Rufus R. Noble Over the course of time, our skin tends to lose volume and develops a crepey appearance with dark circles or hollows under the eyes. This is due to declining and slower reproduction of collagen, the structure for all cells, and is why our skin takes longer to heal as we age.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a quick and natural treatment using your own blood plasma (enriched with platelets) to enhance healing, stimulate collagen production and improve skin texture, elasticity and appearance, on nearly any part of the body.
PRP is a useful treatment for clients concerned with the following:
- Wrinkles, fine lines or crepey skin on the face, neck, decolletage or hands;
- Under-eye dark circles or hollows;
- Skin laxity or loss of firmness; and
- Acne scars, stretch marks and other scars.
PRP also works extremely well in conjunction with fractionated laser treatments and other dermal injectable fillers.
Any client undergoing CO2 DOT laser or even MonaLisa Touch should consider an add-on topical PRP treatment. Given the DOT laser creates thousands of tiny pillars or holes in the dermis, it is receptive to absorb PRP applied directly to the skin surface.
PRP injected just under the skin or applied topically over the skin surface, following ablative laser, improves healing and induces the formation of new collagen fibres.This stimulation of collagen helps to remodel skin and scar tissue over time, which plumps up the dermis resulting in a more elastic and smoother complexion.
Improvement of skin texture and tone can be expected after approximately 3 weeks. The results are more noticeable on mature skins and for certain conditions (such as acne scars) but may require three or more treatments for effective results.
Nearly all our CO2 DOT laser patients elect to add-on topical PRP, which speeds up the skin healing process and can reduce the recovery period(or downtime) by days.
PRP was first developed in the 1970s and began gaining popularity in the mid 1990s. It has since been applied to many different medical fields such as cosmetic surgery, dentistry, sports medicine and pain management.
Although it is not entirely clear how PRP works, laboratory studies show that platelets release growth factors that assist the human body to repair itself by stimulating cells to regenerate new tissue. Further, an increased concentration of platelets permits the body to heal faster and more efficiently.
Science generally supports the use of PRP for the augmentation and regeneration of bone and soft tissues and it has been used for many years in treating musculoskeletal sporting injuries of the tendons, muscles and joints.
Consultation:
You will meet with our Cosmetic Nurse to discuss your skin concerns, expectations and an appropriate treatment plan. Where your skin condition is not deemed suitable for PRP, other treatment options will be suggested.
Treatment:
The PRP treatment is a simple, safe procedure where your blood is taken, spun and separated in a centrifuge machine and the platelet rich plasma is extracted ready for use. This takes about 15 minutes.
If you are having topical application post-laser or MonaLisa Touch, the PRP is simply applied to the surface of the treated skin or membrane tissue. The PRP will be absorbed via the thousands of tiny pillars or holes created in the skin’s dermis as a result of the factional laser treatment. It is a painless application and can be quite soothing following laser treatment to the face and body.
If you are having PRP injected, the treatment area is firstly numbed for 15-30 minutes and your PRP will be re-injected using a fine needle into the dermis(just under the top layer of skin).You will experience a mild discomfort during injection and swelling for a couple hours to 2 days.
Post-Treatment:
There is no downtime from topical PRP and it tends to speed-up recovery post-laser treatment.
For PRP injections, the treated area may be swollen up to 48 hours but should settle down as the body reabsorbs the fluid. If swelling does not subside within 48 hours, please contact our clinic. You may also experience some bruising and tenderness at the injection site.
Post treatment care instructions will be supplied and you should follow these carefully. Do not pick at the skin.
Side Effects:
Because your own plasma (autologous) is used, there is no danger of disease transmission, rejection, allergy or other adverse reaction to the product.
For PRP injection, there is always a small risk of infection, bruising or scarring, but these are minor and complications are very rare.
You should avoid Fish Oils and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAID’s) such as Nurofen and Voltaren in the 7-10 days leading up to your PRP appointment.
You will start to notice a change in your skin a few weeks after the recommended number of treatments. PRP stimulates your body’s natural production of collagen fibres, so the required number of treatments, results and longevity differ from person to person.
Other things you can do to extend your skin rejuvenation include:
- Follow the recommended post-treatment care precisely;
- Wear sunscreen daily and avoid direct sunlight for extended periods;
- Adopt a daily skin regime appropriate for your skin type and condition;
- Eat a healthy diet;
- Stop smoking and moderate alcohol consumption.
At Academy Laser Clinics, we use a simple and natural PRP extraction technique. As such, we can keep the cost of treatment affordable. Topical PRP applied post-DOT Laser or post-MonaLisa Touch treatment is only $100 per application.
PRP injections start at $220per area (e.g. hands), although most clients will require 3 or more treatments spaced 4 weeks apart. Packages are available for multiple treatments.
Your consulting Cosmetic Nurse will recommend the appropriate PRP treatment for your skin concerns and provide details on price and any current promotions.
PRP treatment may not be suitable for clients with:
- Unrealistic expectations;
- Cancer or metastatic disease;
- An active infection;
- A low platelet count; or
- Pregnant or are breastfeeding.
