In human blood, platelets play a critical role by allowing the blood to clot, closing the wound and initiating skin repair. We all know platelets and their clotting power, but they have a much larger role in wound healing and skin rejuvenation than you know. Blood platelets contain fundamental protein growth factors.
Platelet-rich plasma puts that skin rejuvenation power to work. It is a process where a small sample of a person’s blood is taken and then the platelets and plasma are separated out into a dense serum rich in healing and skin rejuvenation qualities.
What Is Platelet Rich Fibrin Matrix (PRFM)?
PRFM is the next generation PRP. PRFM takes the power of platelets and adds a scaffolding to preserve and protect the platelets. At AesthetiSpa, we use the SELPHYL® System for preparation of PRFM through a controlled process. When mixed with just the right amount of calcium chloride, PRP is converted to a fibrin matrix. This fibrin matrix creates a three-dimensional scaffold to maintain the platelets at the site of application and allows for sustained growth factor release. Studies have shown that platelet growth factors are released for up to seven days, supporting collagen production and increased blood supply, which results in overall skin improvements.
What Is Skin Rejuvenation With PRFM?
You may have heard of professional athletes using PRP to speed healing after an injury or surgery. That is because, once distilled and concentrated down to the core healing elements of the blood, PRP has powerful healing properties. PRFM is a natural approach to anti-aging and improving the condition of skin that uses your own platelets, unique tissue growth factors, and healing properties to revitalize and rejuvenate the skin. At AesthetiSpa we use PRFM to improve problems such as wrinkles, photodamage, texture, pore size, acne scars and stretch marks, and to address the decreasing volume that is a part of normal aging. PRFM can be applied topically, microneedled, or injected into the skin.
Who Can Benefit From Skin Rejuvenation With PRFM?
Each of us has some degree of skin damage, whether it is from sun exposure, the natural decline of collagen production, personal habits, stress, or other factors. By the same token, all of us could use the skin boosting/healing properties of PRFM.
PRFM can be used to return volume to faces that are beginning to look drawn due to volume loss. It will plump out cheek indentations, soften under eye hollows, and improve the skin tone, tightness, and texture. It is also effective for addressing fine lines, discoloration, acne scars, and stretch marks.
And because PRFM uses your own blood as its base, reactions are non-existent, making PRFM procedures ultimately safe and easy.
How Is A PRFM Treatment Done?
At AesthetiSpa, we begin the PRFM process by taking a small amount of blood from you, about the same amount used for a typical lab test. That blood is then placed in a centrifuge that spins at a high rate and separates the different components of the blood. Red blood cells and white blood cells are divided out from the platelets and the plasma (the clear fluid that makes blood liquid). This plasma now contains a higher than normal number of platelets and plasma and is called platelet-rich plasma.
Do PRFM Treatments Hurt?
To obtain the blood to create your PRFM, we simply draw a sample of blood similar to what is normally taken for lab work. We then take the blood and create PRFM. When we apply the PRFM with microneedling, Genius RF, DEKA DOT, and Fraxel treatments, it is applied topically during and/or after the treatment and PRFM itself does not cause any pain.
What Procedures Do You Add PRFM To Extend The Results?
For skin rejuvenation, we don’t see a limit as to where we could use PRFM to expand the power of our procedures. At this time, we add PRFM to microneedling, Genius RF, DEKA DOT, and Fraxel Dual.
Microneedling creates hundreds of microscopic punctures in the skin to initiate collagen remodeling and a wound response in the dermis. During and after the microneedling, we apply PRFM topically, as it can better penetrate the epidermis through the microscopic punctures.
Genius RF is based on microneedling, but the needle tips also deliver radiofrequency energy beneath the skin to heat the dermis and trigger collagen production. We apply PRFM during and after the Genius RF procedure.
Fraxel Dual is fractional skin resurfacing, where laser energy creates microchannels through the epidermis down into the dermis. These channels instantly begin healing by the surrounding untouched skin, plus the laser energy delivers heat into the dermis triggering new collagen production. After the laser treatment is done, we finish with a topical PRFM application.
DEKA DOT is fractionated CO2 skin resurfacing, where microscopic channels are created in the skin leaving surrounding skin untouched to allow for faster healing than traditional CO2 lasers. It stimulates collagen production, reduces wrinkles, age spots, acne scarring and skin laxity. After the laser treatment is done, we apply PRFM to further stimulate collagen and speed healing.
In all these procedures, the combination of the micro-wounds and the PRFM creates a rich healing environment where the skin actively rebuilds itself.
At AesthetiSpa, we are constantly evolving treatments to better serve our patients. Currently, we also inject PRFM into the scalp for hair restoration to help kickstart resting hair follicles and reverse thinning hair. Hair Restoration is covered on another page of our site.
Are There Risks With PRFM Being Used For Skin Rejuvenation?
We create PRFM from the patient’s own blood, so the body accepts it when applied topically or even when reinjected. There aren’t any reactions and the procedure is completely safe and without side effects.
How Soon Will I See Results?
PRFM acts as a booster when we add it to procedures. Microneedling delivers the fastest results as the skin instantly begins to heal after the micro-wounds, in as little as just a couple of weeks. In general, results begin to show themselves in three to four weeks as new collagen is added to the treatment areas, and results continue to build for months. The growth factors in PRFM simply act as boosters for skin rejuvenation.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
With microneedling and Genius RF it is generally considered that a series of three procedures is the minimum that should be considered. These need to be spaced about one month apart. PRFM is added to each treatment. From there, it is up to you, microneedling can be continued every 8-12 weeks, and the other procedures can be repeated at less frequency.
How Do I Prepare For A PRFM Treatment?
It is best to drink lots of water the day prior to treatment so you are well hydrated. Avoid alcohol for two days and aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen for seven days prior to treatment as these medications can effect your platelets. We also recommend avoiding anticoagulants for five days prior to treatment but only with permission from your prescribing physician.
Schedule A Consultation
Interested in learning what PRFM can do for you? Contact our Mount Pleasant office at 843-849-9925 for more information on PRFM for Skin Rejuvenation.