PRP and Microneedling Therapy

Microneedling therapy is recommended for patients concerned about the cosmetic effects of aging. It involves minimally invasive collagen induction therapy: small punctures are made on the skin's surface using needles. These controlled injuries prompt a healing response, causing the body to produce new collagen and elastin at the site of damage.

Microneedles are most commonly used in facial skin procedures, but they can also be used on other areas of the body. This type of therapy is preferred over laser therapy: it is considered more cost-effective and suitable for patients with different skin tones. However, microneedling therapy is contraindicated for some patients, including:

• Pregnant women
• Patients taking blood-thinning medications
• Patients with active acne

Microneedles are typically used to achieve the following results:

• Reduction of hyperpigmentation
• Decrease in wrinkles and fine lines
• Improvement in skin texture
• Healing of acne scars and other types of scars
• Shrinking of pores
• Reduction of stretch marks

Advantages of adding PRP to microneedling therapy

The cosmetic benefits of microneedles are well known. However, when Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is added to the microneedling procedure, the effectiveness of the procedure becomes more pronounced. Typically, after microneedling, there is a recovery period during which the micro-wounds heal on their own. Adding PRP enhances tissue healing and regeneration, reduces redness and swelling, which often occur after the procedure.

How does it work?

Platelet-rich plasma stimulates the body's natural healing processes. When we suffer soft tissue injury, our body responds to it by releasing a large number of platelets. Activated platelets release several types of growth factors, proteins, and cytokines that play a fundamental role in cell regeneration and tissue healing.

The PRP method enhances the natural healing process by separating platelets from other blood components and concentrating them. This specially prepared platelet-rich plasma contains 5-10 times more platelets than whole blood. Then, the concentrated PRP mixture is injected into the site of damage and its surrounding area, effectively triggering and significantly enhancing the body's regenerative reactions.

The PRP microneedling procedure involves two stages. First, the physician performs microneedling on the selected area of the skin. This usually takes about 30 minutes. Then, blood is drawn from the patient into a tube and placed in a special centrifuge, where platelets are separated from other blood components. Then, the specially prepared platelet-rich plasma is massaged into the treated area. Since the microneedles have already made tiny punctures in the skin, the PRP penetrates inside in the same way as an injection.

Adding PRP to the microneedling procedure improves and speeds up wound healing, reduces redness and swelling, which often occur after microneedling.

Studies have shown that using PRP in combination with microneedles for rejuvenation treatment reduces fine lines and pore size. In a study comparing PRP microneedles and microneedles with vitamin C for the treatment of acne scars, PRP microneedles were found to be more effective. Another study on the use of PRP to reduce hyperpigmentation showed that the best time to apply PRP to micropunctures is 5 and 30 minutes after the pigmentation treatment procedure.

Since PRP is an autologous therapy using the patient's blood preparations, there is no risk of cross or immune reaction or disease transmission.

PRP Procedure

The following steps are performed to produce platelet-rich plasma:

1. A specialist takes a small blood sample from the patient and puts it into a Dr.Renat Akhmerov ® Premium tube.
2. During centrifugation, platelets are separated from other blood components and their concentration increases.
3. Then, the obtained platelet-rich plasma is massaged into the skin treated with microneedles.
4. The concentrated growth factors contained in the plasma cause a mild inflammatory reaction, which effectively triggers and enhances the body's natural regenerative processes.