I Tried PRP for Crow’s-Feet—Here Are My Thoughts

Few skincare treatments can trigger the same widespread intrigue as something dubbed the "vampire facial." And while the concept of using blood in a facial might sound downright macabre, we figured we'd give it a try for ourselves. While, ideally, you want to try everything firsthand, sometimes you don’t have the time or the skincare concern necessary to try certain treatments. That’s why I sent Hannah McGhee, our senior business director, to try PRP—otherwise known as the “vampire facial.”

Hannah told me she had fine lines under her eyes that she was becoming more and more aware of. She said, “I looked at more radical treatments like Botox and filler, but a family friend told me about PRP. I’d mentioned how she looked really healthy and glowy, and she attributed it to the treatment. Of course, I jumped online and did my research, and, once I knew more, I liked the idea because you’re injecting your own natural product, rather than a filler or toxin.”

Read on for a full review of PRP and learn what the experts had to say about how the treatment can target fine lines and wrinkles.

Meet Our Expert

• Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose, M.D., FAAD, is a dermatologist practicing at Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York.

• Dr. David Jack, MBChB, specializes in aesthetic medicine and anti-aging treatments at his London-based clinics.

What Is PRP?

PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma, and it’s found in our blood. According to a study conducted by the American Society of Hematology, it plays “a critical role in tissue repair and regeneration.”

What Is PRP?

PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, is a biostimulation treatment that injects your own isolated platelets (which are components of the blood that contain growth factors) back into your skin. This stimulates cells in the skin to produce new collagen and elastin and to speed up the healing of wounds.

“Platelet-rich plasma is prepared by concentrating one’s own blood to isolate platelets and growth factors in serum,” explains Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose, M.D., FAAD. “When injected into the skin or applied topically in conjunction with microneedling, PRP can reverse signs of skin aging, like wrinkles, by stimulating collagen and elastin production and promoting skin regeneration.”

Here’s how it works: First, blood is drawn from the arm. Roughly two vials are needed to gather enough PRP to cover the whole face, so if you hate having your blood drawn, then this probably isn’t the treatment for you. The vials of blood are then placed in a centrifuge, which spins them 3,050 times per minute, separating the PRP from the rest of the blood. The PRP is then injected all over the face to help rejuvenate the complexion—tackling everything from fine lines to sagging to acne scarring to skin texture. It’s often used in conjunction with Botox or fillers to improve the appearance of the complexion.

Benefits of a PRP Treatment

• Stimulates collagen production

• Improves skin texture and tone

• Increases speed of wound healing

If the process of PRP scares you, we’re confident the benefits will win over your heart. Since PRP addresses a myriad of concerns, it seems like a one-stop shop for addressing practically every skin problem. According to Dr. David Jack, these treatments can thicken and lift areas of the skin, promote collagen and elastin production, and speed up wound healing. “The biostimulation basically uses your body’s own responses to the treatment to produce the desired result,” Jack says.

The best part? The benefits are near-immediate—though continued use means they amp up over time. “You may notice an immediate improvement from the injection of fluid, which can plump the skin and temporarily soften fine lines, but the real results from PRP develop over time in several months,” says Murphy-Rose. “Long-term results vary widely. When used in combination with botulinum toxin injections, results can be expected to last for years.”

How to Prepare for a PRP Treatment

Before going under the needle, Murphy-Rose advises keeping a few things in mind. “To prepare for treatment, it’s best to avoid alcohol and medications that affect platelet function, like blood thinners or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (i.e., aspirin or ibuprofen), if not medically necessary and to talk to your dermatologist about any medications you take,” she says.

What to Expect During a PRP Treatment

Hannah visited Jack’s office on Harley Street in London for PRP. She’s taking over to talk about her experience and to dish about how the treatment went down.

I had the consultation and treatment on the same day. I liked Dr. Jack because he gave me a really good idea of what the outcome could be: a natural result. You don’t do PRP and walk out looking like you’ve had fillers. I opted for a course of three treatments (most people have two or three spaced roughly two to four weeks apart). Then you would just go for a top-up every six months after that.

He applied anesthetic cream to my face, and while that got to work, he drew blood. It went into the centrifuge for 10 minutes. He then injected the PRP all over my face. I could feel that the pricks were happening, but I didn’t feel any pain; it was just a little sensitive in more delicate areas like around the eyes. I would definitely advise against having the treatment if you’re hungover or on your period and feel a bit more sensitive. The injecting took about five minutes—super quick.

Within a couple of days, I felt like my skin was really glowy, and I got compliments from colleagues saying just that. When I went back for the second treatment, it dawned on me that not only had the lines softened around my eyes slightly, but more noticeable was the improvement in my acne scarring, which was far less visible.

PRP vs. Microinfusion

Similar to microneedling, microinfusion is a process of delivering PRP to the skin. Where the former punctures the dermis before the topical application of PRP, microinfusion injects the PRP directly into the skin. Those on the more squeamish side can choose to forego the PRP option and have other skin-loving cocktails of vitamins, acids, and fillers substituted for the treatment.

Potential Side Effects

According to experts, PRP treatments are pretty risk-free—though they do warn that bruising may occur, since needles are involved. “There is typically minimal downtime after PRP procedures,” says Murphy-Rose. “Side effects vary among patients and include temporary redness, bruising, discomfort, tenderness, and swelling. There may be superficial peeling of skin several days after treatments, which is a natural part of the healing process. It is important to continue hydrating your skin well and to absolutely never pick the peeling skin.”

The Cost

PRP is not cheap. It’s priced at $575 per treatment with Dr. Jack, but it works. The treatment addressed the really fine lines around my eyes. I’m OK with having some lines but wasn’t keen on the crepey texture, which didn’t feel age-appropriate. This sorted that out, which was great. The biggest surprise was definitely the reduction in acne scarring, which I feel has made my whole complexion look brighter and more youthful.

Aftercare

I left the treatment room and did look quite red, but I was able to apply makeup after a couple of hours, and I could go on with my day as usual. Exercising after was also fine. After the first treatment, I did get a little bruising around one eye, but I wasn’t alarmed. It was nothing that a little concealer couldn’t cover.

The Final Takeaway

I had two more PRP treatments but definitely noticed the biggest improvement after the first treatment, so I would say book one and see how you get on. I would definitely book this again in the winter months when my complexion needs a pick-me-up. To me, it was definitely worth the cost.

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Read the original article on Byrdie.