PRP refers to platelet-rich plasma, which is drawn from the blood. In this kind of therapy, your own blood is used to improve the health and wound healing properties of your skin and hair follicles. Plasma refers to the liquid portion of your blood, and platelets are one type of cell found in your blood. Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, naturally help your blood to clot. However, they also include plenty of growth and healing chemicals, which is what makes this treatment so effective in healing and strengthening your skin and other tissues.

In cosmetic applications, PRP is injected into the surface of the skin to improve the health of the skin cells and underlying tissues. The micro-injuries from the needle kickstart your body’s own healing processes while the healing growth chemicals in the PRP stimulate reparative processes, including the formation of new collagen and elastin cells.

PRP treatments are not difficult or lengthy. Your appointment will begin with a quick blood draw. The vial of blood will then be placed in a centrifuge to separate the platelets from other blood cells. This concentrated PRP is then injected into the appropriate area of your body to target your body’s own healing processes. Your skin will be numbed ahead of time so that you can be as comfortable as possible during the injections. Most injections take only 30 to 60 minutes.

Social media personalities have described a different variation of PRP called a “vampire facial treatment”, which is an unsanitary application of PRP. NYDG Integral Health & Wellness strongly disagrees with this type of application of PRP. NYDG Wellness provides PRP injections in a sanitary and as comfortable of a way as possible for our patients.

While PRP has also been used for numerous medical reasons, such as to reduce inflammation from osteoarthritis, to help heal ligament and tendon injuries and to improve healing of certain wounds, this therapy can be particularly useful for cosmetic purposes including:
– Hair restoration to treat andorgenic alopecia or male pattern baldness
– Under eye treatments to address dark circles
– Fine lines & wrinkles
– Mild collagen & volume loss
– Skin texture & tone
– Skin tightening

The number of PRP treatments that you will need for best results will depend on the area that you are treating, the amount of your overall concerns and the results that you see after your initial appointment. Keep in mind that you will not see positive results immediately. Instead, you will need to wait a few weeks before you will be able to see your skin respond positively to the healing components of your injections. For the best results on your face or under eye area, you will probably need a minimum of two treatments. Better results can be achieved with four to six treatments.

Each PRP facial treatment should be spaced approximately one to two months apart. This will give your skin enough time to respond to the initial treatment and to kickstart the healing and growth processes in your skin cells. Even after your initial treatment program is successfully completed, you will want to consider maintenance appointments to keep up your youthful results. For great results on your skin, your practitioner may recommend that you combine PRP with another form of noninvasive or minimally invasive treatment to compound the anti-aging powers of both therapies.

However, PRP treatments for hair loss can require a different therapy model. Your practitioner will probably recommend that you have at least three to four treatments that are spaced at least one month apart. After your initial series of appointments, you will most likely be asked to come in for maintenance treatments every six months until you achieve your desired results.

If you are longing for smoother, more youthful skin or want to stimulate your hair follicles for increased hair growth on your scalp, PRP injections may be able to help you meet your goals. Because only your own tissues are used, PRP for hair treatment or facial treatment is quite safe. Our dermatologists and medical aestheticians can help you better understand how PRP facial treatments or PRP treatment for hair loss will work for you and can answer any of your questions about treatments and the healing process.