At the Lovely Clinic in Chelsea one of our favourite regenerative treatments is PRP, AKA, Platelet Rich Plasma therapy, or The Vampire Facial. This innovative treatment utilises our patients own natural growth factors, that are found in their blood.
It sounds complicated, right?
Well, we want to take the opportunity to take the mystery out of PRP treatment by explaining what it is, how it can improve your skin; and by giving you some handy hints and tips on the best way to prepare for PRP therapy, should you choose to give this treatment a try.
What is PRP
PRP treatment consists of taking blood from a patient and putting it into a centrifuge to separate the different parts that make up the blood. A centrifuge is a machine that spins the blood at a high speed, which results in the separation of the red and white blood cells, the platelets and the plasma.
The platelets are the part of the blood that contain growth factors which are a key to facilitating new cell production, and to repairing and healing damaged tissues. As part of PRP therapy, the platelets are injected back into the patient’s skin, or into the scalp to help stimulate hair growth.
The concentrated volume of growth factors in the platelets are great for:
- Stimulating collagen and elastin
- Improving skin quality, tone and texture
- Increasing cell turnover
- Repairing damaged skin
Who is suitable for PRP treatment?
Most patients are suitable for PRP treatment, however a good baseline to get the most out of this therapy is to take a proactive approach to your health. Since PRP uses your own blood to improve your skin, being in optimum health will help deliver more potent results.
As well as leading a healthy lifestyle, there are other things that we recommend that you do before you have PRP therapy to help you get the most out of the treatment.
What should I do to prepare for treatment?
Skincare
The right skin care can help build a good foundation for the best PRP results. Skincare with active ingredients such as retinol and vitamin C should be used in the run up to your PRP appointment. If you can use these for a minimum of four weeks beforehand, your skin will be nicely prepped for the PRP therapy. When you’re using skincare with active ingredients, you will also want to wear a high factor, good quality sunscreen while following this regime.
A few days before your PRP session you will need to stop using skincare products that are harsh, such as exfoliants, or products that include active ingredients. This includes skin medications such as topical antibiotics, hydroquinone or benzoyl peroxide. You should however continue to wear your high factor sunscreen.
Lifestyle
If you drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes we would recommend that you abstain for 48 hours post treatment. Alcohol causes dehydration and thins the blood, which can increase the chance of bruising; and smokers will find that their skin takes longer to heal after the procedure.
Eating well and drinking enough water so you’re properly hydrated in the days leading up to your treatment will help you to get the maximum benefits.
Tanning
Protecting your skin from the sun will also help improve your treatment outcomes. Avoid tanning salons for at least a week before you have PRP and if you live in sunny climes, wear a sunhat and factor 50 sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.
At The Lovely Clinic, if you come for a PRP consultation, we will take you through all the do’s and don’t in detail, and answer any of your specific PRP questions to make sure you are fully prepared before your appointment.
Is PRP safe during pregnancy?
PRP is not recommended for pregnant women. Reputable PRP providers won’t perform this procedure on pregnant women because it is a non essential procedure and has never been clinically studied in this patient group.
What is PRP therapy for hair loss?
If your hair is thinning, or is not as full and healthy looking as you might like it to be, you may want to consider PRP for hair growth. PRP is an effective hair loss treatment that works by stimulating the hair follicles. The treatment has very good success rates offering significant improvements for hair health.
PRP near me
At The Lovely Clinic we provide PRP services to patients who travel from all over London to see us. Our clinic is conveniently situated in Chelsea at 8 Beauchamp Place, SW3 1NQ, and is easily accessible from neighbouring boroughs including Knightsbridge, Kensington and Westminster.
Why not book a consultation today, so we can talk you through how PRP treatments can benefit your skin and hair health.
