What Is PRP?
Platelet-rich plasma is a solution of platelets and growth factors that promote cell repair. These platelets and growth factors are extracted from a sample of the patient’s blood.
The concentrated serum can help your tissues repair themselves and stimulate new cell growth.
For men and women looking for skin rejuvenation or hair restoration, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a minimally invasive procedure that stimulates cell growth to strengthen the skin or promote hair growth.
This treatment can turbocharge your tissue’s natural repair systems, replacing old, wrinkled, or damaged skin with new, vibrant, youthful-looking skin. Or, when applied to thinning hair, PRP injections can stimulate dormant hair follicles for increased hair growth.
Why Choose Careaga Plastic Surgery?
At Careaga Plastic Surgery, you can experience the combination of a pristine and serene setting with cutting-edge treatments suited to your cosmetic needs. The dedicated staff at Careaga Plastic Surgery are well-trained and experienced professionals in the aesthetics industry.
Our PA, Reana Myers, is an expert in minimally invasive cosmetic procedures, including PRP therapy.
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PRP Injections Can:
Stimulate Collagen and Elastin Growth
PRP injections are chock full of growth factors and proteins that stimulate cell growth. These growth factors also help your skin create new collagen and elastin.
These proteins keep your skin tight and flexible, respectively, and the loss of these proteins can cause wrinkles and skin sagging with age. PRP can help reverse these trends.
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Enhance Skin Glow
Just like many things exposed to the outside, your skin gets damaged and worn over time. Your skin naturally produces new skin layers underneath the surface; however, by the time the new skin is visible, it can also become worn out.
PRP can help the new skin layers grow faster. You can get the benefits of new younger skin replacing your older skin faster and for longer.
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Erase Wrinkles and Scars
One of the main uses of PRP therapy is to minimize wrinkles and scars. PRP is not magic; it can’t wipe away skin damage with a flick of a wand.
However, PRP can cause new cells to grow around your wrinkles and scars, strengthening the skin and causing scar tissue to fade.
It helps wrinkles and scars fade away over time.
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Promote Hair Growth
Many men and women experience a decrease in hair growth as they age. For men, this may mean a thinning crown; for women, a widening part.
Regardless of the path your hair loss is taking, PRP injections may be able to help. When injected into the scalp, it can reawaken and stimulate dormant follicles to produce hair once again. This can also help your existing hair become stronger.
PRP is not a solution for balding or entirely bald patients.
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How Is a PRP Treatment Done?
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During the first step of your PRP treatment, our PA or one of our nurses will draw a small blood sample from you. This will be relatively painless.
You may feel a slight prick where the needle is placed, but this should pass quickly. If you have a phobia of needles or experience distress at the sight of blood, be sure to inform your medical provider.
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Your blood sample will be placed in a centrifuge. This machine will spin the sample at high speed to separate the various components within the blood.
These components include:
- Red blood cells
- White blood cells
- Platelets
- Plasma
- Growth factors
After the separation, your provider will combine the platelets, plasma, and growth factors into a concentrated solution. The red and white blood cells are usually discarded.
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The concentrated platelet-rich serum can be used topically on the skin or with a microneedling procedure. Using PRP topically can address scar tissue and wrinkles but is less effective at affecting the deeper layers of skin.
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The other option is to inject the PRP solution directly into the targeted areas. Because PRP is a concentration of your own platelets, it can be used practically anywhere.
The most common areas to use PRP injections include the:
- Forehead
- Cheeks
- Eyes (especially where crow’s feet develop)
- Neck
- Hands
- Scalp
Financing My PRP Injections
At Careaga Plastic Surgery, we strive to make our services affordable for all patients. Providing financing options is just one way we try to help with this part of the process. Our financing programs can be used individually or combined to address your personal needs.
What Happens After My PRP Treatment?
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After your PRP injection, you should be able to return to all daily activities immediately. You may experience some minor redness, swelling, or soreness around your injection sites. These side effects should fade within a day or two.
You should avoid applying makeup or other topical products around the injection site for 24 hours. We also advise that you refrain from vigorous exercise for two to three days to prevent disruption of the new cell growth.
You should stay out of direct sunlight for a week or two.
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Some patients begin to see results from their PRP therapy within two to four weeks; however, it often takes longer for the effects of collagen growth to become visible (up to six months).
We often recommend follow-up treatments at regular intervals to maintain your appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions About PRP Therapy
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Anyone interested in rejuvenating their skin, reducing wrinkles and scars, or stimulating hair growth is a potential PRP candidate. Ideal candidates will be in good health, have no blood-based infections or medical conditions, and have realistic expectations for their results.
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Because PRP therapy is based on refining the growth factors in your blood, it is important that your blood is uncontaminated when you come in for treatment. For this reason, we ask that all PRP patients refrain from drinking alcohol, smoking, or using blood-thinning medication for three to five days before their appointment. This ensures patient safety and helps increase the effectiveness of the treatment.
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Yes. PRP works well in concert with many other procedures. It can be used with almost any surgical operation to speed healing and reduce the extent of scarring after surgery.
It may also be combined with other non-surgical treatments such as:
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Yes. Patients who have lost volume in their face can benefit from PRP as new collagen and elastin can help your skin retain volume over time. If you want more significant volume loss treatments, dermal fillers are a good option.
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The number of treatments you will need to address your concerns will vary. In general, we recommend three to four treatments spread out over several weeks to achieve optimal results.
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The cost of PRP injections will vary depending on the number of areas you want to address and the extent of correction you desire. The best way to get an accurate PRP price is to schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons.
Patient Testimonials
What a fulfilling experience. From the very beginning, The staff made me feel so comfortable to the point that I knew where I wanted to do my breast augmentation. Dr. Careaga is simply an artist to say the least and I am beyond happy with my results.
Wendy Cabello
Amazing experience! Had a breast augmentation with lift last year and I couldn’t be happier. Dr. Careaga was very attentive and reassuring, he took the time to explain how the procedure worked and gave me honest options considering my skin type, my size, etc. I felt confident and had peace of mind going into my surgery. The post surgery care and attention was also very personable, from the consultation to a year later I’m extremely satisfied. Definitely considering coming back for more. Thank you Dr CAREAGA!
Liss Olivares
My experience with Dr Durand as my plastic surgeon has been one of the best. I felt safe and he understood exactly what I wanted to achieve with the surgery. The staff is awesome and kind.
Dra. Vimary Rodriguez
