The term “vampire facial” may have taken social media by storm over a decade ago, but PRP facials are continuing to increase in popularity as they are becoming more accessible and more studies are coming out to prove their effectiveness.
I mean who doesn’t want a facial treatment that can minimize wrinkles and rejuvenate skin, all without going under the knife or causing an allergic reaction?
What is a PRP facial?
First, let’s break down the PRP acronym. PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma.
Plasma, which is derived from our blood, contains regenerative properties which when injected can make for more youthful skin.
Collecting plasma involves a blood draw and processing through a centrifuge machine. The plasma is separated from the red blood cells and then spun again to separate out the platelets which contain the growth factors and cytokines.
A PRP facial combines micro needling and PRP to promote the body’s natural healing process for rejuvenation and collagen production.
Is PRP safe?
As long as you’re a good candidate for PRP, it is one of the safest, non-invasive treatments you can undergo for your skin because it uses your own blood so there is no risk for an allergic reaction. The biggest risk is infection or scarring from an inexperienced provider.
Benefits of PRP Facials
- Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Reduces the appearance of large pores
- Increases collagen production
- Diminishes the look of acne scars and hyperpigmentation
- Improves skin texture
- Improves skin tone
What are the downsides of a PRP facial?
Thankfully if you are receiving treatment from an experienced provider there aren’t many downsides of a PRP facial, other than some swelling, a little bruising and possibly pain at the injection site.
However, with inexperienced providers, problems can arise such as infection due to the needle pushing bacteria into the skin, tissue damage due to the needle size, the angle inserted, or being administered into scar tissue.
Who is not a good candidate for PRP?
Those who may not be good candidates for PRP include:
- Those who have a blood disorder such as anemia
- Those who have an active infection such as HIV or Hepatitis C
- Those who are on blood thinning medication
- Those who have a low blood platelet count
- Those who have skin cancer
- Those who are pregnant
Studies on PRP Facials
In one study, participants noticed improved facial appearance overall after just one PRP treatment.
In a study with 20 patients, different types of facial wrinkles were tested. Patients were given one PRP injection and were assessed before and after their treatment for 8 weeks.
One injection was found to be significantly effective treatment for those with mild to moderate wrinkles especially in the nasolabial folds.1
Another study found that autologous platelet-rich plasma (aPRP) and autologous platelet-poor plasma (aPPP) promote tissue remodeling in aged skin and may be used as adjuvant treatment to lasers for skin rejuvenation in cosmetic dermatology.2
PRP has also been shown to be a promising adjunct in scar management practice.3
Results from a study of 20 participants who were given a series of 3 PRP injections in the lower eyelid area, indicate that PRP is a safe and effective treatment option.4
PRP can also be helpful for periorbital dark circles and wrinkles, in fact, some of the best results were observed in the under eye area.5
PRP Facial FAQ’s
1. How long does it take to see results from a PRP facial?
Results can be seen in as little as two weeks. However, it can take up to 3 months to experience maximum results.
2. How many PRP sessions do you need to get results?
I was told to start with 3 sessions spaced 4-6 weeks apart, because every session builds upon the last sort of like a staircase. Once your skin goals are achieved then you should be able to maintain your results with one session every year.
3. How long do the results from PRP last?
PRP can last up to two years. However, it’s important to keep in mind that PRP treatments are only as effective as your overall health. Your body doesn’t have the ability to maintain the results if you’re not healthy.
4. How much does a PRP facial cost?
PRP facials can fluctuate in price depending on location and the experience level of the esthetician or in some cases doctor. I went to Dr. Summer Beattie and a single PRP session starts at $1,600 when doing injections and $800 for PRP with microneedling. Generally, you can expect to pay $500 – $2,500 for a single PRP with microneedling session.
5. Is a PRP facial painful?
Usually a topical anesthesia cream is applied first to mitigate any pain. If the skin isn’t numbed first or not enough cream is applied, you will find yourself wincing in pain. I had some areas by my hairline that the cream had missed and I was biting my lip not to yell “stop”!
My PRP Review
When I went in to get my PRP done I was given a gown and then changed into that and laid down on an esthetics bed. Dr. Beattie applied numbing cream to my face and décolletage area first. Then once she did that she took my blood. While she went and spun the blood to separate the plasma and then red blood cells, the numbing cream kicked in. At first I thought I might not need numbing cream, but she assured me that I would want numbing cream. Once the procedure was underway I was so glad she had applied it!
After the plasma and red blood cells are separated, then you separate it again which gives you the platelets. The platelets are where the magic is at! They house growth factors and cytokines. You are essentially harnessing the regenerating healing power of the platelets and injecting them back into tissues to signal the body to do its own healing. Once that is spun she injects the platelet rich plasma into the fat pads/tissue of the skin on the face and décolletage area. You can really do it anywhere you want- some people like to do it on their scalp for hair loss too.
It takes about 45 minutes from the time she applied the numbing cream, to drawing my blood, and spinning it for her to actually start injections. The injections were uncomfortable. It wasn’t that it hurt, it was just not something that felt great. I am so glad I had the numbing cream on. She did injections in some of my scalp where I didn’t have numbing cream because there was some leftover and wow, it was so painful! Once she started to do the injections it took her about 25-30 minutes to do my face and décolletage area.
The whole process takes about 90 minutes- two hours. Initially your face looks a little filled in. It’s almost like you had fillers but you didn’t have the conventional fillers, just the PRP. But that filled in look subsides in 72 hours. Then it takes 3 months for you to see the results. It takes this long because you’re really letting your body regenerate itself and that takes time. This isn’t a quick fix.
My doctor recommends doing several treatments every 6 weeks to really see optimal results. The older you are, the more treatments you’ll want to have done. If you’re younger she said you might just do one treatment a year to really help prevent fine lines and wrinkles. It’s harder to correct fine lines and wrinkles with PRP than it is to prevent them.
I only had one treatment done. The time and cost is definitely a factor when considering PRP. I would only go to someone highly skilled at performing the procedure. Where I went it does cost double what most people charge, however, Dr. Summer is highly skilled in performing PRP, she is a doctor and she teaches other people how to perform PRP. I didn’t want to just go to anyone. That being said, her clinic is almost 3 hours from where I live and so it’s just a lot of time to get the procedure done.
Once the PRP 3 month mark hit for me, I noticed a couple things from my before and after pictures. I had more of a refreshed look overall. This is something my doctor said people can tell. She said often people will just comment that you look more rested and vibrant. It’s often the PRP that was at work in your skin. I also noticed that my forehead lines were less pronounced. They seemed raised and not as deep as they had been before.
The changes are what I expected. It wasn’t life altering changes where I looked that much different. I’m sure if I got more treatments done I would have noticed more change, but with one treatment it’s not as noticeable. Dr. Summer had said you really start to see more change when you get back to back treatments within 6 weeks of each other. I would love to get more PRP treatments in the future!
Dr. Summer did say she has some older clients who will get a PRP every season to really combat the signs of aging. Again, this would be ideal but time and money are a factor to consider with all procedures.
Are PRP facials worth it?
I absolutely do think they’re worth it! There was definitely a difference in my skin and I would do it again. I think it just comes down to the price for people and having to do so many treatments to see major results. It’s not going to give you a botoxed look but it will help rejuvenate your skin and help give your body the tools it needs to keep your face from aging as quickly.
If you liked this post, check out these other posts that will help you age gracefully;
- Best Organic Anti Aging Skincare Products
- Frownies Review: Do They Actually Work?
- Facial Cupping: Everything You Need To Know
References
1. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (2017) March 16. Assessment of the efficacy and safety of single platelet-rich plasma injection on different types and grades of facial wrinkles. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27474688/
2. Annals of Dermatology (2011) Nov 23. Can Platelet-Rich Plasma Be Used for Skin Rejuvenation? Evaluation of Effects of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Human Dermal Fibroblast. Retrieved from: https://anndermatol.org/DOIx.php?id=10.5021/ad.2011.23.4.424
3. Sage Journals (2018) Nov 18.The evidence behind the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in scar management: a literature review. Retrieved from: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2059513118808773
4. Cureus (2018) July 18. Platelet-rich Plasma for Skin Rejuvenation and Treatment of Actinic Elastosis in the Lower Eyelid Area.Retrieved from: https://www.cureus.com/articles/11999-platelet-rich-plasma-for-skin-rejuvenation-and-treatment-of-actinic-elastosis-in-the-lower-eyelid-area#!/
5. Acta Biomed (2021) May 12. Platelet-rich Plasma use for facial rejuvenation: a clinical trial and review of current literature. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8182581
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