Platelet-Rich Plasma

A closer look

What is platelet-rich plasma?

PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. Plasma is the liquid part of your blood that carries blood cells, proteins and nutrients. Platelets are small cell fragments best known for helping blood clot; they also take part in the body’s natural repair response.

Platelets contain growth factors: proteins that act as messages between cells, helping coordinate repair, cell activity and tissue renewal. PRP is prepared from a small sample of your own blood to concentrate platelets within the plasma. At the clinic, PRP may be considered for facial skin, the under-eye area or hair thinning following an individual assessment.

How it works

Your blood sample is spun in a centrifuge to separate its components and prepare the platelet-rich plasma. Once delivered to the agreed treatment area, activated platelets release growth factors that signal nearby cells involved in repair.

For skin, these signals may encourage fibroblasts, the cells that produce collagen, and support the formation of small blood vessels involved in tissue repair. The aim is gradual improvement in skin texture and quality as tissue remodels. Evidence for cosmetic skin rejuvenation is still developing, and the degree of improvement is uncertain.

For hair, growth-factor signals may support cells around existing hair follicles and help maintain the active growth phase of the hair cycle. This may improve hair density or thickness in suitable types of hair thinning, particularly pattern hair loss. PRP does not create new follicles, so identifying the cause of hair loss is an important first step.

Changes develop over weeks to months as cells respond and hair moves through its growth cycle. A treatment series and maintenance may be discussed according to your response. Outcomes vary, and improvement cannot be guaranteed.