PROCEDURES
Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatments:
What is PRP?
PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) treatment, also known as the "Vampire facelift," is a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure that involves drawing a little of your own blood and spinning it down to enable extraction of the platelet-rich plasma component that contains growth factors. This growth-factor laden PRP component is then injected into the skin to stimulate healing, repair and rejuvenation.
PRP treatment is either injected directly into the skin using the Vital Injector 2 or can be incorporated via microneedling to augment the rejuvenating effects of microneedling. Within the skin, the PRP treatment will stimulate a localised stem cell response to recruit collagen-producing fibroblasts. These fibroblasts work to leave your skin looking more luminous, rejuvenated and refreshed. PRP treatments are also useful for treating chronic wounds and alopecia (hair loss).
When used to treat hair loss, PRP therapy causes growth in the hair follicles by activating stem cells and other cells in the follicle and accelerates the rate of hair growth. When treating hair loss, it takes a minimum of 3 PRP treatments and approximately 6 months to see optimal results.
PRP treatments are minimally invasive, safe, and effective and have very few side-effects. You may need to do an initial course of 3 - 6 PRP treatments followed by maintenance treatments as required.
Fast Facts:
Length of procedure: 60 - 90 minutes depending on the area being treated.
Type of anaesthesia: A pain-numbing local anaesthetic ointment is applied 15 minutes before.
Length of stay: Day case.
What to expect post-op: Redness of the treated area on the day of the treatment.
Recovery time: It takes 2 - 4 days for the skin to return to normal, but you may resume normal social activity on the day of treatment using a mineral-based cover-up if you wish.
Results: You will see an improvement at one week after your first treatment. Depending on the condition being treated, a series of 3 - 6 PRP sessions may be suggested and less frequent maintenance treatments thereafter.
Who might benefit from PRP treatments?
PRP therapy is a safe and effective treatment for both males and females. It is used for skin rejuvenation and repair, to assist the healing of chronic wounds and to treat hair loss. Treatment is suitable for all Fitzpatrick skin types and ethnicities.
What do PRP treatments involve?
At your first visit, Dr do Vale will usually perform a full skincare consultation. She will discuss and answer any questions you may have regarding PRP treatments, all options available to you, and the expected benefits and results so that together you can create a personalised plan for your non-surgical facial rejuvenation and skincare.
Before the PRP treatment, your skin will be thoroughly cleaned and all make-up removed. A numbing cream will be applied before the treatment. A single vial of blood will be drawn and placed in a centrifuge which spins the blood to separate out the platelet-rich plasma from the rest of the blood components. The PRP component is then injected into the areas requiring treatment. Dr do Vale usually introduces PRP into the skin either through direct injection with the Vital Injector 2, or through micro-needling with the DermaPen 4.
After the procedure, Dr do Vale will discuss skin after-care and may recommend a post-procedure recovery cream. On average, it takes about 2 - 4 days for the skin to go back to normal and about a week to see the results. The results of PRP treatment for alopecia (hair loss) may only be noticeable after a series of treatments.
Recovery after PRP treatments:
Following the PRP treatment, your skin will be red and somewhat inflamed for 24 - 48 hours (in some cases this may last up to 4 days). A mineral-based, medical-grade concealer can be applied after the treatment assist with calming the skin and camouflaging the redness. If PRP treatment was combined with micro-needling, your skin might feel "tight" or "sunburnt" during the initial 2- 4 day recovery phase.
A typical PRP treatment program starts with 3 treatment sessions, 4 to 6 weeks apart. You may notice an improvement after the first session, but the full effect will be visible after the last session. After these initial PRP treatments, maintenance treatments are typically recommended for longevity of the results.
For more information on PRP treatments request a consultation with Dr do Vale below or call0109003999.
