Skin rejuvenation with PRF is a cosmetic treatment that uses the body’s own resources to fight signs of aging and improve the appearance of the skin. Platelet Rich Fibrin, or PRF, is a revitalizing concentrate derived from the patient’s own blood. It’s an all-natural alternative to synthetic injections or painful procedures. Treatment with PRF is minimally invasive, nonsurgical, and quick!
Autologous (from the patient’s own body) platelet-derived preparations have proved invaluable in both surgical and cosmetic applications for their ability to regenerate and heal tissues. (1) You may be familiar with PRP, platelet-rich plasma. PRF works on a similar principle, but the blood sample that it’s taken from is processed slightly differently for greater and longer-lasting efficacy.
PRF allows the skin to regenerate on its own terms and is an excellent option for patients who are looking for an organic approach to treat signs of aging. Dr. Daniel Brown MD is committed to offering his patients the latest in state-of-the-art rejuvenating techniques. After all, when it comes to anti-aging, there’s no time to lose!
To learn more about Platelet Rich Fibrin skin rejuvenation and how you can benefit from this innovative treatment, contact Dr. Brown’s offices in Del Mar, Carmel Valley, Coronado, or La Jolla. Call (619) 461-1500 to schedule a consultation today.
About PRF
As we age, our bodies slow the production of collagen and elastin.
These components make up the connective tissue underneath our skin that keeps it firm and smooth. As we age, our bodies produce less and less collagen, which is what leads to skin laxity, or sagging, and wrinkles. This is where platelets come into play! Platelets are an important component of our blood. Besides allowing our blood to clot when we’re injured, they also release crucial growth factors that initiate our cell regeneration. By isolating these VIPs and re-introducing them to areas needing a pick-me-up, targeted areas of the face or body can be aesthetically improved. Platelet-rich therapies are administered via strategic injections or through the microchannels created during a microneedling procedure.
What is Platelet Rich Fibrin?
Both platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) therapies use platelets to kickstart skin and connective tissue regeneration. The difference is the fibrin. Unlike PRP, PRF contains generous amounts of fibrin that trap extra regenerative elements.
Fibrin is a protein that is necessary for blood clotting. High concentrations of fibrin form a scaffolding that traps platelets, stem cells, and leukocytes, or white blood cells. You can think of fibrin as a big luxurious sea sponge slowly dripping your favorite skin-nourishing body wash at bath time. Fibrin does this at a microscopic level underneath the surface of your skin.
PRP is still an excellent regenerative therapy with many applications, but PRF has a few key advantages. If PRF is a sponge in a bubble bath, PRP is more like a quick shower. Showers are important, but PRF releases growth factors and other vital proteins more slowly and consistently over time.
So What’s The Difference Between PRP And PRF?
Scientists have made many attempts to develop new, easy-to-use platelet-derived products, and PRF is just one of them.
When it comes time to process the blood sample to derive the PRF, it’s put into a centrifuge, just like PRP. After being spun in the centrifuge, the blood separates, and its valuable components are isolated to be gathered for injection. However, PRP must be treated with anti-coagulant chemicals to keep the blood sample from clotting.
PRF is spun once at a much lower speed and doesn’t require any additives, making it a simpler and more natural product. It’s the lack of anticoagulants that allows the dense, nourishing fibrin network to form. The fibrin network allows for and enhances a consistent release of growth factors and other nourishing elements, resulting in prolonged maintenance and stimulation of stem cells by PRF. And, when it comes to regenerative medicine, stem cells are the ticket.
Stem cells are able to adapt and become the specific kind of cell that is needed for regeneration, or healing. For cosmetic purposes, this can mean new skin cells or extra supportive tissue to fill in wrinkles or scarring. But let’s not forget about another key player: white blood cells. Fibrin also traps several different kinds of white blood cells.
White blood cells have the primary function of fighting infection, removing cellular debris, and easing inflammation. These are all very good things. Certain kinds of white blood have the potential to enhance angiogenesis – the development and growth of new blood vessels to nourish the area and sustain the new growth.
In a study that compared PRP with PRF, PRF was demonstrated to release significant amounts of growth factor for up one to two weeks. PRP showed a rapid decrease in the release of growth factors after only one day. (2)
Benefits
PRF is unique because of its slow short centrifugation and absence of anti-coagulant or synthetic additives. This process keeps the growth factors more active for a longer period which contributes to a sustained rejuvenation process.
PRF can naturally improve the appearance of:
- Dark circles and tear trough
- Acne scarring
- Wrinkles and fine lines
- Nasolabial folds
- Thin and wrinkled lips
- Brown spots and sun damage
- Volume loss and symmetry adjustment
Candidates for PRF
Candidates for Skin Rejuvenation with PRF are in good health and want to keep looking as vivacious as they feel. Because PRF therapy is such a quick procedure with long-lasting, self-sustaining results, this treatment is perfect for those on the go. There’s no preparation and no recovery.
Personal Consultation
When you have a consultation appointment with Dr. Brown, you can look forward to a compassionate listener and professional and candid opinions.
Once he understands your goals and concerns, he’ll be able to recommend a variety of feasible treatment options. He’ll perform an examination of your skin and a review of your medical history. This will allow him to advise as to what kind of skin rejuvenation procedure and treatment options will best achieve your desired results. If you’re a good candidate for PRF skin rejuvenation, you’ll be given all the information you need to understand the treatment and to know exactly what to expect.
Procedure
When you stop by our office for your PRF treatment, we’ll perform a blood draw, which will be used to isolate the PRF. The blood sample will be spun through a centrifuge and prepared for injection. After cleansing and numbing the treatment area, Dr. Brown will carefully inject the PRF into strategic locations.
Or, you may choose to incorporate your PRF into a microneedling facial. The skin of the face is exfoliated, prepped, and then incised with tiny, sterile needles to open up channels. These openings allow the revitalizing PRF to make its way through the surface of the skin where it can quickly get to work. Microneedling offers the advantage of creating a series of tiny controlled injuries, which further stimulate the body’s healing and regenerative processes. It also breaks down scar tissue and has been proven to be especially beneficial for those suffering from acne scars.
Results
The dramatic results of both PRP and Stem Cell rejuvenation therapies have been well-studied and documented.
A recent study of women treated with PRF reported significant improvements only three months after their treatment.
- Surface spots
- Smaller pores
- Improved skin texture
- Wrinkles
- Sun damage
Patients in the study reported satisfaction with skin, overall facial appearance, cheeks, lower face and jawline, and lips. And, there were no adverse reactions or side effects! (3) To experience the benefits of PRF for yourself, contact Dr. Brown’s offices in Carmel Valley, Coronado, Del Mar, or La Jolla to get started.
Corresponding & Complementary Procedures
If you’re after a little instant gratification while your PRF treatment gets to work, Juvederm Volbella is your ticket to voluminous, sexy lips. This dermal filler is strategically injected in and around the lips to fill in wrinkles and sculpt a more youthful, plush pout. Juvederm uses a hyaluronic acid gel that, like PRF, stimulates the body’s production of collagen over time but also offers an instantly noticeable difference.
To learn more about the other exciting and innovative services that Dr. Brown offers, check out his blog.
How Much Does PRF Skin Rejuvenation Cost in San Diego?
Every patient is unique and deserves a treatment that addresses their individual needs and desires. The cost of your PRF will be unique to you and will depend on the areas you chose to treat and the number of treatments required to achieve your aesthetic goals. Dr. Brown will be able to provide you with an accurate estimate of the cost of your PRF treatments during your personal consultation.
Our patient care coordinator will be happy to discuss payment arrangements or financing options that will suit your needs. Everyone deserves to look and feel their very best.
References
- Masoudi E, Ribas J, Kaushik G, Leijten J, Khademhosseini A. Platelet-Rich Blood Derivatives for Stem Cell-Based Tissue Engineering and Regeneration. Curr Stem Cell Rep. 2016;2(1):33-42. doi:10.1007/s40778-016-0034-8
- Kobayashi E, Flückiger L, Fujioka-Kobayashi M, et al. Comparative release of growth factors from PRP, PRF, and advanced-PRF. Clin Oral Investig. 2016;20(9):2353-2360. doi:10.1007/s00784-016-1719-1
- Hassan H, Quinlan DJ, Ghanem A. Injectable platelet‐rich fibrin for facial rejuvenation: A prospective, single‐center study. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2020;19(12):3213-3221. doi:10.1111/jocd.13692