Platelet Rich Plasma, or PRP as it is more commonly known, has been used increasingly in aesthetic medicine for the past few years. There are several ways of extracting platelets and many manufacturers produce kits to ease their harvesting for delivery into tissues. When activated, platelets release growth factors, which aid the repair and regeneration of tissues, supporting a range of aesthetic indications. PRP’s role in aesthetic treatments is continuously evolving, and while there is evidence to suggest that it will improve outcomes, there are, however, several controversies regarding its use in aesthetics.
The theory is, by placing platelets in tissues that require repair and regeneration, the cascade of events that result from platelet activation and degranulation will lead to the repair and regeneration of these tissues.
An introduction to PRP
Platelets are formed in bone marrow as fragments of megakaryocytes. Platelets form one of the cellular components of blood within the plasma – the other cellular components include red blood cells and white blood cells. Plasma also has an acellular component, in which there are plasma proteins (albumin, globulins and fibrinogen), salts (electrolytes), water, glucose, clotting factors, hormones, and dissolved gasses. The theory is, by placing platelets in tissues that require repair and regeneration, the cascade of events that result from platelet activation and degranulation will lead to the repair and regeneration of these tissues. Aged tissues may also be rejuvenated as part of this process. Platelets need to be activated for them to release the growth factors contained within them, and this occurs when platelets are removed from their usual surroundings in an intact blood vessel. The endothelial lining of a blood vessel releases substances that inhibit platelet degranulation. Activation can be augmented by salts such as calcium chloride, or by thrombin. The release of growth factors leads to a cascade of events involved in acute inflammation, repair and regeneration.
Growth factors within platelets include: PDGF (Platelet Derived Growth Factor), TGF-beta (Transforming Growth Factor Beta), FGF (Fibroblast Growth Factor), IGFs (Insulin-like Growth Factor types 1 and 2), VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor), Interleukins, KGF (Keratinocyte Growth Factor), connective tissue growth factor, along with, possibly, many others.
Obtaining PRP
Many manufacturers now produce kits that easily permit PRP to be obtained. A blood sample (often approximately 10ml) is withdrawn from the patient and placed in a centrifuge. It is advised that the blood sample needs to be taken gently with a needle of at least 23G in size to avoid damaging platelets. The centrifuge separates the components of whole blood into layers. Often, the kit will contain a separating gel that acts as a barrier between the red cells and the remaining components of plasma.
When red cells are injected into tissues, they create a bruise. Red cells contain haemoglobin and the process by which this is removed may lead to permanent tissue and skin staining, when PRP is injected near the skin. It is therefore exceedingly important to never inject red cells into the skin and subcutaneous region. The centrifuged product contains plasma, white blood cells and platelets. Platelets are concentrated in the buffy layer of the centrifugate near the separating gel. The usual concentration of platelets in the blood is 150-400 billion platelets per litre. Since red blood cells form approximately 45% of the volume of whole blood, the concentration of platelets in centrifuged blood will be approximately 110% higher. Although the bulk of the platelets are located at the buffy coat layer of the centrifugate, many clinicians will gently mix the whole plasma so that the platelet rich layer of plasma mixes with the platelet poor layer of plasma (PPP).
It is worth noting that even if the PRP layer alone is used, the PPP component will contain plasma proteins and clotting factors at an increased concentration compared to whole blood, since the volume of the red cells is elimination from whole blood. PPP may also, therefore, support the repair and regeneration of the tissues.
PRP in aesthetic medicine
When we look for evidence of efficacy of PRP in aesthetic medicine, there are very few good quality and well-conducted clinical trials that support its use. Where there is evidence, the results and techniques are extrapolated to other clinical areas and indications, weakening the data. In current clinical PRP practice the evidence is anecdotal and from small case series of patients treated by individual clinicians. Despite this, the quality of clinical trials is improving and some indications have a reasonably good standard of evidence behind them.
Combination treatments with PRP
More recently there have been studies that are either complete or are currently underway, looking at the effect of PRP on different treatments that already exist in aesthetic medicine and surgery.
Laser PRP
Ablative CO2 laser treatments have been used in combination with PRP treatments. The ablative nature of the laser means that the epithelial surface is disrupted in order for the CO2 laser to cause thermal effects at the dermal level. Fractionating the CO2 delivery leads to areas of normal tissue in between damaged tissue, aiding a more rapid recovery.
Quicker recovery from Laser treatment
Evidence is beginning to show support for the use of PRP to improve wound healing following ablative laser treatments to the face. Since PRP already has a proven effect in more rapid and complication free wound healing in acute and chronic wounds, it is not surprising that Laser-PRP, as a combination, seems to have the potential to be more beneficial than either of the two modalities on their own.
Dermaroller PRP
The concept of dermaroller-PRP is very similar to Laser-PRP. The dermaroller is a microneedling device that performs microablative needling to the skin. Dermaroller’s longest needles will enter in to the dermis, creating micro-injury and subsequent acute wound healing. Their ultimate aim is to lay down collagen, eliciting a repair process, and thickening the skin. To deliver PRP via a dermaroller treatment, the current accepted method is to use the “sandwich” technique. In this case, the dermaroller treatment is performed, PRP is topically applied to the skin, and the dermaroller treatment is repeated. The theory is that PRP is forcibly delivered to the dermis via the needles within the dermaroller. There is also a theory that the platelets are damaged as a result of being needled, but the evidence to support either the use, or the damage, of platelets in dermaroller treatments is scarce.
Autologous fat injection and PRP
Fat injections are used for cosmetic and reconstructive purposes to restore volume to depleted areas. In aesthetic surgery, the volume loss in aged tissues is usually in the face, where one of the main hallmarks of ageing is atrophy of the facial fat pads.
Currently, even when using some of the more accepted techniques – considered the best by many different clinicians (for example the Coleman method), approximately 33-66% of the fat injected will undergo necrosis. Fat necrosis may be complete without any palpable or radiological evidence, but clearly there are potential adverse sequelae from the fat necrosis process when injected fat fails to acquire vascularity sufficient for complete viability.
Fat injections have a background in reconstructive surgery, and have been used for facial volume loss in conditions such as: HIV associated lipodystrophy, Parry-Romberg disease, following treatment for childhood facial tumours, connective tissue disorders such as scleroderma and systemic sclerosis, and for various craniofacial disorders. We know that PRP can help fat grafts survive in rats and in rabbits however the evidence in humans is scarce.
Platelet Rich Plasma Treatment For :
Injuries
PRP is a therapy that uses the patient’s own blood to help heal injured tissues. The platelets in PRP are rich in growth factors, which are proteins that promote cell growth and division. When these growth factors are injected into injured tissue, they can help promote healing and reduce inflammation which can heal skin injuries such as burns and cuts.
Hair Loss
If you are experiencing hair loss, you may be considering various treatment options. One treatment option that is growing in popularity is platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections. PRP is a natural treatment that uses the body’s own cells to stimulate hair growth. There have been several studies on the effectiveness of PRP injections for hair loss.
Skin
PRP can also be used to improve the appearance of aging skin, reduce wrinkles, and improve skin tone.
Arthritis
Platelet rich plasma therapy is a new treatment for arthritis that is being studied. The therapy involves injecting platelet rich plasma into the joint to help reduce inflammation and pain. Injections are given every week for three weeks, and then monthly for up to six months. Some patients report improvement in pain and function after the first injection. Check our Non Surgical Procedures