This sharing is for informational purposes, you should definitely consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Each treatment may offer different results and different duration of effectiveness for each person.
I wish you healthy and beautiful days...
WHAT IS PRP (PLATELET-RICH PLASMA)?
FOR WHAT PURPOSES IS IT USED?
Today, most of the aesthetic and cosmetic applications; It aims to renew the epidermis (the top layer of our skin), to stimulate the dermis (the lower layer of our skin) or to increase the supporting tissues (connective and subcutaneous adipose tissue) in the dermis.
For this purpose, it is desired that all products applied to the skin be compatible with human skin and biologically disappear completely from the skin after a while (such as hyaluronic acids used for filling purposes, yarn tissue suspension systems that completely dissolve in the skin over time).
Due to their synthetic structure, there is a low risk of skin reactions.
For this reason, tissues taken from the patient have been used in aesthetic applications in recent years (such as adipose tissue, stem cells and blood components taken from the patient).
Rapidly spreading PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma = Platelet-rich plasma) treatment is among these applications.
Today, PRP method is used in fine lines and wrinkles, skin renewal and rejuvenation, increasing skin volume, wound healing, acne scars, hair loss, skin cracks, melasma (pregnancy spots and sun spots), after hair transplantation or hair loss and after laser applications. (as tissue regenerator) is used.
It can be used alone as well as in conjunction with botox, laser, microneedling (dermaroller, microneedeling) and aesthetic surgery applications.
Although it is introduced as a stem cell therapy in our country, it is not actually a stem cell application!!!
Many systems have been developed to obtain PRP from the patient's blood.
What is the purpose of PRP application?
The purpose of PRP application is to deliver a much higher number of platelets to the target tissue than can be carried by the blood circulation. Thus, the repair of the tissue begins quickly and powerfully and results much more quickly. The density of platelets obtained with PRP is 2 to 6 times higher than that of blood. Normally, the platelet count in the blood of an adult human is 200,000± 75,000 µL. In PRP, the platelet amount is 1 million µL. PRP is obtained from 10% of the blood taken while preparing PRP. A normal blood clot contains 93% red blood, 6% platelets, and 1% white blood cells. When PRP is prepared, this ratio is reversed in favor of platelets and platelets become 93%, red blood cells 6% and white blood cells 1%. In addition, growth factors normally found in the blood increase 7-30 times in PRP.
What is the effect of PRP on skin rejuvenation?
The aging of our skin is caused by losing some of its physical properties, just like in the process of injury. For this reason, practices aimed at rejuvenating our skin are actually aimed at imitating what our body does when healing a wound. The structure that can repair a damage to the skin in the most effective, fastest and most natural way is also a part of the whole to which the skin belongs.
Well, since the platelets circulate freely in our blood, why can't they go to the aging tissue on their own and start this process?
In fact, platelets in the bloodstream are not active, but become active when they are extravasated in damaged or aged tissues. In addition, their normal concentration in the blood may not be sufficient. For this reason, platelets are concentrated and turned into PRP and targeted tissues; They are applied to the face, neck, hands and other areas.
PRP is a new method?
PRP has been used for about 30 years. It was first used in 1987 following open heart surgery. It has been used since 2004 in facial rejuvenation for cosmetic purposes. It is seen as the most promising technique in orthopedic interventions, oral and maxillofacial surgery, traumatic surgical procedures, flap shift operations in plastic surgery, macular lesions in the eye, corneal epithelial damage, especially bone, cartilage and tissue defects in orthopedic and traumatic surgery. In dermatology, while it is mostly used in the care of chronic wounds and burns together with plastic surgery, it has also been used in the field of cosmetic dermatology in recent years.
What are the clinical uses of PRP applications?
In wounds and cracks that have prolonged or not healed,
For skin rejuvenation in body parts such as face, neck, décolleté area, hands, inner legs, arms,
Providing rapid structuring of the skin immediately after applications such as laser / peeling,
Reversing the results of years and exposure to UV rays on the skin, ensuring the correction of wrinkles, removal of depressions, and regaining its elasticity and brightness,
To increase the elasticity and brightness of the skin,
It can be used alone or in combination with other treatments for hair loss.
Moreover;
In women, along with laser treatments to the genital and vaginal area, and.
It can also be used in facial stains such as melasma (birthmarks).
Is PRP a reliable application?
In PRP application, the patient's own blood is taken.
Are PRP applications reliable?
Procedures such as blood collection and separation of platelets are carried out in a sterile environment, so there is no risk of contamination from the outside. There is nothing added to the PRP prepared after the procedures. For these reasons, it is an extremely reliable method when done with application standards.
How is PRP application done in practice?
All stages of PRP are prepared in a sterile environment in the doctor's office and the application is done by the doctor.
After adding the anticoagulant, the blood can be stored for up to 8 hours. After PRP is activated, the release of growth factors from the platelets into the tissue ends in 10-15 minutes, and even the factors released in the 10th minute reach the highest concentrations. It is necessary to pay attention to this feature in PRP applications.
The main purpose in all systems is to ensure the separation of blood cells, erythrocytes (red blood cells), platelets (blood cells that repair tissue and coagulate blood, also known as platelets), leukocytes (white blood cells) and blood plasma (liquid part of blood) from each other.
With this decomposition, platelet concentration is obtained 3-7 times (around 1 million) times higher than normal blood in the part enriched with platelet count. This part is then re-injected into the desired tissues of the patient, applied to the skin surface in the form of gel and solution, or applied as a mask.
When these cells are applied to the skin, they become active in the tissues and secrete cell (tissue) growth factors.
Thus, they initiate the regeneration process in the tissue.
The most important advantage of this method is that it is obtained from the patient's own blood and does not carry the risk of allergy.
Platelets are blood cells, the other name of which is thrombocyte, and they help stop bleeding in damaged tissues in our body and repair the damage, that is, heal the wound.
Platelets are found in high concentration in the vessel and spleen.
Normally, there are approximately 140,000-400,000 platelets per mm3 of blood.
Platelets are made in the bone marrow and their lifespan is 7-10 days when they enter the bloodstream. After completing their circulating life span, the body's cleaning system is cleared by macrophages. Its deficiency causes thrombocytopenia and bleeding disorders as a result.
These cells (platelets) become active when they go out of the blood vessels and the active substances they carry;
blood clotting factors,
glycoproteins (building blocks of tissues) that bind tissues together,
cytokines (molecules that transmit signals to cells),
chemokines (signaling molecules that call other tissue repair agents)
integrin (molecules that enable cells to communicate with each other) and
They secrete growth factors out of the cell.
All these molecules listed above are located in the sacs defined as granules inside the platelets. Normally, when they migrate to the damaged tissue, all these biological events (i.e. tissue repair, healing, etc.) occur thanks to over 30 biologically active molecules released from platelets.
How is PRP applied to the skin?
PPR can be applied superficially or deeply to the dermis (lower layer of the skin) layer of the skin.
It is applied to the upper layers of the dermis with superficial needles (point by point) as in mesotherapy. The purpose of this application is to increase the moisture of the skin.
It is applied deep with needles as well as filling materials are applied to the deep dermis and under the dermis. With this application, it is aimed to increase the volume of the skin and reshape the tissues.
Apart from needles, gels and solutions prepared from PRP can also be applied directly to the targeted area on the skin or used as specially prepared masks.
2-4 ml of PRP is sufficient for the entire face and neck.
Will I feel pain in PRP application?
Before the Prp application, local anesthetic cream and ice are applied to the application area for 30-45 minutes, so that the feeling of pain is almost non-existent.
How long does it take to apply this treatment?
PRP preparation and application takes approximately 30-45 minutes. It does not require any special conditions for the patient.
Is there a certain dose of PRP to be applied?
Scientific studies have shown that there is no overdose of PRP. For this reason, sufficient amounts are prepared according to the area of need and all of the PRP obtained can be used.
How many sessions of PRP are applied and what are the session intervals?
Applications are applied 3-4 sessions with an interval of 2-4 weeks. This is called 1 cure. Curing applications performed for 6 months or once a year ensure that the results obtained are permanent.
When is the positive effect seen in PRP application?
In scientific studies, we see that clinical response is observed in 2 weeks after PRP application and this response lasts for 2-3 months. Immediately after the application, a healthy glow appears on the skin. Later, this bright appearance will regress a little, but after the 3rd – 4th application (ie, after 1 cure) this effect becomes permanent.
What are the advantages of PRP application?
The rejuvenating effect provided is not concentrated only on certain areas like the effects obtained in filling and similar applications, but spreads to a larger part of the skin and is more permanent.
The positive results obtained with other methods continue for a certain period of time and their effects fade away. However, although the positive results of PRP belong to the person who is applied, they are permanent for a longer period of time.
Much better results can be obtained with applications combined (together) with other treatments.
PRP provides new collagen production with TGFα and β, new vessel formation with EGF and VEGF, tissue regeneration and rejuvenation with increased extracellular support tissue production with PDGF.
Fibrin gel in its content acts as a biological adhesive, provides bleeding control during and after surgery and acts as an adhesive of the skin to the lower tissues.
It is non-allergenic and safe for possible infections (HIV, Hepatitis B and C, CJD, etc.).
Since it is obtained from the patient, there is no risk of rejection.
At the same time, they also act as antibiotics physiologically, thanks to the small amount of leukocytes, antibodies and proteolytic enzymes in their content.
Plasma content also contains hormones, biotransformed vitamins and other nutrients. It is a product with ease of use in the form of dermal and subcutaneous injections.
Since plasma collection can be done in an office environment, it is a very convenient method to use.
It is more economical than other applications.
Are there any undesirable effects in this application?
The patient is given a material (PRP) produced from his own blood. The procedure is simply to initiate and accelerate the wound healing process. The probability of encountering an undesirable effect is very low.
What should be considered before and after PRP application?
Vitamin C (1,000 mg/day) and vitamin D can be given to increase fibroblast activity 7-14 days before the application.
For the same purpose, vit A creams and vit C serums can be used 7-14 days before.
In platelet applications, inflammation is required in the application area. Therefore, anti-inflammatories (painkillers) and aspirin should not be used for 3-5 days before and after the application. After the procedure, the face should not be washed for 6 hours and no cream or make-up product should be applied.
Who can not be applied to PRP?
Platelet dysfunction syndrome can cause some problems. It should not be used in patients with critical thrombocytopenia, hypofibrinogenemia, hemodynamic instability, sepsis, anticoagulant therapy (for filling application), acute and chronic infections, facial cancer or chronic liver pathology. PRP treatment cannot be applied to pregnant women, lactating women, autoimmune diseases, platelet-related blood diseases, low platelet counts, active infections, anticoagulant therapy (blood thinners), and cancer patients.
What will I experience after the application?
Mild edema, redness and bruising may develop in the application area. For this, creams containing vitamin K can be used.
Swelling may develop. These decrease in 1-2 days and edema around the eyes may last for 3-5 days.
Can PRP be used in combination with other methods?
Microneedling and Fractional laser applications provide regeneration of the skin along with the micro-damage they create on the skin and their healing process. However, the micro-damage holes opened in the skin during both applications increase the absorption of PRP from the skin.
Together with fat transfers, PRP gives much better clinical results.
Therefore, it can be used in combination with many processes. However, if botulinum toxin application is to be made, the PRP cure should be completed first and the toxin application should be done 2 weeks later. There are some scientific studies that show that if the toxin is applied first and then PRP is applied in the opposite way, the toxin reduces its effectiveness.
