According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 1.8 million cosmetic surgical procedures were performed in 2018. However, instead of using a surgical solution to get rid of wrinkles, creases, and scars, it might be worth trying a procedure that’s minimally invasive, uses your own blood, and actually helps heal your skin. Now could be a good time to try a PRP facial.
Stuart A. Kauffman, DO, at PRP in Philadelphia is an expert at helping patients remove skin flaws with PRP facials.
Your blood contains platelets, which help promote cell growth and help your blood clot. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy involves harvesting the power of these platelets to revitalize your skin. With a PRP facial, some of your platelets are taken from your blood and put into areas on your face to ramp up collagen production, which is one of the building blocks of your skin, muscle, and bone tissue. This process can help tighten and smooth skin your skin without surgery.
First, your provider draws blood from your arm. Next, the blood is placed in a centrifuge to separate the platelets. This can take about 15 minutes. After that, your skin is cleansed and an anesthetic is applied on the areas being treated. Then, a microneedling device ― usually a DermaPen or DermaRoller ― is rolled over your skin to make tiny holes in the epidermis. Finally, the PRP solution is applied to your skin.
Some redness and swelling can be expected, and since it’s an outpatient procedure, you can get on with your day when it’s finished. Normal skin care can start in as little as 2 days, and the skin should be back to normal in 1-4 days depending on how sensitive your skin is. Any scabbing or peeling that happens in the treated area should not be removed as it could lead to skin discoloration and scarring.
During recovery, you will need to clean and moisturize as necessary and avoid alcohol-based skin products and exfoliants. You should also protect the treated area from the sun and avoid rigorous activities that cause a lot of body heat and sweating. After treatment and recovery are finished, you may need to follow up with your provider for possible maintenance sessions.
The result will give you a younger looking face with fuller, smoother skin, all without surgery. If you want to see if a PRP facial can help you, book an appointment online or over the phone with PRP in Philadelphia today.
