Guide:
- What is PRF?
- How does PRF work?
- What does it help with?
- PRF vs. PRP
- How long do results last?
- Am I a candidate?
What is PRF?
Do you want to give your skin a natural glow-up? PRF might be your answer.
But what is PRF and why is everyone talking about it? PRF, which stands for platelet-rich fibrin, is a treatment made from your blood to help you look and feel your best. This little “youthfulness in a vial” can target concerns like under-eye circles, sunken cheeks, and hair loss. It does this by stimulating your body’s natural collagen production, which gives your skin that youthful bounce everyone wants. This natural injectable treatment also helps wound healing and keeps your skin hydrated.
How does PRF work?
During a PRF treatment, we take a small amount of your blood and put it in a special machine called a centrifuge to separate the platelets, just as we would with a PRP treatment. Then we gently inject the separated “liquid gold” into your targeted areas. The whole treatment takes about an hour, and almost immediately afterward, you can get back to your day-to-day activities.
Since platelet-rich fibrin is made from your blood, there’s practically no risk of your body rejecting the injections. It’s normal to have swelling and slight bruising at first, but these are only temporary and you should start seeing results within a couple of weeks. It is best to avoid massaging or excessively touching the area while it is swollen to prevent healing complications.
PRF can be even more powerful when combined with other treatments like fillers or microneedling. During your consultation at HerSpace MedSpa, we can help you create the perfect treatment plan for your goals.
Treatment timeline: Plan to dedicate about 1 hour of your day to your PRF treatment. This includes:
- Blood draw and platelet concentrate processing: A small amount of your blood is drawn, similar to a blood test. Then, it’s processed in a centrifuge to separate the growth factors from other blood components.
- Numbing cream application: A topical numbing cream is applied to the treatment area to minimize discomfort during injection.
- PRF injection procedure: Once the numbing cream takes effect, the concentrated PRF is carefully injected into the treatment areas using a thin needle.
Treatment series and aftercare
- Number of treatments: Usually, it is possible to achieve the best results with 3-5 PRF treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart. This gives your body enough time to heal and respond to the growth factors within the PRF.
- Healing and results: While some improvement may be noticeable immediately, the full effects of PRF injections typically take several weeks to develop as your body naturally rebuilds collagen and repairs tissues.
- Combination treatments: PRF can be powerful on its own, but it can also be combined with other cosmetic procedures to achieve even more dramatic results. Here are our favorite combinations:
- Dermal fillers with PRF – PRF can help create smoother, more natural-looking filler results by thinning out the hyaluronic acid content in some fillers.
- Microneedling with PRF – PRF can speed up healing and boost the overall outcome of microneedling or Genius® RF microneedling procedures by enhancing collagen production and tissue regeneration.
What does it help with?
Once you get the gist of how it works, you’re probably wondering, what is PRF known for improving? PRF tackles a wide range of aesthetic concerns, promoting a healthier, more youthful appearance:
Wrinkle reduction – By stimulating your body’s natural collagen production, PRF plumps up the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This can leave you with a smoother, more youthful complexion.
Scar improvement – PRF’s healing properties even tend to scars. Whether you have acne scars, surgical scars, or stretch marks, PRF injections can improve their texture and appearance, making them much less noticeable. PRF injections help regenerate skin cells, promoting smoother, healthier-looking skin.
Hair restoration – Hair loss can be a concern for many people, regardless of age or gender. PRF offers a natural solution. Injected into the scalp, PRF can stimulate hair growth and combat thinning hair. This is because PRF contains growth factors that promote healthy hair follicles.
Overall skin rejuvenation – PRF goes beyond just wrinkles and scars. It can improve your overall skin tone, texture, and hydration. This treatment helps your skin retain moisture, giving you a radiant, youthful glow. PRF can also address concerns like under-eye circles and even sagging skin, leaving you feeling refreshed and revitalized.
PRF offers several benefits:
Minimally invasive – PRF is a relatively painless procedure with little downtime.
Natural approach – Since it uses your blood, there’s minimal risk of rejection.
Long-lasting results – While not permanent, PRF’s effects can last for months, with touch-up treatments available to maintain your best results.
Versatility – PRF can be used on various areas of the face and body, and may be combined with other treatments like fillers or microneedling for even more dramatic results.
PRF vs. PRP
According to an article in the National Library of Medicine, PRP and PRF are platelet concentrates successfully used in regenerative medicine. PRF however is considered a second-generation improvement over PRP. Here’s a quick comparison:
PRP (platelet-rich plasma) – First-generation platelet concentrate, requires anticoagulants and additional activators in its production process
PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) – Second-generation platelet concentrate, does not require anticoagulants and has a simpler production method
PRF is reported to have several advantages over PRP, including slower release of growth factors and a more simple production method.
How long do results last?
Within the first 1-3 weeks after your PRF injections, you might see a temporary improvement in volume restoration, but this is not the main benefit of PRF.
The 3-4 month mark and beyond is when the magic starts happening. PRF’s growth factors kick in, stimulating your body’s natural collagen and elastin production. This leads to:
- Enhanced skin quality
- Improved texture and tone
- Reduced wrinkles and fine lines
- Increased skin hydration
These long-term benefits typically become noticeable after about 3-4 months and can last anywhere from 6-12 months.
Some patients get regular follow-up treatments every 12-18 months to maintain their youthful glow.
Am I a candidate?
You may benefit from PRF if you’re looking for:
- A natural approach to skin rejuvenation – PRF uses your body’s healing factors to improve your skin’s appearance.
- A non-invasive treatment with minimal downtime – PRF is a simple procedure with minimal discomfort and recovery time, so you can return to your busy lifestyle and notice improvements over time.
- Improvement in fine lines and wrinkles, scars, or sun damage – PRF can stimulate collagen production, leading to smoother, plumper skin.
- Enhanced hair growth – PRF injections in the scalp can promote hair growth and thicker hair.
- Subtle alternatives to dermal fillers – PRF adds volume and definition to your face naturally and subtly.
To decide if PRF is right for you, request a consultation with the highly experienced team of aesthetic professionals at HerSpace MedSpa in New Jersey. We can discuss your concerns and consider your goals and medical history to create a customized treatment plan.