1- Things to Know About PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma-Platelet Rich Plasma) Application
PRP application is called platelet-rich plasma or platelet-rich plasma; It is defined as the reapplication of the platelet-rich plasma part, which is separated from the person’s own blood by special sets and procedures, to the person. If it is done for aesthetic purposes, small needles are applied to the skin and scalp. It is defined as stem cell therapy, although there is no exact equivalent among the people.
PRP application has been used for many years in many branches of medicine, especially in orthopedics, sports medicine, plastic surgery, dental diseases and veterinary medicine. PRP application for aesthetic purposes has been performed by physicians for 2-3 years all over the world and for 1 year in Turkey.
PRP application is the aesthetic improvement of the person with his own blood.
There are erythrocytes (red blood cells), leukocytes (white blood cells) and platelets (thrombocytes) in the blood circulating in the human body. When a damage or wound occurs in the human body, platelets and leukocytes migrate to the damaged area. They provide rapid healing of the damage and wound with the growth factors they secrete in the damaged area.
In the application of PRP, the healing ability of the human body against this damage is activated and aesthetic improvement is aimed. Damage correction mechanisms are activated under the skin as if the body was damaged.
In the PRP application procedure, the platelets separated from the blood by special processes will be found stuck in the plasma, which is the liquid part of the blood. Since the platelets will be contained in less plasma than the normal blood, their number in the relatively normal blood (the blood has a normal level of 150.00-450,000 units/ml) There will be several times as many (approximately 1 million units/ml) as the number of cells. In this way, a few times the normal number of platelets will be given in the skin in a small amount of plasma.
When platelets separated from the blood of the person are applied under the skin and or on the scalp with fine needles, they will act as if there is damage in that area, secrete growth factors and healing factors in the area, and play a healing role in the application area.
When PRP application is made to the scalp ; it will increase the vascularity around the hair follicles, while allowing more blood, oxygen and vitamins to be transported to the hair follicle; It will stimulate the hair root cells with the growth factors it secretes, accelerate the hair production processes of the hair follicles and make the hair healthier. In the area with hair loss, the hair removal will stop with the effect of the growth factors on the hair root.
PRP application on the scalp will not be able to regrow completely lost hair; By stimulating weak, broken, damaged hair and hair follicles whose hair production ability has stopped, it will stop hair loss and make the hair appear brighter and more vivid. After the PRP application, patients may feel like new hair has emerged as the revival and calibration of thin weak hair strands will increase.
When PRP application is made to the skin ; It will provide healing with the damage healing mechanism in the area where wrinkles and collapses occur due to the loss of some tissues formed under the skin over time. Thanks to the growth factors secreted in the application area, improvement will be seen in wrinkles and collapses that occur due to losses in the support tissue.
In case of sagging of the skin due to the decrease in the amount of collagen in the skin support tissue and fractures over time, the growth factors secreted by the platelets applied to the area will be used to restructure the collagens; skin elasticity will increase and skin sagging will be improved.
With PRP application on skin spots ; It will provide the treatment of skin blemishes by keeping the working system of melanin cells, which provide color formation on the skin with the growth factors (MGF) secreted by platelets, within normal limits.
PRP application on scars and cracks ; Platelets working with a wound healing mechanism around lesions such as cracks, scars, acne scars, etc., which have arisen due to any reason on the skin, will make the lesions shrink and become less visible with the growth factors they secrete.
2-How does the PRP Application affect?
In PRP application; When platelet-rich plasma obtained by special procedures is given into the skin and scalp; They initiate the damage healing mechanism in the application area with the growth factors they secrete; Since the number of platelets in the given plasma is several times the number in the normal blood, more effective, faster and earlier healing results will be seen than the healing mechanism that occurs with normal blood.
Growth factors in platelets;
PDGF(Platelet derived growth factor)-cell growth, blood vessel repair and formation, collagen production
FGF (Fibroblast growth factor)-tissue repair, production of collagen and hyaluronic acid
EGF (Epithelial growth factor)-epithelial cell formation, wound healing
TGF-beta-epithelial and vascular epithelium wound healing
VEGF-production of new vessel endothelial cells
The growth factors released from the platelets act on the damage-healing mechanisms in the application area and take part in the improvement of the scalp and skin problems.
3-Who is the PRP application applied to?
PRP application shows successful results in people who have complaints of hair loss, broken hair, dull appearance on the scalp. At the same time, it provides very effective treatment results in the problems of wrinkles, sagging and skin spots that occur as a result of the skin’s supporting tissues that decrease over time.
In addition to stopping hair loss on the scalp, PRP application activates hair growth by stimulating hair follicles. When the growth of thin hair is activated, they gain a thicker, healthier hair appearance.
Hair follicles of lifeless, lost shine, broken, dry, thin hair on the scalp are activated by growth factors; A more vibrant, shiny, healthy hair appearance is the result of PRP application.
With the PRP application, it does not ensure the regrowth of the hair that has been completely shed over time, but as a result of the PRP application, the existing hair is healthier, the shedding stops, and the hair becomes healthier. In addition, after the PRP application, the increase in the calibration of the existing hair, the shiny and lively appearance of the hair, and the appearance of new hair can be felt.
The application of PRP to the scalp is one of the most common applications.
Decreased skin elasticity, wrinkles and sagging due to the decrease of subcutaneous support tissues over time, PRP application provides successful results.
PRP application in the upper face area, forehead wrinkles, eye wrinkles, under-eye collapses, cheekbone collapses and sagging
implemented successfully.
Effective results are obtained as a result of PRP application in the collapse of the nose edge in the middle and lower face region, sagging of the chin corners, sagging in the jowl area, wrinkles and sagging in the neck and décolleté.
In addition, PRP is applied in all body parts in arm sagging, inner leg sagging, inner knee sagging, abdominal sagging.
PRP application has gone beyond other applications in skin blemishes caused by pregnancy, old age, sun and scars, scars and cracks on the skin..
4- In which areas is the PRP application applied?
PRP application
• On the scalp; hair loss, hair breakage, in the treatment of lifeless dry fine hair
• In the entire face area;Forehead, eye side, nose side wrinkles, sagging and collapses, skin blemishes and scars
• In the neck and décolleté area;in the treatment of wrinkles, sagging and spots
• Upper arm,
abdomen, inner thigh, knee areasin the treatment of wrinkles, sagging, cracks and spots
• Sagging, cracks, scars seen in the whole body,in the removal of lesions
It is successfully applied and the results of the application are at a satisfactory level.
5-How is PRP application done?
PRP application begins with blood collection from the patient. With a special infusion set (blood collection set), 20 cc (about half a tea glass) of blood is taken from the patient’s arm into special PRP preparation tubes.
The blood in the PRP preparation tubes is subjected to a special centrifugation process and the platelet-rich plasma part is separated. Approximately 3 cc of platelet-rich plasma is obtained from 20 cc of blood taken from the patient.
The obtained platelet-rich plasma is drawn into the injector and applied under the skin by means of fine needles used in mesotherapy. In the application, plasma is applied to the deep part of the skin or to the superficial layer of the skin by the napping (small point touches) method, similar to the application of fillers on the skin and scalp.
PRP application can also be applied with equipment called dermaroller (circular products with very thin needles that rotate around themselves). The effectiveness of the PRP application can be increased by applying a mask to the face after the application.
While PRP application can be applied alone, in some cases, it is applied together with differential laser devices to achieve more effective and faster results in the treatment of wrinkles, skin sagging, cracks and lesions. Especially in facial area rejuvenation, sagging and wrinkle treatments, skin spot treatments, skin cracks, scars, scar treatments, PRP application together with Fractional laser application is recommended by physicians all over the world due to its very successful results.
6-Is the PRP application safe?
Infusion sets (blood collection sets) and PRP preparation tubes used in PRP application are used only as administration sets produced for this purpose. The application sets contain all the materials that may be needed during the application.
PRP application is made with a platelet-rich plasma product prepared in a closed system, that is, the patient’s blood does not come into contact with the external environment and other materials. The patient’s blood is taken into disposable sterile vacuumed PRP preparation tubes by means of disposable sterile infusion sets.
Platelet-rich plasma obtained after centrifugation is used by being drawn into disposable sterile injectors. During all these procedures, the patient’s blood and the prepared plasma do not come into contact with the external environment.
All materials used after the applications are destroyed. It is technically not possible to reuse PRP preparation sets.
Since PRP application is made by using plasma obtained by closed system procedures as described above;
In practice, there is no risk of disease transmission with blood. There is no risk of transmission of diseases transmitted by blood and blood products such as AIDS, hepatitis, etc. in PRP application.
Since the patient’s own blood is used in the PRP application, there is no allergic reaction.
7-Is PRP application painful?
The needles used while the platelet-rich plasma is injected into the skin in the PRP application are very thin needles that are also used in mesotherapy applications. The diameters of the needles can be 30G or 27G, with varying lengths of 6mm, 16mm or longer.
Pain sensation during PRP application; It is generally described as “mild” by patients.
During PRP application, patients can feel the entry of very fine needles on their skin. In patients who are sensitive and sensitive to pain, the feeling of pain can be reduced considerably with measures to reduce the sense of pain (creams, cold application…) during the application.
During PRP application, slight warmth, slight burning sensation and stretching sensation may be felt on the skin.
8- What are the side effects of PRP application?
The risk of side effects in PRP application is very low as it is used by the patient himself.
Since the application is in the group of applications made with a spindle; Depending on the technique of insertion of the needle into the skin, some side effects may occur. Depending on the needle application, small bruises may be seen at some points, these bruises are small in diameter and heal within a few days without the need for treatment. Some products may be recommended by the physician in order not to shorten the healing process of bruises.
Slight redness is seen on the skin during PRP application, the redness of the skin will disappear within 30-40 minutes without the need for any treatment. After the application, the feeling of tension on the skin will disappear within 1-2 hours.
Since the patient’s own blood is used in the PRP application, there is no allergic reaction.
PRP application is in the group of applications that should be done by the physician.
9-What is the number and duration of PRP Application sessions?
PRP application is made for 2 purposes with an aesthetic approach.
a- In order to eliminate a determined problem,(correction of sagging on the skin, removal of skin wrinkles, skin blemishes, removal of scars and cracks, stopping hair loss, stimulating new hair growth…)
b- Maintaining the current situation,to prevent deformation of the skin over time.
If the PRP application is made for the purpose of eliminating a specific problem; In general, 2-3 sessions are applied at 1-month intervals. After the sessions, visible improvements are expected in the identified problems.
After PRP application, its effects will continue for a long time, it is recommended to apply PRP once a year in order to prevent its effects and to prevent deformation of the skin over time.
In accordance with the general treatment protocols, after 2-3 sessions of PRP application at 1-month intervals, 1 session of maintenance PRP application per year is recommended to the patients in order to solve the problems.
10- What are the PRP application session fees?
Pricing in PRP application is determined as session fee.
PRP application in determining the session fee; The width of the application area and the number of PRP preparation sets used are important. While 1 PRP preparation tube can be used in line with the needs of the patient, 2 or more PRP preparation sets can be used according to the width of the application areas in some patients. In general, 1 PRP application set is sufficient for all facial applications.
11-PRP Application is not applied to whom?
PRP application is not applied to people whose platelet count is below the normal values (the average platelet count is 150,000-450,000/ml) for any reason. It is also not made for cancer patients.
People who have coagulation problems, who take blood thinners and other drugs should inform the physician about their medication before the application.
12-Recommendations after PRP Application
PRP application is the applications made in the clinical environment, after the application, the person can return to his social life with some suggestions.
After the application, there will be a feeling of redness and tension in the area, and it will heal spontaneously without the need for treatment.
After the PRP application, some soothing creams are used on the area. It is recommended not to wash or clean the application area for 4-6 hours.
In PRP application, after the use of napping technique and dermaroller, micro holes are formed on the skin surface. It is aimed that the plasma, which remains on the skin during the application, is not washed off for 4-6 hours, so that the platelet-rich plasma remaining on the skin reaches the depths of the skin over time.
It is not recommended to use make-up products for 12-24 hours after PRP application.
After PRP application, it is necessary not to swim in the pool for 12-24 hours.
