Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

PRP is a substance frequently used by healthcare providers to reduce inflammation and enhance the healing process by harnessing and amplifying the body’s natural healing abilities.

Platelets are parts of cells that help to facilitate blood clotting and prevent excessive bleeding. Injections of a processed form of a patient’s own plasma, containing a high concentration of platelets, may have regenerative properties.

For facial rejuvenation with PRP, Dr. Turner offers the patented Plasma^® system, which is an excellent option for:

Plasma is a fluid that plays an essential role in the body, making up the largest part (approximately 55 percent) of the blood that transports nutrients and proteins to the areas that need them, while also helping to get rid of waste. Plasma also enables blood to flow freely and smoothly throughout all areas of the circulatory system. For these reasons, plasma is considered vital for the treatment of many severe health issues, such as cancer and chronic medical conditions that can require transfusions.

The technology used to create this platelet-rich plasma is not new. It has been successfully used for many years for other purposes, such as by athletes to heal sports injuries. Recent medical studies have shown that PRP produces a clinically significant improvement in deep nasolabial folds, and it has also been used to successfully improve the appearance of wrinkles, folds, depressions and acne scars. PRP has also been used to accelerate wound healing following facelifts.

In addition to its skin revitalizing effects, PRP is also a valuable element in hair restoration strategies. The non-surgical treatment can be used to stimulate failing or dormant follicles to produce new hair growth for men and women experiencing balding or thinning associated with the condition known as androgenic alopecia.

PRP’s use in hair restoration is a cutting-edge development that Dr. Turner is excited to share with her patients.

The PRP procedure starts with Dr. Turner extracting a small sample (roughly two to four tablespoons) of blood from the patient’s arm. She then separate platelets from plasma by running it through a specially designed machine.

The resulting PRP mixture, featuring a high concentration of healing platelets, is injected directly below the skin in the treatment areas. In some cases, such as when the Plasma^® system is used on the scalp, a topical numbing agent may first be applied to minimize discomfort.

Dr. Turner and her team adhere to strict safety standards to ensure that all blood is handled safely and kept sterile. PRP is an outpatient procedure. The entire Plasma^® session may last anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour, and patients will require little to no downtime before they are able to go back to their daily routine.

Within the span of several weeks to months, the full effects of PRP will be visible. PRP can naturally stimulate new tissue and dermal growth for volume enhancement and rejuvenation without the use of any other materials, such as hyaluronic acid or botulinum toxin.

Click on the image below to view our Plasma^® PRP before and after photo gallery.

PRP patients will be pleased to know that there is typically very little preparation needed for this nonsurgical procedure. To get the best possible results from PRP, it’s recommended that you stay well hydrated prior to your appointment, discontinue certain drugs prior to the day, and follow the rest of your dermatologist’s instructions.

Patients may not notice an immediate difference right after PRP with Plasma^®, since results appear gradually as rejuvenating processes get underway in the skin. In a prospective clinical trial, Plasma^® produced clinically significant improvement in deep nasolabial folds within 14 days, which was sustained throughout the 12 weeks of the study. In our practice, patients usually initially get two or three Plasma^® treatments in the first six months to test compatibility on their skin and improvement in key areas.

If the results are positive, they may then opt to come in for additional treatments to perpetuate positive outcomes. Following initial treatments, many Plasma^® patients notice improvement in wrinkles and folds, as well as softer, plumper, and more youthful-looking skin.

The active ingredient in a Plasma^® treatment—PRP—is formulated from a small amount of blood taken from your arm (similar to a small lab blood draw). For the Plasma^® injection sites, Dr. Turner is very careful to use only round-tipped microcannulas to minimize any injection discomfort during the procedure. Some people temporarily experience mild tenderness and bruising around the injection site, though the sensations gradually fade on their own.

Patients can get a Plasma^® consultation from a trained medical esthetician at Dr. Turner’s office. Schedule the visit online or call (214) 373-7546 today. Plasma^® candidates can finance their following PRP treatment—if they choose to get one—through CareCredit, which give approved patients the ability to pay for their care via tailored monthly payments. Apply online or ask our staff for more details.

Men and women alike can experience pattern baldness, a hereditary condition that causes their hair to thin and bare patches to grow in a predictable way. Women tend to see their hair thin, while men see their hairline recede and may develop a bald spot at the crown of their head.

Surgical transplantation is an option that requires a significant investment of money and time, and certain medications have proven to work—but typically carry the possibility of undesirable side effects that make them unappealing. Plasma^® is a natural and non-invasive option, offering patients the opportunity to use the beneficial components of their own blood for stimulating new growth.

Growth factors in the Plasma^® PRP injection regenerate lost scalp tissue, which in turn can prompt follicles to properly produce hair again. PRP used for this treatment is prepared in the same way as for facial rejuvenation: Blood is collected, then spun in a simple medical device known as a centrifuge to separate out the vital elements, which are then injected. Dr. Turner will use a topical anesthetic to reduce sensation in the scalp before making PRP injections.

Scheduling PRP treatments once a month for a four-month span can promote ongoing follicle stimulation. Not every patient may be a candidate for this developing treatment, so Dr. Turner will conduct a thorough consultation with anyone considering Plasma^® PRP for hair restoration, during which she will explain the possibilities, challenges, and realistic expectations this procedure offers.

Candidates for Plasma^® PRP may also be interested in other non-invasive and minimally invasive anti-aging treatments. Some other widely requested aesthetic skin treatments include Ultherapy^®, which is used to correct skin laxity, and muscle-relaxing injectables such as BOTOX^® Cosmetic for the treatment of lines and wrinkles on the upper third of the face.

For patients seeking improvement in the look of acne and acne scars, or redness caused by rosacea, IPL (Photorejuvenation) may be another potential therapeutic option. IPL is a broad-spectrum, light-based treatment, as opposed to a laser, which relies on emitting and scattering light at various wavelengths into the skin. The heat is absorbed by either melanin in unwanted spots or pigmented cells in the blood in spider veins, resulting in damage to the lesion or vessel. Once damaged, the unwanted cells will flake away or be absorbed into the body, leading to clearer skin.

Dr. Turner values patient care, and so emphasizes comfortable, informative consultations leading to the selection of appropriate procedures for each patient depending on specific clinical needs and personal preferences.