What is PRF and why is it a good treatment for the skin?
PRF stands for Platelet-Rich Fibrin, which is extracted from your blood using a simple process after your blood is drawn. Fibrin forms in response to any injury that happens in the body. Platelets bind to fibrin and become activated, after which time growth factors are released, which begins a wound healing process. This results in the production of new cells; in the skin specifically, growth of collagen, skin cells and blood vessels.
When PRF is injected into the skin or the scalp, an inflammatory response is triggered, resulting in the formation of collagen and new cells.
What types of treatments can be done with PRF?
PRF is used in combination with microneedling to help you achieve a better complexion. Some benefits you may notice from microneedling with PRF are: improvement of acne scars, decreased pore size, more even skin tone and texture, decreased broken capillaries in the skin, reduction of fine lines/wrinkles, firmer skin and an overall glowing complexion.
PRF can also be injected alone or during your microneedling session. It will be injected into your problem areas to allow your body to naturally grow collagen and firm and tighten skin. It is a very popular treatment under the eyes as it can both help restore lost volume and tighten and brighten the skin.
PRF scalp injections are performed in areas of hair thinning. Some people who undergo these treatments notice a regrowth of hair. PRF can stimulate dormant hair follicles and nourish the follicles to allow new hair to grow.
What is the difference between PRF and PRP?
Both PRP and PRF are derived from your blood. Your blood is spun in a centrifuge to separate the products from your blood.
To extract PRP, blood tubes have an additive that will prevent the blood from clotting and they are spun at a higher speed. This allows the heavier components of blood to sink to the bottom of the tube, while the lighter components- platelets and plasma- stay at the top.
PRF tubes contain no additives and the blood is spun at a lower speed. Because of this, the tube will still have some white blood cells, stem cells and fibrin. PRF contains more healing properties for this reason.
The absence of an anticoagulant in PRF tubes allows for the formation of fibrin, which is what clots are made of. The fibrin creates a type of “scaffolding”, which allows for a slower and longer release of growth factors. This release happens over a course of 7-10 days.
For these reasons, PRF is emerging as a superior option for skin rejuvenation than PRP.
What Does a PRF Treatment Session Look Like?
We will first explain the procedure to you and answer any of your questions. We will draw your blood and begin to numb the area we are treating. The blood will be spun in the centrifuge and kept cool in a machine to prevent the PRF from clotting. We will then perform your treatment; For PRF/microneedling, a battery operated skin pen is used to make tiny holes in your skin, and we will apply and microneedle the PRF directly into the skin.
If you are adding injections on, we will inject the area you have decided to have injected either with a needle, or a blunt-tipped cannula.
If you are having PRF for hair restoration, the PRF will be injected directly to the areas of hair loss.
When your treatment is complete, we will go over your post-treatment instructions and answer any additional questions you have.
