You might have seen the images: a scary-cool selfie with a blood-covered face? It’s not the beginning of a horror movie, it’s a much-popularized treatment known as PRP (sometimes called the Vampire Facial), which uses platelet-rich plasma extracted from your own blood to improve skin tone and texture, smooth fine lines and stimulate collagen growth.

Remember as a kid when you’d scrape your knee? Yellow fluid came out and a scab formed. When the scab fell off, brand new baby pink skin had grown in. That yellow fluid is platelet-rich plasma, and let us tell you—its power to repair and regenerate growth is unbeatable.

To simulate that new growth on your face, your plasma is slathered onto your skin and then either micro-needled deep within or added to our Clear + Brilliant laser treatment during a short procedure. Do we have your attention? For our most frequently asked PRP questions, read on below.

OK, So How Does the PRP Treatment Work?

At Majewski Plastic Surgery and Spa, our PRP treatment is an add-on to either a microneedling or Clear + Brilliant laser treatment.

First, a member of our team will take a small sample of your blood and spin it in a centrifuge, which extracts the liquid gold, also known as PRP. Then, a topical cream will be used to numb your skin.

If you choose microneedling, an aesthetician will perform our microneedling treatment, which uses tiny needles to make small, superficial channels in the skin, before spreading the plasma all over your face. The combination of microneedling and the protein-rich PRP offers a double whammy to boost your skin’s cell turnover, helping with fine lines, sun spots, texture and scarring. 

We also have found great results pairing PRP with our Clear + Brilliant laser treatment. Clear + Brilliant is a fractional laser that increases the permeability of your skin, priming it for optimal absorption of whatever is applied immediately after, including PRP!

Once the plasma is below the surface, the magic happens, working to tighten wrinkled areas, brighten and smooth your skin’s texture. 

How long does it take?

The treatment typically takes between 45-60 minutes, including the 20 minutes it takes for the numbing cream to set in. This can certainly vary, however, depending on the areas you need addressed.

Is there downtime?

Although your face will have been numbed, you might notice a bit of superficial pain or minor bruising from the microneedling or laser, but overall, the downtime is very minimal. 

Remember, during this time your skin is healing, so try not to touch your treated skin, except to keep it heavily moisturized. Avoid working out and stay out of the sun for at least 24 hours. And while we encourage the use of sunscreen at all times, it is especially vital for about two weeks after microneedling or laser treatments.

What about results? 

Your skin is being rejuvenated from the inside out. Most patients notice more glowing, tightened skin within a few days. But stronger results might take anywhere from 2–6 weeks for very visible improvements, depending on the severity of your skin complaints, as well as whether or not this is your first treatment. 

How many treatments are necessary?

As with many other cosmetic treatments, this is something our aestheticians can work out with you based on your own skin concerns. While some patients might see results after just one session, others dealing with hyperpigmentation, skin damage or other problem areas, might require an initial treatment of 4-6 sessions, spaced 4-6 weeks apart. After that, because consistency is key, many patients choose to schedule their appointments once a quarter. 

Who is it best for?

Most everyone is a candidate for microneedling or Clear + Brilliant with PRP, no matter your skin tone. However, we do not recommend microneedling for the follow patients:  

• If you’ve used Accutane (isotretinoin) within 3 months

• Have open wounds of the skin

• Had radiation therapy to or through the skin within 1 year (in the area of treatment)

• Have had a recent skin infection, shingles, or HSV (herpes simplex virus) outbreak

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding

• Have a history of keloid or thick scar formation

• Have a history of poor wound healing

PRP treatments don’t only deliver better skin texture and tone, they also help the body create new elastin and collagen to do away with wrinkles, acne scars, lines, stretch marks and more. Ready to book your treatment? Schedule your appointment here!