At Medics Aesthetics we now provide PRP treatments. What better way to revive your natural beauty than by using your body’s own power to regenerate itself. This hidden power base is found in platelets in our blood.

 

What are platelets?

Platelets are a specialized type of blood cell fragment which are reservoirs of natural growth factors.

Whenever we have an injury such as a bruise, a cut or scrape, tiny blood vessels are ruptured. Special components in our blood immediately set about the healing and regenerative process. The important component in blood responsible for the healing and regenerative process are the growth factors found in platelets.

When platelets find themselves out of their normal environment which is in your blood vessels, they release their growth factors. Not only does this happen when blood vessels are ruptured, but also when platelets are injected into treatment areas such as your skin or scalp.

• Growth factors are important in healing and tissue regeneration
• Growth factors stimulate collagen secretion, cell growth and tissue remodelling
• Growth factors stimulate development of new blood vessels and oil glands to improve skin nourishment
• Growth factors attract stem cells to assist in new tissue regeneration

 

What happens as our skin ages?

During the natural ageing process, many changes occur to our skin.

There is a loss of collagen and elastin and skin becomes less elastic. Wrinkles and sagging occurs. The epidermis loses lipids (fatty substances) that keep skin moisturized, further contributing to the wrinkle problem. Skin becomes thinner as we age – almost transparent in some cases – and loses a lot of the underlying fat layer that keeps young skin smooth and supple. Older skin also experiences a decrease in size or loss of oil and sweat glands over time, which contributes to dry skin. Exposure to ultra-violet light and certain medications and pollutants, can also weaken the skin and the blood vessels in the skin.

Skin’s complexion and texture can change over time as well. Probably the most dreaded sign of aging skin is the appearance of age spots, also called liver spots, which are flat areas of dark pigmentation that often appear on the face, chest, hands, arms and shoulders

Another way in which skin changes as we age is in its ability to renew itself. Skin regenerates very fast in children, but the rate at which it renews gradually slows with age. Very old people’s skin still regenerates, but it does so quite slowly.

Why not make use of the growth factors stored in the platelets in our blood to rejuvenate our skin, and to act as our insurance policy against these ageing effects?

 

What is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)?

Cutting edge treatment advances, means that clinicians can use a small sample of your blood to separate the golden yellow plasma containing the platelets, from your red blood cells during your aesthetic clinic visit.

This golden yellow plasma is what we call Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP.

How efficiently this process is done, and how effective are the results, entirely depends on the type of PRP system your clinic chooses to use for your treatment.

Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is the latest medical treatment to cross over into the world of aesthetics. 

Long established as a treatment for healing wounds, PRP has been adopted by sports medicine and orthopedic specialties for many years.

Importantly PRP is a natural regenerative treatment, not a corrective treatment such as toxins and synthetic fillers

 

What can PRP do for your skin?

• Give your skin a healthy, refreshed looking, younger glow
• Using the correct technique, PRP will increase your skin’s supply of nourishing blood, stimulate oil glands no longer functioning as well as they should, stimulate new fibrocytes to produce more skin firming collagen, and stimulate growth of new skin cells to thicken and smooth the skin.
• Growth factors in PRP play an important role in attracting stem cells which form new tissue
• Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) helps your recovery from the aging process and importantly, will always enhance the results of other rejuvenation treatments.

 

Why should I choose PRP treatment?

• Treatment with PRP results in a restoration of skin moisture and glow, and an improvement in skin texture and tone.
• PRP is your insurance against ageing. You will maintain a youthful skin appearance better than a person who has not had PRP treatment.
• PRP is safe and effective, versatile, non-allergenic, and offers virtually no downtime or side effects.
• Clients who have a poor skin base line to start with, may experience exfoliation of the top layer of the skin after a few days as new fresh skin takes its place. Occasionally, and dependent on skin type, small bumps may develop and then soon disappear, in the fine skin area below the eyes. This is usually a collection of new cells (keratinocytes) at the injection needle site. Further proof of how your body’s growth factors are stimulating new skin development.

From the variety of difficult areas that can be treated, to the treatment’s short downtime, the list of reasons to have PRP treatment is long.  The treatment is suitable for all skin tones.
While results may vary, most patients’ results will last for up to 12- 18 months when a top-up is needed as natural aging continues to take place.

Over the days and weeks following treatment, growth factors released by the platelets stimulate the growth of new blood vessels and more collagen growth, thickening the epidermis and providing an improvement in the skin’s texture and tone.

 

Simple cost-benefit equation for patients

PRP measures up well as the amount of rejuvenation is substantial with almost no downtime and minimal risk.

 

What happens during your PRP treatment?

Similar to a sample being drawn from your arm for a blood test, blood is drawn into a tube containing an anticoagulant and a separating gel. This tube is then spun in a centrifuge, and the result is shown to the right.

The clear yellow plasma at the top of the tube contains your platelets. Red blood cells which cause inflammation, are trapped effectively below the unique and latest technology separating gel used in the PRP system. Only the clear yellow platelet rich plasma will be injected into your skin.

After treatment, injection pin pricks may be seen, and there may be some moderate swelling from the injected fluid which soon subsides. Occasionally there may be some bruising due to the injecting process.

 

References:

1. Growth Factor and Catabolic Cytokine Concentrations Are Influenced by the Cellular Composition of Platelet-Rich Plasma. Sundman et al, Am J Sports Med. 2011.
2. Red Blood Cells Inhibit Proliferation and Stimulate Apoptosis in Human Lung Fibroblasts In Vitro. Fredriksson et al, Scand J Immunol. 2004.