up to now, hair loss has forced people to make a decision: live with it or undergo hair transplants. The first is a poor option at best, and the second is painful and expensive. Now, thanks to PRP therapy, patients have the chance to truly restore hair growth. The premise behind this treatment is simple. Once injected into the scalp, the plasma reaches the bottom of the hair follicle and may stimulate the activity of highly-specialized dermal papilla cells.
These cells are pivotal in three key areas: hair development, growth, and cycling. Without getting too technical, we’ll tell you they induce hair growth by serving as the signaling center for hair follicles.
If this sounds like a treatment you buy from a local store, in which you rub medicated creams and serums into your scalp, we can assure you it’s not. Most topical ointments are comprised of large molecules that never penetrate below the skin’s surface. But PRP is injected directly into the scalp, where it can prompt active hair growth in follicles that have become otherwise inactive.
We can use platelet-rich plasma therapy as a stand-alone treatment or in combination with exosomes. Either option is highly effective, but adding exosomes rejuvenates hair follicles in a faster and more complete way. More than 200 growth factors are contained within exosomes, and adding them to PRP promotes tissue healing, cell regeneration, and the formation of new hair follicles. For you, these benefits can equate to thicker hair.
Healthcare providers typically treat pain with oral medications that pose their own lengthy list of side effects. Nausea, constipation, fatigue, and mood swings are just a few that we’ll name here. But a new movement is in progress, one that employs PRP therapy to not only manage pain but also promote overall healing.
While pain can be associated with a number of concerns, PRP injections are ideal for soft tissue and joint injuries. These afflict a range of people, from athletes to the elderly, and can be caused by overuse as well as trauma. The use of PRP is so significant because it doesn’t just mask the causes of pain but instead works to heal and rejuvenate tissues. Musculoskeletal conditions it can be used for include:
According to the National Institutes of Health, multiple case studies support the efficacy of PRP injections for soft tissue injuries. Treatment has been shown to reduce swelling, promote healing, and decrease downtime. It’s also proven to stimulate new tissue formation, promote cell proliferation, and modulate inflammatory cells and pain responses.
What does this mean? That PRP can manage pain and repair the injury. And because it uses your own blood, treatment is safe for most people. Results develop within six months, and while you may need additional treatments moving forward, repeat sessions likely will not be necessary once the injury heals.
Platelet-rich plasma therapy is not new. In fact, it’s been used for years in wound care and surgical applications. What is new is our understanding of its effects, and as using it to treat a variety of concerns continues to gain acceptance, new applications for PRP will likely emerge.
Some patients express concern over the use of blood products, but we can assure you that treatment is very safe. We use your own blood to eliminate transfusion risks and/or blood-borne infections from a donor.
You can expect your session to take about an hour Revive MD Center. This includes drawing and processing your blood for injection, making the injections, and then providing you with aftercare instructions. But before treatment, we’ll schedule a consultation appointment to ensure PRP is right for you. We mentioned earlier the safety profile of this therapy, but some exclusion criteria do exist. These include patients with:
You’ve read about the benefits PRP can yield, from tissue regeneration to collagen synthesis. Now it’s time to see how this treatment can go to work for you. Whether you’re hoping to eradicate fine lines and wrinkles, want to add volume to your face, are hoping to mimic the comprehensive results of a surgical facelift, or want to ease joint pain, this treatment can help. Schedule your consultation today by calling Revive MD Center in Glen Allen, VA.
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