Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) treatment at The Clinic Holland Park, West London, use the patient’s own blood – no other filler or chemicals – just your blood, centrifuged, as a dermal injection to improve the texture of your skin.

A fresh sample of your blood is placed in a machine that will centrifuge your blood to extract the plasma from the red blood cells. The plasma is then reinjected at desired areas of your body to rejuvenate the skin (such as under the eyes, on a receding hairline, or to target nasal-labial folds).

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Anti-ageing effects

Your plasma is the ingredient in your blood that encourages cellular regeneration, including the production of fresh collagen; so injections of your own blood plasma will have an anti-ageing effect on the skin (or hair follicles) being treated, without any fear of an allergic reaction – the plasma, after all, has been extracted from your own blood and is therefore your very own, entirely natural ‘super’ ingredient.

Results are impressive, but are not immediate. Expect your skin to show signs of improvement from 2-3 weeks at the earliest; but the full effect will become visible within a month. Popular areas to be treated are the face, neck, chest or scars, as well as receding hairlines or hair partings that are becoming sparse.

PRP therapies have been on the market for a few years now; yet at The Clinic Holland Park, West London, we have invested in PRP technology that is decidedly extra: WorldPRP, by Cell PRP Cellular Regeneration. What singles out WorldPRP technology, above its competitors, is the fact that its yield of plasma is greater (12ml per sample) and of a higher quality, than other centrifuged systems currently on the market.

Moreover, our treatment combines the benefits of PRP injections with microneedling, so that your entire face (or other treatment area) is saturated with your blood plasma and will reap the benefit of natural cellular regeneration.

Microneedling is an aesthetic medical procedure that involves repeatedly puncturing the skin with tiny, sterile needles in order to induce tissue remodelling via the production of your body’s own collagen. The ‘micro’ skin punctures stimulate the skin’s natural wound-healing process to prompt tissue remodelling, but without causing the formation of scar tissue. Microneedling has been shown to improve the appearance of skin texture, fine lines, wrinkles, and scars – including acne scarring and stretch marks. Microneedling also temporarily increases the skin’s permeability, to allow topical nutrients – such as your blood plasma – into the dermal layer. The combination of PRP therapy with microneedling, therefore, is an extremely effective and natural way to rejuvenate your skin.

At The Clinic Holland Park, West London, our aestheticians use SkinPen for the microneedling in this procedure. SkinPen is the only microneedling device in the world with clearance by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA); clinically proven to treat facial acne scars safely and effectively.

FAQs

IS PRP SUITABLE FOR EVERYBODY?

PRP combined with microneedling is suitable for all Fitzpatrick Skin Types I-VI.

However, PRP therapy is not suitable for anyone who has blood-clotting issues or any disease of the blood. PRP would also not be advisable for anyone who cannot tolerate a blood test. Further, because this PRP treatment is combined with microneedling, the procedure should not be used on patients who have any of the following:

active skin cancer in the treatment area(s)
open wounds, sores, or irritated skin in the treatment area(s)
an allergy to stainless steel or anaesthetics
a haemorrhagic (bleeding) disorder or haemostatic (bleeding) dysfunction;

or who are:

pregnant or breastfeeding
currently taking drugs with the ingredient isotretinoin (such as Accutane)

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE, AND DOES IT HURT?

Expect your appointment to last 60-90 minutes. On your arrival at The Clinic, prior to your PRP treatment, you will have your face (or other treatment area) covered with lidocaine, which is an anaesthetic cream that will numb the surface of your skin; this takes effect after approximately 30 minutes.

A sample of your blood will be taken from your inner elbow or hand. The collected blood is then spun in centrifuge to separate the plasma – which comes out transparent and yellowish in colour. A cannula (a blunt-edged needle that can be safely moved about under the skin) is then inserted into your face and the plasma is injected via the cannula to all areas that need targeting (for example full face, or scalp line). After the plasma injections, the entire area is microneedled and then more plasma applied over these micro wounds.

You will not feel the PRP injections, while the vibrating sensation during the microneedling will be tolerable. However, certain areas of the face are particularly sensitive – the hairline on your forehead, your upper lip and just below your nostrils – and you should not be surprised if your eyes begin to water during a microneedling treatment on these areas. Be assured that any discomfort only lasts while the area is being actively worked on, and that your aesthetician will work very quickly.

WHAT IS THE RECOVERY TIME?

The skin will appear slightly pink to red immediately after the procedure, similar to mild-to-moderate sunburn. Expect mild swelling at the areas injected with plasma. The most common treatment responses are dryness, rough skin, tightness, redness, itching, peeling, discomfort, tenderness, and burning. These conditions should resolve over time without any further complications, and mostly within 24-48 hours. Avoid all direct sun exposure, alcohol, and desist from strenuous exercise for the next 48 hours. Most patients can return to normal activities within 24 hours. Makeup can be applied after 24 hours; but you are advised to avoid any skincare with active ingredients (such as vitamin C or retinol) or exfoliants for the following week (or for 72 hours at the least).

WHAT IS THE AFTERCARE?

Your aftercare is important for the ensuing 24 hours after the procedure. Your aesthetician will give you a Skinfuse® aftercare treatment kit to take home with you, containing two tubes: Lift HG Hydrogel and Rescue Calming Complex. Start using these Skinfuse products straight away. On the day of your treatment, apply the Skinfuse Lift HG Hydrogel liberally on your treated skin – use up the entire tube by the end of day, and use nothing else but water on your treated skin. On Day 1 after treatment, use up the entire tube of Skinfuse Rescue Calming Complex; again, use nothing else but water on the treated area. Makeup can be applied 24 hours after the procedure.

Please be mindful of the fact that your treated skin will be a wound, and will need scrupulous care as soon as you leave The Clinic. Avoid sun exposure and alcohol. You are advised to sleep on clean bed linen; and apart from your aftercare products, only use clean water (if or when necessary) on the treatment area for 24 hours following the procedure. Some clients have found that sleeping propped up for the first few nights helps to lessen any swelling.

Avoid using shampoos or other detergents that might irritate the treatment area; and avoid using any skincare with exfoliants or active products like vitamin C or retinol for at least 72 hours (but preferably 1 week) after the procedure.

HOW MANY SESSIONS WILL I NEED?

Your aesthetician will usually recommend a course of 3 treatments, either at 4-week intervals (for the face) or 7-8-week intervals (for the scalp). Please bear in mind that it will take a number of weeks to see the true benefit in your skin or notice new hair growth. Long term, your aesthetician might advise repeat treatments for maintenance; a probable recommendation being 2 courses annually.