Advanced Aesthetics of Las Vegas, Nevada always aims to provide the best possible treatments to all of our patients. That is why we have added PRP therapy as a treatment option for a wide variety of skin problems. If you haven’t heard of PRP yet, be prepared to be amazed at what it can do.
Although PRP started as a way to help people recover from surgery, in the decades since it has become an essential part of numerous medical fields. Read on to find out just what PRP is and how it can benefit people with a wide variety of skin conditions.
What Is PRP Therapy?
PRP stands for Platelet-Rich Plasma. This is a completely natural product derived from two of the four main components in your blood: Platelets and plasma. To make PRP, all we do is take a small amount of blood and put it into a centrifuge, which spins it rapidly and separates the main components.
The machine then draws out the platelets and plasma. We repeat this process again to increase the concentration of platelets, which are the key ingredient. Once we’re done, we can use the PRP in several ways to combat skin problems.
The Power of Platelet-Rich Plasma
Platelets are responsible for wound healing and blood clotting. When you have an injury, blood rushes to the site and the platelets there release growth factors that tell healthy cells to multiply while also signaling for damaged cells to be removed. This is an entirely natural mechanism in your body.
What PRP therapy effectively does is allow us to use this mechanism on demand. Instead of requiring a traumatic injury to trigger it, we can artificially make PRP and put it where it’s needed. This will encourage your body to heal its problems naturally and more quickly than it would if left alone.
Best of all, it has a long history of use with zero side effects. Since it comes from your own body, you don’t have to worry about risks from donor materials. There are no foreign compounds or chemicals that could cause a reaction.
The History of PRP
PRP was first used to help patients recover from open-heart surgery. Doctors found that wounds would heal faster when they used PRP. In the 70s and 80s, more experiments revealed that PRP could do much more.
Sports medicine quickly adopted the technology. Many famous athletes in the NBA, NFL, and other sports have used PRP to recover faster from injuries and surgeries. Chances are one of your favorite players has undergone a PRP treatment at some point in their career.
However, in the last two decades, PRP has exploded in the world of cosmetic medicine. It’s now widely recognized as an excellent anti-aging treatment. This has led to the applications in dermatology that we see today.
PRP and Aesthetic Medicine
Clinical studies of PRP therapy in aesthetic medicine have surged in the past decade. In 2009, studies began testing PRP for many issues such as hair loss, skin rejuvenation, as well as other applications. Soon after, it was found to be highly effective for a number of other treatments.
Although there is still more data to gather, a 2018 review of dozens of other studies showed that it is currently the most effective treatment for a number of conditions. Due to its lack of side effects and ease of use, PRP has quickly become the first option for many.
Methods of Application
PRP can be delivered via subcutaneous injection to a problem area. However, this is ideal for specific trouble spots. When a larger area requires treatment, we prefer to create a topical solution that can be applied directly to the skin. Both methods are extremely comfortable and fast-acting.
PRP typically starts working within a day or two of application. When used repeatedly, it has more favorable outcomes than many other options. So, what conditions can be treated with PRP?
How Long Does PRP Take to Work?
Unlike many pharmaceutical treatments that may require weeks of doses before any improvement is seen, PRP often starts working within 24 hours. However, this depends on how it was applied and what condition is being treated.
Generally, you can expect to see improvement early on, and these should continue for the rest of the week. The body’s healing mechanisms do take time to complete. Repeated treatments will accelerate the process further and are necessary in some cases.
How many sessions of PRP therapy you need will be determined by the severity of your condition and its nature. Smaller areas will require less, while larger portions of skin may need more work.
Who Can Benefit From PRP Therapy?
Research shows that a wide array of problems can be mitigated with PRP. We want to focus on some of the most common cases today, so we’ve compiled a list of seven situations where PRP treatment can be beneficial.
If you or someone you know suffer from any of these conditions, consider scheduling a consultation with our office to find out how PRP can help. There are even more ways that PRP treatments can benefit you, so if you’re not sure about whether PRP is suitable for your condition, just give us a call.
Those Who Suffer From Acne
Acne can plague people of all ages. Over-the-counter and prescription treatments for acne are often quite expensive and regularly use harsh chemicals that can be difficult for people with sensitive skin. For patients with chronic acne that goes beyond their teenage years, it can be a source of constant embarrassment.
Acne is caused by bacteria which in recent years has grown more resistant to antibiotic treatments. PRP sidesteps that problem by using your body’s natural resistance mechanisms to fight it directly. It will reduce inflammation and avoid acne scars.
Burn Victims
Recovering from burns is a long and difficult process. PRP has shown enormous potential to make that process much shorter and improve the quality of healing. For first and second-degree burns where skin grafts are not necessary, PRP is an excellent first response.
A topical application is suitable in these cases. PRP can be applied before dressing the wound and can be reapplied as needed. This is one of the newest areas of PRP research, so we expect to learn more in the coming years. However, current information suggests that it has strong antimicrobial benefits, which is important since burns are highly susceptible to infection.
Healing Ulcers of All Types
Ulcers can be persistent problems that refuse to go away. PRP accelerates the healing process. One case study of diabetic ulcers found that PRP treatment reduced the healing time by over 40%!
The same was true for venous ulcers and pressure ulcers, which are common in older patients. Using PRP, the overall area of the ulcers was reduced by anywhere from 5 to 9 times compared to standard treatment procedures.
Several studies have been published and they all confirm the same thing: PRP can work wonders on ulcers. PRP gel is used in these cases. Typically, it is applied weekly or biweekly depending on the type of ulcer and how severe it is.
Closing Open Wounds
Whether you’ve suffered a serious cut in the kitchen, a broken bone breached your skin, or even serious puncture wounds, PRP can improve recovery and reduce scarring.
This type of injury is precisely the kind that triggers your body’s natural mechanisms using platelets. By adding PRP, we accelerate the body’s processes and ensure that every part of the wound receives the attention it needs. Again, PRP’s antimicrobial benefits help to reduce infections as well.
However, for best results, PRP needs to be applied as soon as possible. Generally, after a traumatic injury, a doctor will use stitches to close the wound. PRP therapy is uncommon in emergency medical settings, so you should make a consultation once you’re out of the hospital.
Combatting Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a condition where the skin loses its pigmentation. The discoloration can occur in patches or entire sections of the body. Doctors are still divided over what treatments are the most effective, but a growing consensus suggests that PRP is the way to go.
Laser treatment is the primary method of fighting vitiligo. However, this process is long and arduous for those who have large areas affected. Studies have shown that when PRP is added to the laser regimen, recovery is much faster. This, in turn, leads to more patients sticking with their treatment.
Sun exposure is also used after each treatment as this will naturally stimulate the development of melanin for pigmentation. When these three methods are put together, the results are superior to any other treatment on the market.
Preventing and Undoing Hair Loss
Male-pattern baldness affects most men at some point in their lives. Hair restoration techniques have existed for well over 30 years, but PRP is looking to shake up the existing paradigm. Normally, implants or hair transplants are used to restore a full head of hair.
Pharmaceutical products also exist for hair restoration, and some do prevent further loss and thicken existing hair. But what about making your lost hair come back? PRP has actually been able to do just that.
By applying PRP directly to the scalp, it’s possible for the body to restore damaged hair cells. As with all hair loss treatments, the sooner you act the better! PRP has shown the best results when applied to men in their 30s or early 40s before significant hair loss has occurred.
Facial Rejuvenation
We mentioned that PRP has found a strong foothold in the cosmetic industry. As an anti-aging treatment, it has proven very useful for facial rejuvenation. Give your skin a fresh glow and reduce the prevalence of wrinkles with PRP.
The application is similar to Botox and is delivered with a small needle in and around wrinkled areas. Topical cream may also be used in conjunction with this method.
PRP facial rejuvenation adds youthful fullness to your skin and smooths out wrinkles. Patients continue to return for follow up treatments as they love the results.
Want to Learn More?
If you are interested in learning more or would like to know how PRP therapy can benefit your case, please call Advanced Aesthetics of Las Vegas, Nevada. Our staff can set up an appointment to evaluate your situation and identify the perfect course of treatment for you. We can answer any questions you may have about a specific therapy or treatment. We look forward to helping you.
