Your blood accomplishes a lot as it flows through your body. Most people probably know that blood brings oxygen and nutrients to your cells. But did you also know that in exchange for such gifts, your cells give your blood carbon dioxide and other waste materials to transport to the lungs, kidneys, and digestive system to be removed from the body? When not carrying out these vital tasks, blood also finds the time to fight infections and make sure your hormones get to their destinations.
Blood also plays a key role in healing injuries, which is where platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections come into play. Unlike Botox® and dermal fillers, PRP injections use something from your own body — your blood — to boost your appearance. If only everything else worked as hard as blood to help you look and feel good.
In this blog, our providers at Holistic OB/GYN & Midwifery explain the basics of PRP therapy, what aesthetics concerns it can help with, and what to expect from an appointment.
Plasma is the liquid portion of blood. It’s composed mostly of water and proteins, and it carries red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets through your bloodstream.
Platelets are cells that are most known for helping blood clot. However, they also contain growth factors, and these growth factors help with healing and tissue regeneration. When you get injured, platelets go to work helping to repair the injury.
Platelet-rich plasma injections were first used to help treat tendon and muscle injuries, which, in some cases, can have a low blood supply and thus slow healing times. The basic idea is to flood the injured area with growth factors to help spur healing.
This same concept applies to aesthetics. By flooding the skin with platelets, this can help spur healing and tissue regeneration in the skin. Platelets can help stimulate the production of new collagen. And, over time, this new collagen can help plump up your skin, reduce wrinkles, and improve your skin tone.
First, we draw a sample of your blood. Then we place it in a centrifuge, which spins the blood at high speeds. This process separates the blood into layers, one of which is the platelet-rich plasma layer.
This serum will have about 6-10 times more growth factors than what is usually in blood. We then inject the serum into targeted areas of your skin to spur healing and tissue regeneration. It will take some time for the new collagen production to take effect, but you should start seeing changes after about three weeks.
Platelet-rich plasma injections are safe and can help treat many aesthetic issues, including:
The best thing about PRP is that there’s no downtime. You can take a long lunch and return to your day immediately afterward. And if you desire, we can pair your treatment with Botox injections for an even more refined look.
To learn more about PRP injections and to see if they could help you, book an appointment online or over the phone with Holistic OB/GYN & Midwifery today.
