PRP

What is PRP?

PRP stands for Platelet-Rich Plasma, and is essential in regenerative treatments.

Applications

PRP has been used for many years in orthopaedics for osteochondral injuries, tendon or ligament repair, muscles, bone fractures, and pseudoarthrosis. It is also utilised for pain relief, and post-operatively for improved wound healing and scar formation. PRP has also been used for a long time in other areas of medicine as diverse as ophthalmology, pneumology, ENT, and urology.

PRP is used in aesthetic medicine to treat hair loss and to naturally enhance facial appearance.

On the face, it can be used to:

• soften small, fine surface wrinkles
• reduce skin pores
• improve skin texture: elasticity and skin tone
• reduce pigmentation disorders such as acne and age spots treat dull skin.

The result is healthy and radiant skin!

What does the treatment involve?

During a PRP treatment, we only use your own blood. On the day of the procedure, it is best to drink plenty of water.

Before collecting your blood, we cleanse your face and apply an anaesthetic cream, before cooling it with ice pads. We then draw 20cc of blood, which is collected in the PRP kit. This kit is placed in a centrifuge for about four minutes to separate the red blood cells from the blood serum containing the platelets. Next, we extract the platelet-rich plasma from the kit and transfer it into small, user-friendly syringes. It can then be injected locally into the anaesthetised skin using fine micro-needles.

After the PRP treatment, further micro-needling is often carried out with the plasma, which can be mixed with vitamins for even better results. This treatment is also collectively referred to as the ‘Vampire Facelift’.

How do PRP and micro-needling work?

The platelets that are injected with the serum contain growth factors (i.e. proteins), which are released into the skin to stimulate skin cells to produce new collagen and elastin. Collagen is an essential protein structure that is a significant constituent of our joints, muscles, and bones but is also found in our hair and nails. In the skin, it mainly contributes to its firmness and elasticity. Over the age of 25, it is harder for our body to produce collagen. This means skin elasticity progressively decreases during the physiological ageing process. PRP increases the rate of skin cell renewal and, therefore, has a regenerative effect. And all in a natural way!

PRP can also treat hair loss by accelerating the scalp’s capacity to regenerate hair cells. The growth factors can energise the hair follicles by increasing the blood supply to them (though only those follicles in the process of dying, not those that have been dead for a long time).

Micro-needling will create tiny ‘wounds’ in the skin that trigger the skin to activate the wound-healing process, which will be even faster when combined with the growth factors derived from the PRP.

How many sessions will be required, and when will the effects be noticeable?

To get the best results, PRP should initially be repeated two (or three) times every 4–6 weeks. After that, it is recommended to have a maintenance treatment once a year. The expected results will only be visible after two months. While the duration of the effect will vary between individuals, most can expect a treatment effect of up to 18 months.

The results of PRP treatment for hair loss take two to three months to show. After six months, new hair growth will be clearly visible.

What are the side effects?

The mechanism of the anti-ageing effect is 100% natural, so the results are also entirely natural and there is no need to worry about dangerous side effects. Any temporary redness, swelling, and/or bruising is normal and will disappear in the first hours/days after treatment.

Precautions after treatment:

Everyday activities can be resumed on the same day. Afterwards, protecting against sunlight with at least an SPF50 sunscreen to prevent pigmentation from reappearing is essential. You should also avoid intense exercise or sauna visits for the first 24 hours after treatment, and preferably not use anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for the first few weeks. You can, however, cool down your face a little three times daily for 15 minutes.

Contraindications for PRP:

• Platelet dysfunction disorders
• Thrombocytopenia
• Pregnancy
• Use of anti-thrombotic drugs
• Active cancer

This treatment is available from Dr. Florence Desmidt. For more information, please call +32 (0) 9 269 94 94.