Everything You Want to Know About PRP/PRF Before You Book at Radiant Aesthetics

PRP has become one of those treatments everyone has heard of but few people can actually explain. You have probably seen it called a vampire facial, or you have seen the photos of people with their own blood drawn before an appointment and wondered what on earth we do with it. There is also a related term, PRF, that gets used almost interchangeably, so let us break down what both actually mean and how we use each one.

What Is PRP, Really?

PRP stands for platelet rich plasma, and the process starts the same way a simple blood draw would at any doctor’s office. We draw a small amount of your blood, then spin it down using the Selphyl system at both our Granbury and Hudson Oaks locations, which separates out the platelets from the rest of your blood. What comes out of that spin is PRP, a liquid rich in platelets and the growth factors they carry.

Platelets carry growth factors, which are what your body naturally reaches for when it needs to heal and rebuild tissue. Once we concentrate them from your own blood, we are able to place them exactly where you want that natural rebuilding process focused.

PRP for Topical, PRF for Injections

Here is where the two terms actually split. PRP on its own is what we use topically, straight from the tube, no additional processing. We apply it directly to the skin, most often after microneedling or after our Ultra Laser treatments, so it can soak into the skin while it is most receptive.

For injections, that same PRP goes through one more step. We run it through a heater, which converts it into PRF, a thicker, gel like version that holds together as a matrix rather than staying liquid. That structure is what allows the platelets to keep releasing growth factors for longer once they are placed, instead of dispersing quickly the way liquid PRP would. PRF is what we actually inject.

So when you hear us say PRP, picture the topical version straight from the tube. When you hear PRF, that is the thicker, heated version we inject.

Where We Inject PRF

PRF injections are not limited to one area. We use it in several spots depending on what a patient is trying to improve, including under the eyes, the cheeks, the nasolabial folds, the temples, and the scalp. Under eye hollows and cheeks are two of our most requested areas, since PRF can soften that tired, hollow look without adding a synthetic filler.

Pairing PRP With Other Treatments

Topical PRP is also something we layer on top of other treatments to help your skin get more out of them. After microneedling, we apply PRP directly to the skin so it soaks into the tiny channels created by the treatment. After our Ultra Laser treatments, PRP can help support your skin’s recovery as well.

The scalp is a bit of an exception to the topical versus injectable split above. For hair restoration, we inject PRP directly into the scalp rather than heating it into PRF first, since the liquid form spreads more evenly across the treatment area. Mayo Clinic has reported on a small clinical trial where PRP injections regrew hair in women with pattern baldness about as well as the standard topical treatment, with patients reporting higher satisfaction. It is still considered a promising, developing area of research rather than a guaranteed fix, and like the other uses above, it typically takes a series of sessions to see results.

Whether you are getting PRF injections, a topical PRP application, PRP for the scalp, or a combination, it is a treatment that works well on its own and works well as a booster to something else you are already doing.

What to Expect

The blood draw itself feels like a routine lab draw. From there, spinning it down takes a few minutes, and then, depending on whether we are applying PRP topically or heating it into PRF for injection, we get to work the same day. Because it is your own blood, there is no risk of an allergic reaction, which is a big reason patients who want a more natural option are drawn to it.

Some light bruising or swelling at the injection sites is normal with PRF, similar to what you would expect from any injectable. Results are not instant either way. Most patients see gradual improvement over several weeks as the growth factors go to work, and we typically recommend a series of sessions rather than a single visit for the best outcome.

Let’s Talk

If you are curious whether PRP, PRF, or both make sense for what you are trying to improve, under the eyes, through the cheeks, or as a booster to microneedling or laser, come see us in Granbury or Hudson Oaks and let’s talk through it.

Sources

1. American Academy of Dermatology, Is platelet rich plasma the secret to younger looking skin?
2. Selphyl, PRF vs PRP vs PRFM, What’s the Difference and Which One Is the Best?
3. Selphyl, About PRFM
4. Mayo Clinic News Network, Platelet rich plasma found to be effective in regrowing hair
5. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Effective strategies to reduce pain during platelet rich plasma scalp injections