10 Things to Know About PRP
Beauty Uncovered explores everything you need to know about platelet-rich plasma
Ever since Kim Kardashian shared a post-PRP selfie in 2013, the so-called ‘vampire facials’ have been a hot topic in the beauty and skincare world. PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, works by using your own blood, which has had the pure plasma extracted from it, to help boost your skin’s cell turnover. The plasma is full of extremely useful growth factors – naturally occurring substances capable of stimulating new cell creation and wound healing. PRP has been used for a long time now for the treatment of sports issues like Achilles tendon damage, tennis elbow and other soft tissue injuries due to its ability to speed up healing time, without the need for strong drugs or further surgery, and it has been making waves in the beauty and aesthetic industry for more than 20 years.
We spoke to Dr Daniel Sister, who pioneered his aptly named ‘Dracula Facials’ in the UK, about the top 10 need-to-know PRP facts.
1. PRP USES YOUR OWN BLOOD PLUS CENTRIFUGAL FORCE
After a thorough consultation, the procedure starts with a blood extraction. “We always extract the blood from the arm, then put it in a machine called a centrifuge. This is a blood spinning machine used to separate particles suspended in liquid according to their densities. Higher density particles will sink, and lower density particles like platelets, will float to the top allowing them to be easily extracted. It’s this plasma that we inject back into the body in areas such as the face.”
The amount of blood that is taken from the patient varies, says Dr Sister, explaining, “As a rule I generally take 20ml. Some practitioners might only extract 6-8ml, which won’t be enough to see significant results. This is why I would always advise seeking a qualified and experienced medical aesthetic practitioner for any treatment.”
2. PRP CAN BENEFIT PRETTY MUCH ANYONE
Essentially, PRP allows our bodies to heal faster. According to Dr Sister, our blood is mainly made up of a liquid called plasma, but it also contains solid components such as red cells, white cells, and platelets. Platelets play an essential role in blood clotting, which stops us from bleeding, but they also contain hundreds of proteins called growth factors and stem cells, that are very important in the healing of injuries. PRP is plasma that has gone through a process to increase its concentration of platelets which, Dr Sister asserts, when injected into the patient, stimulates their collagen to repair, heal and rejuvenate. “It’s all you! It’s taken from you and goes back in you,” explains Dr Sister, “I always conduct a thorough consultation before the treatment, but unlike filler or botulinum toxin, there’s very little that can go wrong as your body won’t reject your own blood.” If you have more significant concerns, PRP may not be the only treatment you need says Dr Sister, “Obviously, if your areas of concern are more severe, like sagging skin or deep wrinkles, PRP cannot solve this, and you would benefit from maybe filler or botulinum toxin injections to treat that particular concern and have a PRP treatment another time to improve skin quality.”
3. PRP CAN GO ANYWHERE ON THE BODY!
The growth factors within the plasma can do wonders for your skin, according to Dr Sister. “The growth factors naturally occur in our blood,” he says, explaining, “They are capable of stimulating cell growth, increasing collagen quantities resulting in tighter, brighter and stronger skin.”
Although the ‘vampire facial’ was made famous by celebrities like Bar Refaeli and Kim Kardashian having their own blood injected into their face, PRP can be injected anywhere into the body. “As the only ingredient is your own plasma, with the occasional vitamin or amino acid additive, PRP can be injected anywhere in the body
where blood flows, which is pretty much everywhere!” says Dr Sister. “PRP is suitable for all skin types and is a great treatment for conditions such as hair loss, scarring, and even to strengthen the skin pre-surgery, or improve healing post-surgery,” says Dr Sister. “It’s also a good treatment for sports injuries,” he adds, “Things like knee sprains and pulled hamstring muscles, which are very prevalent in footballers.” PRP has also been used extensively to combat hair loss, slowing down the hair loss and stimulating new hair growth, says Dr Sister, adding, “It’s far less invasive than a transplant.”
4. DRACULA AND VAMPIRE FACIALS ARE THE SAME THING
PRP facials are colloquially know as ‘vampire facials’ for obvious reasons, but Dr Sister’s particular treatment is called ‘Dracula Therapy’, so what’s the difference?
“We called it Dracula Therapy in the clinic as an in-joke between us practitioners,” says Dr Sister, “One day there was a journalist in the waiting room who then reported on our ‘Dracula Therapy’ and it piqued a lot of interest from the public!” Soon news of Dr Sister’s ‘Dracula Therapy’ reached the US, “A doctor in America called his PRP treatment a ‘vampire facial’, so it became a bit of an ego fight!” laughs Dr Sister.
5. IT’S NO PAIN ALL GAIN
Considering its mildly grizzly nature, would it surprise you to know that PRP doesn’t actually hurt? “We use small, fine needles so there is very little pain and all we’re injecting is your own blood!” says Dr Sister. “I don’t use numbing cream on the face as there is research that suggests it could damage the growth factors, but if I was to inject into the gums to tackle receding (another use for PRP!) I would definitely numb them first!” he adds. The treatment you receive can depend on the practitioner, so it’s always a good idea to ask about their technique during the consultation.
6. IT PLAYS WELL WITH OTHER TREATMENTS
“It doesn’t have to be either or when it comes to PRP and other treatments,” says Dr Sister, “Microneedling treatments – the insertion of tiny sterile needles that puncture the skin to promote collagen production – and laser are both great treatments for improving the quality of the skin that can be used in conjunction with PRP.” Dr Sister recommends having PRP therapy before or after surgery to help improve skin quality and speed up healing, after laser for reduced redness, and also in conjunction with hyaluronic acid to stimulate fibroblasts (the key cells in collagen production) and wound healing.
7. IT’S A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT
Dr Sister argues the results of a PRP facial are more significant and long lasting than a standard facial, while not being too much of a greater investment. “I charge £600 and the treatment takes 30 to 40 minutes from hello to goodbye,” says Dr Sister. “Results are subjective,” he continues, “But for facials, we usually see results lasting approximately six months.”
8. THE TREATMENTS ARE SEMI-REGULAR
Dr Sister insists you don’t need regular treatments to see the benefits from PRP. “If you’re having PRP for skin rejuvenation then I would recommend coming in once every six months,” he explains, “Within a week of your first treatment you will see a significant difference in the clarity, strength and texture of your skin.” Dr Sister adds, “If you’re experiencing hair loss symptoms or receding gums, then I would say come in once a month for three months, and patients often see results after the second session.”
9. YOU CAN GET RESULTS WITHIN A WEEK WITH NO RECOVERY TIME
It’s important to remember that unlike other aesthetic treatments like dermal fillers, the results can take a little while to appear. “You can go about your normal business straight after your treatment and results of facial rejuvenation can usually be seen after five to seven days,” says Dr Sister. “If the patient has had plasma injected into their face, they can expect to see an improvement in skin texture and tone, improved hydration and a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles,” he adds.
Dr Sister says it’s common to experience some redness and in rare cases bruising following the treatment, but any redness should go away within the hour. He adds, “Your skin might be a little bit more sensitive due to the injections and I would recommend not wearing makeup or using any harsh skincare for 24 hours after the treatment.”
10. THE COMPLICATION RISK IS VERY LOW
There are very few situations in which a person isn’t a good candidate for PRP, says Dr Sister, “As it’s so low in risk, there are only a few incidences where someone would be unsuitable, including a medical condition that could worsen or spread with injections or a blood disorder like haemophilia or anaemia, and I wouldn’t treat a pregnant woman. As with any injectable there is a slight risk of infection, so be sure to choose your practitioner wisely for safe and successful PRP results.”