Microneedling with Platelet Rich Plasma: the natural skinbooster

Microneedling with Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a skin rejuvenation technique that can remove dead cells, impurities and scar tissue from the skin through the process of microneedling and acccelate the skin healing process through the power of PRP. 

Microneeedling has been since decades a very effective and long proven skin rejuvenation and peeling procedure. When combined with the power of Platelet Rich Plasma, PRP or Vampire Lift becomes an even more promising solution, when it comes, to skin rejuvenation, wrinkle treatment, glower complex and of course scar improvement.

There are three stages of that treatment. In the first stage, blood is taken from your body and Platelet Rich Plasma is being prepared. In the second stage, small very fine needles exfoliate the surface of your skin revealing a clearer, softer complexion. Then in the third stage, PRP  is applied during the treatment, which further enhances the healing process and the results you see.

But let’s have a look to what each treatment does to our skin.

Microneedling is a minimally invasive treatment that uses tiny needles to create micro injuries in the skin. The small needles, that penetrate the skin, cause tiny holes in the blood vessels located just below the surface of the skin. As a consequence of this action, growth factors are released from the blood platelets and the skin’s healing mechanisms are activated without scarring. The reason why no scar is produced is that the needles of the devices used for needling treatments are so thin that the skin remains practically intact during the treatment. Furthermore, studies have shown that the collagen produced during the healing phase is type I, i.e. normal skin collagen, and not type III collagen produced during scarring.

Additionally, microneedling improves circulation in the treatment area, which not only increases blood flow, but also increases lymphatic drainage. This supports cell function in further many ways. First, the increased blood flow will bring more oxygen and nutrients to the cells, which means the cells’ metabolism will speed up and give them more energy. This supports other cell functions to become more efficient as well, for example, the production of collagen and elastin, which helps keep your skin tight and firm.

That whole process helps to reduce wrinkles, blemishes, scars and other imperfections on the skin’s surface. This process is known as skin renewal. It basically teaches your body to produce new healthier-looking youthful skin.

Microneedling treatments also helps promoting healthy skin growth by creating pathways for topical products to penetrate deeper into the epidermis. This is where we add mesotherapy products or PRP.

PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) is a treatment that utilizes the healing components of the blood to accelerate the natural rate of cell renewal, stimulate collagen production, enhance blood circulation in the treatment area and thus repair the damage that occurs to the skin over time.

PRP is essentially blood plasma rich in platelets after a special process. Platelets are designed to heal injured tissues thanks to their content of growth factors. The result? Softens wrinkles, gives thickness to the skin, improves its tone and texture, reduces dilated pores and improves scars.

PRP is applied using the microinjection technique, just like simple mesotherapy. It is essentially a type of mesotherapy, as it takes its name from the intermediate layer of the skin (dermis) to which it is applied. However, the important difference and at the same time the great advantage of PRP treatment is that it is autologous, i.e. it comes from the patient’s own blood and does not include foreign substances such as vitamins, amino acids, hyaluronic acid, etc.

PRP is obtained after blood sampling and special process of the blood through centrifugation in order to separate its components. From that separation, only the component of plasma is collected, which through this process has a 2 to 6 times higher concentration of platelets. Platelets contain, among other things, growth factors, which are distinguished for their healing, regenerative and renewal properties and are those that stimulate the production of collagen and elastin at the injection sites, thus restoring the youthfulness of the face.

By injecting PRP into the treatment area, a strong anti-aging effect is achieved, as the growth factors provide enhanced hydration, reconstruction and tissue regeneration. The face looks smoother and firmer, acne and photo-aging marks are faded, the skin becomes more elastic, luminous and youthful.

Step 1
The treatment starts with a simple blood draw. Depending on the area of treatment, about 10ml blood is taken, which is the same amount as a simple blood test.

Step 2
The blood is carefully placed in a special device called centrifuge, in order to centrifuge it and separate its components. This process takes about 8-10 minutes. While you wait, an anaesthetic cream is applied to the treatment area so that the skin in the area is numbed and the treatment is completely tolerable.

Step 3
Once the blood centrifugation is complete, you can see the separation of the blood components and the PRP in the vials. The enriched plasma has a characteristic golden yellow colour and this only is then used for the injections. If you wish to combine the PRP with hyaluronic acid or mesotherapy products, then at this stage they are mixed within the PRP vials.

Step 4
As the PRP is injected into your skin, small bumps (like bee stings) are created. The injections can be done either with a simple syringe or during/after the microneedling to maximize the effect. The procedure takes approximately 10 minutes. At the end of the treatment, a small amount of enriched plasma can be used to apply to the face as a mask. For 2-3 hours, the face may have a mild redness and the bumps from the injections are still visible. However, it is a transient phenomenon that subsides after a while and does not affect your return to your daily activities at all.

PRP treatment can be safely applied on the entire face, neck area, decollete, hands, on entire body to provide significant improvement in cases where there are:

• Superficial or deeper wrinkles
• Epidermal sagging and loss of volume
• Dull, dry and dehydrated skin
• Dark circles
• Dilated pores
• Loss of firmness
• Acne
• Acne scars or scars from an accident, burn or surgery
• Sagging of the neckline
• Stretch marks on the abdomen and periphery
• Cellulite

In general, 5 sessions should be enough to intensify natural collagen production, but the exact number of sessions is determined after your skin’s condition and needs are assessed by Dr. Kelly and her team.

The anti-aging effect of PRP can be significantly enhanced if the treatment is combined with microneedling. The microneedling method uses special micro-needles to open tiny channels in the skin that allow the growth factors to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin, exactly where cell growth occurs.

In addition, the microneedling process itself is a kind of “trauma” for the skin, stimulating its natural healing mechanisms by producing collagen and elastin. Thus, the benefit is even greater for the skin, since the combination of PRP and microneedling can restore overall facial youthfulness, treat superficial or deep wrinkles, reduce the diameter of dilated pores, combat signs of photo-aging (such as freckles and spots), and improve scars from acne or other causes.

For the same reason we recommend our patients to use PRP after fractional laser resurfacing, radiofrequency microneedling skin tightening a lot of other minimal invasive procedures. 

Hyaluronic acid fillers are ideal for filling specific areas of the skin which show a fold, a wrinkle or loss of volume, such as the area around the mouth, under the eyes, lips or the cheekbones.

PRP, on the other hand, offers a total facial rejuvenation, rather than focusing on one wrinkle at a time. Thanks to its ability to stimulate collagen production, it

• fights the tired facial appearance overall
• enhances skin firmness by giving a more “fuller” effect to sunken cheeks
• restores the velvety texture of the skin
• “fills” areas of the face that hyaluronic acid cannot fill 

However, PRP can be combined with the application of hyaluronic acid fillers, as one treatment can complement the other to obtain a youthful face. Their combination is particularly effective, as it offers both a focused solution to specific wrinkles and an overall enhancement of skin firmness, tone and texture. Ask for this combination treatment under the name “Vampire Facelift”.

From the moment the PRP is injected, the growth factors begin to work intensively to rebuild the skin. The first results of the treatment start to become visible after 1-2 weeks. The skin begins to look fresher, firmer and velvety. Intensive collagen production continues for the next 2-3 months and is augmented with repeat sessions. The result can last up to two years. In case you choose the Vampire Facelift treatment with the combination of PRP and hyaluronic acid, then the first results of the treatment can be seen immediately, as the hyaluronic acid fills directly the wrinkle spots or areas where there is a loss of volume, providing immediate lifting, firmer skin and improvement of the oval contour of the face.

Usually, 3 sessions per year are enough to keep up your results, but the exact number will be determined by the Dr. Kelly and her team based on the condition of your skin and your needs.

PRP is a treatment that has been safely applied for several decades in various fields of medicine. The first discipline to take advantage of its healing properties were orthopaedic surgeons in the 1990s, who applied it to professional athletes in order to speed up their recovery from wounds, inflammation and injuries. It is typically estimated that PRP therapy speeds up the healing process and achieves recovery in half the time compared to traditional methods, while also preventing re-injury. It has since become a widely used treatment for various musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis, spinal injuries, sprains, sprains, tennis elbow, ligament injuries, chronic back pain and more. PRP, thanks to its healing properties, is also widely used in dental procedures, hair transplants and extensively in wound healing problems. 

Since 2010, it has also revealed its significant benefits in terms of skin rejuvenation, gaining an important place in the list of non-invasive treatments. It is a completely safe treatment, as it uses the patient’s own blood, so there is no risk of allergic reaction or any reaction to any of its ingredients. Nor is there any risk of it creating an unnatural result or a result that betrays that a cosmetic treatment has preceded it.

In my practice, your well-being and an optimal result is our top priority. Each patient has an individuality whose needs are the focus of my treatments. Therefore, it is not always possible to give a general estimate of the costs. Therefore, please understand that we cannot give generally valid prices for PRP treatments. The cost of each treatment also depends on your personal initial situation and your wishes.

Are you interested in PRP and would like to know more about the prices? Write us a message and arrange your consultation! Only in the context of a medical examination can we provide you with a personal and binding cost estimate tailored to you!

The prices for Microneedling PRP start from CHF 800. A specific offer tailored to your individual needs will be provided after a personal consultation with clinical examination.