Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy, ‘PRP’ – or The Vampire Facelift

At Appearance Based Medicine, we like to ensure that we remain at the very forefront of non-surgical cosmetic procedures – offering our customers innovative, medically approved treatments that are at the cutting edge of Aesthetic Therapy.  One of the recent additions to our impressive treatment range is ‘Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy’ (PRP), also known as ‘The Vampire Facelift’.  But don’t let the slightly sinister nickname put you off! PRP Therapy has been developed after many years of intensive medical research into the incredible properties of the platelets contained in our own blood, and the treatment has been proven to stimulate collagen production in the skin.  It is primarily used to help reduce deep wrinkles and ‘plump out’ the skin of the face, but can also be used on the back of hands, on scars, and even the décolletage to help give the skin a more youthful and radiant appearance.

So how does it work? Platelets contain a high number of ‘growth factors’ – that is, proteins that help to heal injured tissue or damaged skin in the body.  When platelets are introduced to areas suffering from tissue damage, the ‘growth factors’ are released, stimulating the surrounding cells to proliferate and prompting the cells to start repairing themselves, increasing in volume and rejuvenating the skin.

With PRP Treatment, a small amount of your own blood is taken by a fully qualified medical professional and placed into a centrifuge in order to separate the platelet rich plasma from the rest of the blood cells.  It is this precious plasma that is then re-injected into the treatment area with a very fine needle, following the application of a topical local anaesthetic.  In order to see the best results, multiple injections are given in multiple locations across the face (or treatment area) to ensure a consistent and overall improvement to treated area of skin.  Generally, patients start to see results within a few weeks of treatment.

The Vampire Facelift has many benefits over the more dramatic, invasive surgical face-lift options out there: it is quick to carry out (procedures generally last about an hour) and involves little downtime for recovery.  It is also fairly long lasting, with results from a series of PRP sessions lasting for up to 18 months.  As the solution used in the treatment is the patient’s own blood, risk of infection or an adverse reaction to the solution is significantly reduced too, but, as with all cosmetic treatments, there are potential side effects associated with this procedure: Patients may suffer from short-term redness and bruising at the injection sites, and there are a very small number of medical conditions that that make this an inappropriate treatment option for certain patients.

If you are interested in PRP Therapy and would like to learn more, please take a look at our Website for more information.  Feel free to contact us via telephone on 01628 303020, or via email: info@ab-med.co.uk if you have any questions or would like to book a no-obligation, FREE consultation with me at Appearance Based Medicine to discuss an appropriate treatment plan for you.