A treatment called Micro-Needling with PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma), also sometimes known as “Blood Facial” or “Vampire Facial,” can provide significant positive results with minimal downtime.
Micro-Needling uses precise micro-injections that create channels in the skin to promote the proliferation of skin cell turn over and the absorption of one’s growth factor plasma.
PRP therapy has been used for years in orthopedics and sports medicine to treat muscle and ligament injuries, pain problems, and skin lesions. Dermatologists have developed PRP into an anti-aging treatment that induces collagen production, reduces wrinkles, stretch marks, and acne scars. It also diminishes pore size and improves the overall glow of your skin.
“PRP triggers collagen production,” explains dermatologist, Michael J. Tomcik, MD, “and collagen is the latticework of the skin.” A PRP facial helps tighten, smooth, and improve skin tone.
As we age, less collagen is produced, causing sagging, wrinkles, and soft tissue depressions. PRP is considered safe and natural because it uses one’s cells and growth factors to slow and reverse the aging process, providing a more youthful and radiant appearance. And because it uses one’s own plasma, there are no allergic reactions. Currently, there isn’t another process or product available that stimulates collagen production as well as PRP therapy.
Sadly, pictures of celebrities with bloody faces are examples of Micro-Needling with PRP gone wrong. Such punctate bleeding is an example of the needles going too fast or too deep—a disastrous result that would be prevented by a dermatologist or other medical professional. In fact, PRP facials are medical procedures (rather than cosmetic procedures), so estheticians and salons are not legally certified to puncture the skin. Micro-needling with PRP should only be done by trained medical personnel.
The Process of PP Therapy
The procedure requires approximately 20cc of your blood be drawn much in the same way blood samples are for routine lab tests. The tubes are spun down twice in a centrifuge to get the pure “liquid gold” of PRP. A trained, registered nurse then skillfully injects the PRP into your skin with the micro-needling technique. This procedure utilizes 12-36 pin-like sterile needles that glide across the skin, naturally stimulating collagen and elastin production.
A topical numbing cream is applied to make the procedure comfortable. Most areas of the body can be treated including the face, neck, décolletage, hands, arms, legs, abdomen, and back. Treating these areas can greatly reduce the signs of aging caused by time and sun damage, giving one a more youthful appearance. Most patients return to normal in one to two days.
The number of treatments needed varies per patient. We recommend two to four treatments administered at four to six-week intervals until the desired result is achieved.
Dr. Tomcik also recommends one or two maintenance treatments per year after the initial series. In the same way that you maintain your home and car, it is even more important to maintain the delicate tissue of your skin. This procedure can also be combined with treatments such as IPL/BBL (Intense Pulse Light/ Broad Band Light) to intensify the results and decrease pigmentation issues.
For facial areas with deeper lines or sun damage, Dr. Tomcik recommends injections of Hyaluronic Acid fillers and neuromuscular relaxers, such as Botox® or Dysport®. The fillers help restore volume that the face loses naturally with age and sun damage. The Botox®/Dysport® also helps reduce dynamic lines that form from muscle overuse, such as “crow’s feet.” Deeper and more dramatic surgical procedures such as CO2 laser resurfacing can also rejuvenate the skin but with much more downtime. Dr. Tomcik recommends a consultation to determine your goals and the modalities that could be combined to treat your concerns
Michael J. Tomcik, MD, is a Board Certified Dermatologist. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call Advanced Laser, at 925-743-1488.
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