In recent times, you’ve probably heard a lot of hype about how celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Angelina Jolie, Keira Maguire, Rupert Everett, and supermodel Bar Refaeli have opted for PRP therapy for facial rejuvenation with awesome results. In case you’ve been wondering, PRP is the acronym for Platelet Rich Plasma, a therapeutic modality that has been in use since the 1970s. Doctors are still discovering new applications for it and, the treatment has been known to help people with various medical and cosmetic issues – hair and skin problems are just a couple of them.
According to Market Watch, the size of the PRP industry is expected to reach $4.5 billion by the year, 2024. This factor indicates the growing popularity of the treatment, and that more users are confidently trying the therapy for their many problems with surprisingly effective results.
Healing Skin Issues is Just One of the Many Uses of the Therapy
Should you do a bit of research to learn more about PRP therapy (and Kim Kardashian’s “Vampire Facelifts” for that matter); you’ll learn that rejuvenating skin and erasing signs of aging are just one of the beneficial effects of the treatment. You can also get the procedure done to clear all kinds of skin flaws. For instance:
- Try the option to erase acne scars and injury marks.
- Speed the healing after wounds and burns with the minimum of scarring.
- In case you’ve opted for cosmetic improvements or a maxillofacial procedure, your surgeon may choose to place the serum in the incision site for faster healing with the minimum of pain and scarring.
- If you’ve had a surgical procedure or C-section in the past, you can get the treatment for lightening the old scars also.
- Remove the dark circles and pigmentation around the eyes for brighter, clearer skin.
How it works? PRP is a serum created from your blood and carries a concentration of the components your body naturally produces for healing. When these elements reach the underlying layer of collagen and elastin in your skin, they set off a cascade of tissue healing. As the collagen repairs, it creates more cells to give the skin a smoother, flawless appearance. PRP can also stimulate the regeneration of hard tissues like bone and cartilage, and for this reason, doctors use it during cosmetic enhancements like, for example, nose jobs.
PRP Therapy is Extremely Versatile Too
PRP is an extremely versatile treatment modality and can combine with other treatments and techniques for more effective results. Administering the serum with microneedling can enhance its therapeutic effects for more beautiful skin. In recent times, researchers have proved that creating a blend of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and PRP is an effective two-dimensional approach to facial rejuvenation. You can find more information by checking out this article on the MedicalXpress. Further, studies have proved that exposing the serum to light just before injecting or PhotoActivated PRP can raise its effectiveness. And, there’s more. Doctors can create the serum in liquid or gel form to adapt it to the particular medical or aesthetic issue they’re looking to heal.
You Can Get PRP Hair Treatments for a Fuller Head of Hair
Aside from skin treatments, you can use the PRP procedure to reverse hair loss and regain a fuller head of hair. Whatever may be the cause of hair loss ranging from genetic factors, age, side effects of medications, or any other, PRP can restore hair growth. Studies have shown that to date, PRP therapy may be one of the only practical solutions that promotes lasting hair growth. Doctors have also combined it with micro-needling for better results.
How it works? When PRP is introduced into the scalp, its growth factors, platelets, cytokines, mesenchymal stem cells, and other healing components create new blood vessels. With a fresh infusion of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood, the scalp can produce more hair follicles. The blood also works to nourish the existing, dormant follicles so that they are strengthened. As a result, fewer of the hair strands reach the telogen or final stage in the hair growth cycle after which they shed, and you notice hair loss.
Does it really work? Well, patients have reported that within 6 to 8 weeks of getting the treatment, they’ve noticed the growth of new hair follicles along the existing hairline. An added advantage? The new hair strands have a thicker texture and darker, richer coloring. All these signs are indicative of a healthy, well-nourished scalp as proved by studies conducted at the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
PRP Can Help You by Erasing Stretch Marks
Aside from healing skin flaws and reversing hair loss, PRP therapy is also effective for the removal of stretch marks. The unsightly shiny lines that you may see on the back, flanks, abdomen, thighs, hips, and arms are unfortunate results of various factors. These causes can include rapid weight fluctuations, puberty, or pregnancy. While they aren’t medically harmful, you might want to get rid of them for more beautiful skin.
Stretch marks typically develop when the tissue under the skin grows quickly. When the top layers are unable to keep up with the growth, tears in the collagen develop. As a result, you see silvery lines also called striae. Aside from applications of lubricating agents and diet changes in an attempt to lighten the marks, to date, there were no other solutions to repair the collagen.
The PRP procedure may well be one of the only workable solutions that actually repairs collagen. Similar to face treatments, doctors inject the serum into the skin under the striae. As the growth factors of the serum work, they repair the broken strands of collagen. Over the next few weeks, you’ll notice the scars visibly lightening until they’re barely noticeable as this feature on MedicalNewsToday explains.
If you’ve been looking for solutions for any kind of skin or hair woes, and you’re wary of chemical treatments that can cause side effects, consider opting for PRP therapy. Only make sure to sign up with a certified practitioner who will follow the guidelines carefully, so you get the results you were aiming for.
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