The skin is the biggest human organ and acts as a primary barrier against foreign invaders and disease-causing microorganisms. The skin maintains its young and refreshed look with the aid of collagen and elastin. The natural aging process, severe illness, and excess exposure to harmful sun rays and external pollutants can lead to decreased production of collagen and elastin. This causes the development of wrinkles, fine lines, creases, under-eye bags, and folds that dull the glow of the skin. In this blog, we are going to tell you what providers say about microneedling with PRF.
What is Microneedling?
Microneedling also termed collagen induction therapy, is a non-invasive method that employs microscopic needles to encourage the development of collagen along with decreasing the effects of wrinkles, acne marks, scars, and rejuvenating the firmness of the skin. Microneedling with a skin pen develops measured micro-injuries to the skin. This encourages the body’s natural healing process and minimizes cellular damage. As the skin heals from the micro-injuries, new collagen is developed leading to more evenly textured skin.
What Is PRF? How Does Microneedling with PRF Work?
Platelet-Rich Fibrin, also known as PRF is an FDA-approved comprehensive therapy that is employed in enhancing the natural healing process. A sample of blood is drawn and spun down in a centrifuge to separate the blood components. This process extracts the stem cells and platelets for using them along with the microneedling process. The cells that contain growth factors and healing proteins are derived from your blood to promote a fast recovery and better results. When a PRF derivative is placed on the target region, platelets are activated leading to the release of various regenerative proteins that have many benefits.
PRF is employed in microneedling treatments to naturally increase the treatment outcomes. PRF is introduced into the micro-injuries to enhance and improve the body’s ability to heal. This process works to refresh the skin by giving a smoother, firmer, and more youthful look to the skin.
How is PRF Different from PRP?
- Platelet Rich Plasma, or PRP, has noticeable differences from PRF, both of which are used along with microneedling. When getting the PRF derivatives, the centrifugal machine is spun at a slower speed than when the same procedure is done for PRP. More healing factors are generated with this process.
- PRF is also completely natural whereas PRP includes some additives or anti-coagulants. With PRF, the absence of these extra additives lets the PRF give a natural effect by steadily releasing the growth factors into the skin. PRF releases these growth factors over longer periods giving longer-lasting outcomes.
Preparing for the Procedure:
- Your provider will suggest a list of medicines to stop using days before the treatment. The usual medications to avoid include retinol, glycolic acids, and some topical medications. Your provider will tell when you can start reusing the product after the treatment.
- The skin should be clean from any makeup or creams.
- Avoid the hair from falling on your face by using a headband. Do not take any anti-inflammatory medicine on the same day as your procedure as it may interrupt the natural healing process.
Aftercare:
- Your provider will suggest which medications you must avoid days after the procedure, but anti-inflammatory medicine is surely restricted on the day of the procedure.
- Be sure to not perform any strenuous activity to avoid sweat, bacteria, or any kind of dirt and chemicals on the skin while it is healing. Do not wash your face, swim, or go out in the sun the next day.
- The day after the procedure, you may start applying makeup after cleaning your face, but avoid using alcohol-based products and exfoliants made with glycolic acids.
- There may be some amount of flaking or dryness in the skin due to the rapid growth of cells. This can be smoothened by the use of a normal moisturizer.
What are the Post-Procedure Effects?
The skin may look reddish or pink immediately after the treatment, which may look like a sunburn. There are also reported cases of itching, peeling, redness, discomfort, tightness, roughness, burning, and tenderness in the skin. These effects are found to be resolved in a majority of patients within the first 24 hours although they may extend up to 2 days. The intensity of these side effects depends on the sensitivity of the skin and the aggressive nature of the treatment. There may be the usage of numbing cream during the procedure or cooling mask after the treatment, but these issues are usually resolved on their own without any major complications. This procedure has shown to be effective among the majority of men and women with a diverse range of skin types and textures. It is not as harsh as other alternative treatments such as chemical peels. Always choose the right provider who will perform the treatment in a safe and effective manner to assure the effectiveness of the product.
How Many Treatments May Be Required?
The number of sessions needed depends on various factors such as health age, skin type, and the desired outcomes. There will be a visible difference from the first session but normally there will be a requirement of around 3-6 sessions. It is crucial to consult an experienced provider and follow the treatment schedules and post-treatment care to get the desired results.
Bottom Line:
For getting a genuine treatment of microneedling with PRF, always choose a trusted and experienced provider, like Refresh Aesthetics. Certified cosmetic injector and Refresh Aesthetics founder Amanda Hartman, in conjunction with Medical Director Dr. John Wells, will meet with you to create a personalized treatment plan that perfectly fits your goals and budget.
