PRP Therapy pre-treatment checklist

Pre-PRP Therapy Facial Treatment Appointment Checklist

  1. You must be over 18 years of age
  2. Not experiencing any of the conditions listed as contraindications.
  3. Discontinue anti-inflammatory medications 5 days prior
  4. Discontinue blood thinning herbs or supplements one week prior
  5. Discontinue systemic steroids 1-2 weeks prior
  6. Discontinue steroid injections 1 month prior
  7. Consume a healthy diet and 3L of water per day for at least 2 days prior
  8. Have not had filler in the treatment area/s less than 2 weeks ago
  9. Have not had any of the following in the last 7 days -
    • Corticosteroids or Prednisone
    • Nurofen, Ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication
    • Anti-arthritic medication
    • Warfarin
    • Aspirin or other blood thinning medication
  10. No alcohol in the last 24 hours - may result in severe bruising
  11. Be realistic about expected outcomes -
    • For hair loss it is important to start treatment early on and whether you are a suitable candidate will be determined during consultation
    • Advanced wrinkling and severe scar tissue may not respond to PRP therapy
    • There are limited benefits if you have a high alcohol intake, smoke heavily and/or have an unhealthy lifestyle

Contraindications Checklist

Your past and present medical and cosmetic history will be assessed to determine your suitability for treatment. But generally, PRP therapy is not suitable for individuals who are -

  1. Under 18 years of age
  2. Pregnant, breast-feeding or trying to conceive
  3. Allergic to local anaesthetics
  4. Undergoing anti-coagulation treatment
  5. Undergoing chemotherapy or radio-therapy
  6. Currently receiving injections of long acting steroids
  7. Experiencing acute or chronic infection
  8. Living with any of the following conditions -
    • Systemic or metabolic condition/disorder
    • Autoimmune disease
    • Cancer
    • Platelet or blood disorder
    • Thromobocytopenia (low platelet count / abnormal bleeding)
    • Liver infection
    • Unstable diabetes or diabetes type 2

The PRP Therapy Procedure

The first part of your PRP procedure is to have blood drawn. This is usually a small amount of blood, between 10ml to 30ml. Then, to separate the platelets we take your blood and spin it in a centrifuge. The centrifuge puts the vial of blood into a rotational movement, using gravitational force to cause the blood's substances to separate based on their density. This takes around 8 to 10 minutes. The newly separated platelets can then be extracted and re-injected back into your skin during your PRP facial or PRP skin treatment.

Our blood is composed of four major components, including red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma and platelets.

Blood platelet cells have been proven to be rich in bioactive growth factors, proteins and cytokines which are responsible for initiating and regulating tissue repair. For example, if we find ourselves with a bleeding cut, it is actually the platelets within the blood that cause coagulation (clotting) to stop the bleeding. They then release their bioactive growth factors to repair the damaged tissue. Its' these restorative properties we are taking advantage of by injecting a patient's platelets back into their skin.

Important info regarding your PRP Treatment

Your pre-PRP therapy checklist is a must-read. Your medical and cosmetic history will be assessed to determine suitability for treatment. Please ensure you have read and understand the pre-appointment checklist and be aware of any contraindications that may affect you.