It’s pretty amazing what the body can do on its own every single day. We often don’t even think about what we’re capable of. We are made up of complex, interconnected systems that keep us running. What’s even more amazing is what medical technology has been able to do to harness and intensify our natural healing abilities. Platelet rich plasma therapy is a cutting-edge treatment that can benefit many people, not just athletes looking to make a comeback from an injury. PRP therapy has also shown to be an excellent tool in cosmetic treatments. If you’ve never heard of PRP therapy, it’s an option you should be aware of. Here’s how you can use your body’s own natural healing abilities to revitalize your appearance.

What is platelet rich plasma?

Our blood consists of several parts, which is what allows it to perform the functions that it does. Plasma is essentially what makes up just over half of the blood’s composition. It plays many key roles, including keeping electrolytes balanced and protecting the body from infection and blood disorders. Platelets are essentially what keep us from bleeding out when wounded. They are the clotting mechanism in the blood and play a critical role in the healing process.

Platelet rich plasma is a serum created by your doctor from your own blood. Blood is put through a centrifuge to create a greater concentration of the blood’s healing factors while removing other unnecessary components for this specific procedure. The serum is then used during your treatment to promote enhanced healing.

How does PRP work?

Platelet rich plasma isn’t a specific treatment. It is used as part of a procedure, much like any other tool would be. That’s why it has so many use cases. How it is used is basically the same no matter the procedure, though. Your doctor will draw your blood and create the PRP serum in the lab. It will then be fashioned into an injectable or will be administered over an entire area through the aeration of the skin. The administration of PRP therapy depends on the specific treatment.

PRP therapy has been in use for some time, mainly in instances of injury.

PRP in sports medicine

When talking about PRP therapy, the first use case that comes to mind is usually sports medicine as that’s where it has seen its widest usage until recently when it became much more popular in the world of cosmetics. Due to the healing properties of PRP, many sports doctors have opted to use the serum in instances of tendon or ligament injuries in athletes. It’s been found that injecting PRP into the area of injury helps speed along the process of recovery when used in conjunction with other traditional treatments like physical therapy.

Using PRP for facial treatments

PRP can be used in treatments designed to diminish fine lines, wrinkles, brown spots, and dark circles under the eyes. One specific treatment where PRP is used is in the Vampire Facelift, named as such because of the use of blood. Once the PRP serum is created from your blood, an Eclipse MicroPen is used to aerate the skin, which creates microscopic holes for the PRP to enter the skin through. The treatment is quick and carries no risks. Side effects are rare and generally just consist of some slight puffiness for a couple of days following treatment.

Using PRP for regenerative hair growth

PRP can also be used during the process to restore one’s hair. It’s actually used in a non-surgical procedure designed to stimulate the hair to grow back without the use of something like implants. PRP is just one of the components that is injected to the scalp to promote hair growth. It’s common to experience some swelling and pain for a couple of days following treatment, but otherwise there shouldn’t be anything else of concern.

Conclusion

Platelet rich plasma therapy is an exciting medical development that has many beneficial uses. While the majority of the focus on its use has been sports and injury related, it’s quickly becoming known as a highly useful treatment in cosmetics. Whether it’s rejuvenating your face or restoring your hair, PRP therapy might be just what you need to achieve your cosmetic goals. If you’re looking to learn more about PRP therapy or you’re interested in what cosmetic treatments would be right for you, book an appointment online with us today. Dr. El Asmar has years of experience administering a wide variety of effective cosmetic treatments that have improved the lives of many patients. The team at Vermont Med Spa is dedicated to providing you with the professional care you need so you can look and feel your best.