Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a nutrient-rich serum that stimulates your body’s natural healing process and promotes cell regeneration. It provides your body with a targeted surplus of growth factors that can rejuvenate the skin, encourage new hair growth, and improve intimate wellness. Regenerative medicine has helped thousands of patients improve their quality of life and diminish signs of aging.
Dr. Alyson Wells is a double-board-certified plastic surgeon at Valley Plastics Surgery with decades of experience helping patients improve their appearance and self-esteem. She has consistently earned her place on Top Doctor lists, such as those published by Baltimore Magazine and RealSelf. She is known for her impeccable record of achievements and for producing stunning, long-lasting results.
Contact our office in Baltimore online or call (410) 628-8200 to learn more about how PRP treatments can work for you.
About PRP
Platelet-rich plasma treatments can help your body produce new cells and enhance your healing capabilities with nutrients from your blood. By extracting the plasma from a blood sample, we can help you increase your body’s growth factor levels to address signs of aging and refresh your skin and hair. As you age, the collagen proteins that help your skin maintain its smooth appearance and elasticity decline, resulting in fine lines, wrinkles, and laxity. PRP delivers a powerful burst of nutrients to the body to help it regenerate, increasing your skin’s fibroblasts, molecules that help your body produce collagen and elastin.
PRP vs. PRF
While PRP delivers a burst of nutrients to the body, platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is a growth factor-rich serum that helps your body regenerate over a longer period. Although PRP and PRF can address signs of aging and refresh your appearance, PRF contains no anticoagulants, allowing for a slower release of growth factors over time. (1)
PRP for Skin Rejuvenation
Dr. Wells offers several PRP skin rejuvenation treatments to help you achieve a more youthful look. Sun exposure, pollution, genetics, and your diet can all affect the appearance of your skin, and these can be effectively addressed with PRP. (2)
Microneedling with PRP
Microneedling with PRP is a treatment that penetrates your skin with tiny needles to increase your skin’s collagen levels by triggering a natural healing response. The well-tolerated treatment can help you achieve a more youthful-looking appearance, and the created micropunctures allow the PRP serum to penetrate deeper layers of the skin. If you would like to improve your skin’s tone and texture, microneedling can help you achieve long-lasting results. Some studies have shown significant increases in collagen and elastin levels after microneedling treatments over several months. (3) Combining microneedling with PRP can enhance the benefits of the treatment for powerful skin rejuvenation.
PRP Facial Rejuvenation Treatments
PRP facial rejuvenation treatments increase your skin’s collagen and elastin levels to diminish signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles throughout the face. A PRP facial can brighten your skin for a more youthful-looking appearance. During the treatment, Dr. Wells will administer the PRP serum topically and subcutaneously to help your skin regenerate over time. She can address multiple areas of the face to achieve comprehensive facial rejuvenation with long-lasting results.
PRP for Dark Undereye Circles
Addressing dark undereye circles (periorbital hyperpigmentation) with PRP can diminish the appearance of crow’s feet, puffiness, and wrinkles around the eyes, a common issue as you age. (4) Since PRP can help your body produce new skin cells, it can brighten the eyes to help you look more awake and refreshed.
PRP Hair Restoration
PRP hair restoration is a treatment that addresses hair loss linked to aging, nutrient deficiencies, stress, medications, and lifestyle changes. Hair loss can affect your quality of life and self-esteem. It typically occurs in areas that are difficult to conceal, such as the crown of the head and/or the hairline. PRP can stimulate the hair follicles and reduce scalp inflammation, which is helpful for patients with alopecia areata, an inflammation-related scalp condition that results in hair loss. (2) Dr. Wells can administer PRP to the scalp to stimulate the hair follicles for new, fuller hair growth. PRP is ideal for patients who are in the early stages of hair loss and who are nonsmokers in good overall health.
Candidates & Consultation
Suitable candidates for PRP treatments are typically those who would like to improve the appearance of their skin and/or hair for a more youthful-looking appearance. Many patients wish to achieve thicker, healthier hair growth or to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Candidates are typically seeking a treatment that requires minimal downtime but offers long-lasting results. During your consultation, Dr. Wells will perform a physical examination to determine the most effective treatment plan for your needs.
Preparation & Treatment Process
To prepare for PRP treatments, you should stop taking medications and supplements that thin the blood temporarily. You should also wear sunscreen regularly to protect your skin from the sun for optimal results. If you drink alcohol, you will need to stop for approximately 24 hours before and after your appointment. You should also avoid harsh, abrasive medspa treatments and tanning beds that could compromise the integrity of your skin. We will provide specific instructions to help you achieve your ideal results.
Your treatment process will depend on your personalized treatment plan and whether you receive PRP for hair or skin rejuvenation. Dr. Wells will take a small blood sample and purify it in a centrifuge to extract the PRP and create a nutrient-rich serum. The concentrated solution will then be administered to either the scalp or skin to help address your concerns.
After Your Treatment
After receiving PRP treatments, you can return home. You can return to most of your usual daily activities afterward, as long as you avoid excessive sun exposure that could damage your skin and affect your results. UV exposure contributes to up to 80% of skin aging, resulting in fine lines, wrinkles, and mild laxity that can affect your perceived age and self-esteem. (6)
Over the next few weeks, you can enjoy continuous improvements. We will also provide specific instructions to help you care for your skin and/or hair for optimal results.
Results
Your results will depend on your treatment plan. Many patients experience an improvement in their self-esteem. If you receive PRP for skin rejuvenation, you can enjoy brighter, smoother, more youthful-looking skin with fewer fine lines and wrinkles. If you receive PRP for hair restoration, you can enjoy fuller, thicker hair and a natural-looking appearance. The growth factors will continue to renew your skin and hair for long-lasting results.
Additional Medspa Treatments
Botox
Botox is a neuromodulator that reduces repetitive muscle movements to help you achieve smoother skin and a more youthful-looking appearance. The injectable limits the production of acetylcholine, a hormone and neurotransmitter that is responsible for muscle contractions. As you age and the collagen in your skin declines, repetitive facial expressions can wear on the skin, resulting in fine lines and wrinkles. Botox effectively addresses this by suspending your facial muscles in a semi-relaxed state, allowing the skin to smooth itself out.
Dermasweep Microdermabrasion With Epi-Infusion
Dermasweep microdermabrasion with epi-infusion is a microdermabrasion treatment that can hydrate the skin and remove damaged skin cells. During the treatment, a cool, hyaluronic acid-based solution lifts away the dead skin cells and clarifies the pores to soothe and hydrate your skin. This treatment can combat acne, unclog the pores, and reduce hyperpigmentation with long-lasting results. Dr. Wells can customize this treatment to help you address different aesthetic goals, and many patients also receive a series of treatments to renew their skin over time.
Chemical Peel
A chemical peel is a topical solution that exfoliates the skin to remove unhealthy skin cells, brighten your appearance, and diminish signs of aging. As you age, your skin cell turnover slows, making it difficult for your body to rid itself of unhealthy layers. Dr. Wells can refresh your skin with a simple, non-invasive treatment. Dr. Wells offers chemical peels that penetrate the skin at different depths to address various signs of aging. Many patients choose to receive a series of light peels to rejuvenate their complexions.
Cost of PRP in Baltimore
The cost of a PRP treatment will depend on your personalized treatment plan and whether you receive additional treatments to achieve your aesthetic goals. Dr. Wells will provide you with an all-inclusive price quote at your consultation.
Contact our Baltimore office online or call (410) 628-8200 to learn more about how this innovative treatment can improve your appearance, help you address signs of aging, and enhance your quality of life.
FAQ
Is PRP effective for all skin types?
PRP is effective for most skin types, and whether the treatment is a good fit for you will depend on your aesthetic goals. We will perform a physical examination to determine how you can benefit from PRP.
Can I address fine lines and wrinkles with PRP?
Yes, PRP can effectively address fine lines and wrinkles for a smoother, more youthful-looking appearance by helping your body generate new cells.
Can PRP add volume to my skin?
Although PRP can enhance your skin, it cannot add volume to it. If you would like to address volume loss, we can combine your PRP treatment with dermal fillers.
How long will the results of PRP last?
This depends on your treatment plan and whether you take good care of your skin. During your consultation, we can discuss your treatment plan and provide specific instructions to help you achieve optimal results.
References
- Diab NAF, Ibrahim AM, Abdallah AM. Fluid Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) Versus Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) in the Treatment of Atrophic Acne Scars: A Comparative Study. Archives of Dermatological Research. Published online December 15, 2022. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-022-02511-3
- Paichitrojjana A, Paichitrojjana A. Platelet Rich Plasma and Its Use in Hair Regrowth: A Review. Drug Design, Development and Therapy. 2022;Volume 16:635-645. doi:https://doi.org/10.2147/dddt.s356858
- Alqam M, Wamsley CE, Hitchcock T, Jones BC, Akgul Y, Kenkel JM. Efficacy and Tolerability of a Microneedling Device for Treating Wrinkles on the Neck. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2022;42(10):1154-1160. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjac085
- Nilforoushzadeh, Mohammad Ali, et al. “Assessing the effectiveness of the combination therapy with fractional Er‐YAG laser and platelet‐rich plasma in treatment of periorbital dark circles patients: a clinical trial.” Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 20.11 (2021): 3526-3536. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.14036
- Banihashemi, Mahnaz, et al. “Platelet-rich plasma use for facial rejuvenation: a clinical trial and review of current literature.” Acta Bio Medica: Atenei Parmensis 92.2 (2021). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8182581/
- Amaro-Ortiz A, Yan B, D’Orazio J. Ultraviolet Radiation, Aging and the Skin: Prevention of Damage by Topical cAMP Manipulation. Molecules. 2014;19(5):6202-6219. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules19056202