The evidence is stacking up demonstrating the benefits of PRP in wound healing, scar reduction & hair restoration

Part 1. Wound Healing and scar rejuvenation

What Is PRP Therapy?

PRP (Platelet-rich-plasma) therapy is a treatment which harnesses the body’s natural ability to heal and regenerate. It has been hailed in the aesthetics industry as the most trending and talked-about dermatological/medial procedure in the last decade.  By placing your own PRP back into the skin, cell proliferation is encouraged which leads to an increase in elastin and collagen production. As a result, can promote faster healing from surgery or injury and skin will look tighter, fuller, and smoother thus improving scar outcomes.

Read on to discover more about the benefits….

Natural Promotion of Healing :- Platelets are blood cells that play an important role in wound healing. They help form clots to stop bleeding and can support cell growth. Although PRP is used primarily for anti-aging and skin rejuvenation, PRP therapy can be right for those who are looking for a more natural approach to healing and reduced scarring. The best thing about this technique is that it is completely natural as it involves extraction of client’s own blood, which is placed in a centrifuge and spun to extract the growth factors. PRP therapy leverages the body’s own regenerative capabilities to naturally promote tissue repair and regeneration rather than mask pain and inflammation. The platelets and growth factors when injected back into the skin (via injection or micro-needling) stimulate collagen production which improves skin tone and texture. PRP facials became popular with cosmetic dermatologists and plastic surgeons alike, realising the high concentration of platelets allows for the formation and release of growth factors and active proteins that promote growth of collagen and healing.

Versatile Treatment :-Platelet-rich plasma has a broad range of applications, addressing everything from cosmetic concerns to orthopaedic conditions. Its adaptability makes it a treatment that can be suitable for many different patients at different stages of life.
‘It is one of the safest techniques with long-lasting results and provides total rejuvenation’

Minimal Interruption :-One of the significant advantages of PRP therapy is the minimal to no downtime required post-treatment. Patients can typically return to all of their planned activities on the day of the therapy, making it a convenient option for those who cannot afford lengthy recovery periods. The injections are typically well-tolerated and only take a few minutes to administer. Not only is this treatment indicated for almost all skin conditions, it is also less time consuming than many other dermatological procedures used in clinic. 

Improved Post-Surgery Healing Times :-Regenerative therapy plays an important role in accelerating the healing process following surgery. By introducing concentrated growth factors directly to the surgical site, this therapy can significantly reduce recovery time, enabling patients to resume their normal activities more quickly.

Reduced Scarring :-A major advantage of regenerative medicine in the post-surgery context is its potential to reduce scarring, PRP therapy is particularly effective in stimulating tissue regeneration and repair. The growth factors in platelet-rich plasma can enhance tissue regeneration and healing, leading to less noticeable scars and improved cosmetic outcomes.

Reduced Inflammation and Pain :-Post-surgical inflammation and pain are common concerns, but PRP therapy can effectively address these issues. By promoting natural healing and reducing inflammation at the site of surgery, patients often experience a decrease in pain and discomfort, contributing to a more comfortable recovery.

‘PRP strongly improved skin wound healing, which was associated with regulation of local inflammation, enhancement of angiogenesis and re-epithelialization. PRP treatment significantly reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-17A and interleukin-1β. An increase in the local vessel intensity and enhancement of re-epithelialization were also observed in animals with PRP administration and were associated with enhanced secretion of growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor and insulin-like growth factor-1.’  Xu et al 2020

Reference

Xu P, Wu Y, Zhou L, Yang Z, Zhang X, Hu X, Yang J, Wang M, Wang B, Luo G, He W, Cheng B. Platelet-rich plasma accelerates skin wound healing by promoting re-epithelialization. Burns Trauma. 2020 Aug 14;8:tkaa028. doi: 10.1093/burnst/tkaa028. PMID: 32821743; PMCID: PMC7427034.