Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a cutting-edge rejuvenation therapy that uses your own plasma to reduce wrinkles, rejuvenate the skin, speed the healing process, and stimulate hair growth. It is based on treatments initially used to assist the healing of tissue injuries for athletes. Today, the use of platelet-rich plasma is breaking barriers in the cosmetic world.

PRP therapy relies on using platelets—a material extracted from a patient’s blood—to promote cellular regeneration. This process reinvigorates skin by boosting elastin and collagen production in the treated tissues to improve skin texture, quality, and firmness.

Why Choose Dr. Bandy?

Dr. Amy Bandy is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Newport Beach, California, with over 20 years of experience. She is a top plastic surgeon in Orange County and Los Angeles County and was voted “Best Cosmetic Surgeon” by the Orange County Register’s People’s Choice Survey.

What Are the Benefits?

Many women and men consider PRP injections or combining PRP with their microneedling treatment to:

Am I a candidate?

PRP treatments are performed on people who are unhappy with their skin appearance but do not want to go through a surgical procedure. PRP therapy can improve a patient’s skin elasticity, reducing the most common effects of aging. For people who desire to rejuvenate their skin and reduce signs of aging, platelet-rich plasma therapy may be your way to go. Ideal candidates should be in good health, take no medicines that thin blood, and have no medical conditions that may inhibit healing. Candidates must have realistic expectations of this non-surgical procedure.

PRP injections are safe for people of all ages (assuming there are no undisclosed pre-existing medical conditions) so long as they are administered by a board-certified doctor, such as Dr. Bandy. PRP injections also allow patients who are interested in but allergic to dermal fillers achieve similar results.

Are you interested in PRP for skin rejuvenation or hair restoration? Call Dr. Bandy at (949) 574-0574 to schedule your consultation.

What will be discussed during my PRP consultation?

What is PRP?

Platelet-rich plasma is a treatment that uses platelets drawn from a patient’s blood to revitalize tissues. The treatment injects the growth factor-containing platelets into areas of the face where wrinkles, veins, or other blemishes have emerged as a result of aging. The platelets cause the skin to regenerate, which can remove or minimize imperfections.

How is PRP collected?

During the treatment, Dr. Bandy takes a small sample of the patient’s blood (just as one might do for a standard blood test) and runs it through a centrifuge. This machine separates the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from the platelet-poor plasma (PPP) and red blood cells in the sample. The red blood cells and the PPP are usually discarded. The PRP contains platelets that are injected into the target locations to trigger cellular growth.

Using the ECLIPSE PRP® centrifuge, between seventy-seven and ninety-seven percent of the injection solution will be the desired platelets. This process takes less than an hour.

What is PRP with microneedling?

PRP is often combined with microneedling procedures. Microneedling is a treatment that creates microscopic injuries in the skin to promote cellular growth and regeneration. The microscopic injuries cause normal cellular responses to injuries, including clotting, inflammation, and, most critically, new cell growth (which is the target response of the procedure).

When combined with PRP, these techniques can have surprisingly good results.

What is PRP for hair restoration?

Both men and women experience thinning hair due to age, genetics, or other health factors. This hair loss can be both physically and emotionally damaging. PRP can be used to stimulate the hair follicles, which may be able to thicken areas of thinning hair. When the PRP is injected into the scalp (or used with microneedling), the platelets increase the blood supply to the area, triggering hair growth.

PRP for hair restoration is appropriate for men and women with thinning hair, not for those who are already bald or have significant bald patches.

Should i combine PRP with other facial procedures?

PRP injections can be used alone or in combination with microneedling. Alternatively, these injections may be performed after recovering from facelift surgery, eyelid surgery, or brow lift surgery. While you cannot perform surgical and non-surgical treatments simultaneously, performing one after the other can increase the quality of both treatments.

What is my recovery?

Side effects of platelet-rich plasma injections are mild. Immediately post-treatment, the patient may experience minor irritation, redness, itching, or tenderness.

In rare cases, temporary or permanent nerve damage may occur, resulting in pain or numbness.

Is painful?

A blood sample will need to be drawn to perform this procedure. A standard surgical needle is used to pierce a vein and withdraw the sample. This may cause mild physical discomfort but may also trigger panic attacks in people with needle phobia. If you know that you have a phobia of needles, mention it to Dr. Bandy during your consultation.

As with any injection, there may be minor discomfort at the injection sites.

For most patients, recovery of any side effects will occur within one to three days.

How much does PRP cost?

The cost of PRP can vary depending on what other procedures are done along with it. Speak with Dr. Bandy during your consultation for a personalized quote.

When will i see the results?

Final results should occur within six months. The effects of PRP treatments are not permanent. In general, effects last about twelve months. Some variations may occur depending on the number and periodicity of treatments.

Want to learn more about Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy?

If you have wrinkles, sagging skin, or other signs of aging that you wish to correct, contact Dr. Bandy to schedule a consultation by filling out our online contact form or by calling us at (949) 574-0574.