The “Vampire” Facelift

Posted: Thursday 29 July 2010 02:31pm

Say the word “plasma” to most people, and their minds are likely to flash to giant television screens. The plasma I am referring to, however, is not a piece of electronic equipment but a component of your blood. In fact, it’s a yellowish liquid packed with nutrients and proteins, and the key element of a revolutionary rejuvenation treatment called Plasma Rich Platelet therapy, or PRP.

PRP has been used in medicine for about 20 years, using a patient’s own blood plasma to accelerate the repair of injuries such as tendons and ligaments by injections. In anti-ageing circles, however, this natural “liquid gold” as it has been dubbed, is The Next Big Thing in rejuvenation.

So how does PRP work? Blood consists of red and white blood cells, plasma and platelets. Platelets were initially known to be responsible for blood clotting, but in the last two decades researchers have discovered that when activated in the body, they release healing proteins called growth factors.

Rich plasma is blood plasma with concentrated platelets. These platelets are packed with growth factor proteins, which help to initiate and accelerate tissue repair and regeneration. They have a variety of impressive actions. For one, they promote the healing of connective tissue, and the development of new blood vessels. But they also stimulate the wound healing process, and increase collagen production.

In the medical world, PRP Therapy uses a small amount of blood taken from the patient, which is placed in a spinning centrifuge to separate the main components of the blood and produce the yellowish platelet rich plasma. When this is then injected into a damaged area, a mild inflammation triggers healing, new cells develop with restored blood flow, and tissue regeneration occurs.

When it comes to rejuvenation, therefore, the thinking behind the theory is simple. If plasma can help put new life into injured tissue, then why can’t it do the same for ageing skin?

>> View a Before & After gallery for this treatment

PRP therapy for anti-ageing purposes came to my attention in early 2009, when it was widely reported that Kylie Minogue had undergone the treatment as part of a major rejuvenation makeover at a clinic in Spain. Curious to see what it could do for me, I went to see Nicole Bell of Face Today in Chatswood, Sydney, who helped to launch PRP into the Australian market last year. 

“PRP therapy, called Regen PRP in Australia, is one of the most exciting innovations in rejuvenation,” she says. “It is safe, completely natural, and because the plasma comes from your own body, it is also non-allergenic.”

I decided to take the plunge and have my face and neck treated. First I underwent a consultation with Bell, which includes taking a medical history as PRP isn’t suitable for everyone, including anyone with skin diseases, cancer or blood disorders. Then the blood was drawn (usually between 10 and 20 mls), and placed in the centrifuge to be separated.

Next a topical anesthetic cream was smeared generously on my face and neck, so I could tolerate the injections. This is a key part of the process as many injections are administered, and they go deep into the dermal layer. Separation of the plasma was quick – it took only around five to eight minutes – and then the power-packed platelets were extracted into syringes and we were ready to get down to business.

Plasma was injected into multiple sites on my neck, beneath my chin, and along my jawline, lower face, cheeks, and outer eye areas. The process took about half an hour, and although it wasn’t completely pain-free, I was able to tolerate it quite well thanks to the anesthetic cream. And even though I am not hugely fond of needles, I kept my eyes closed the entire time (except when asked), and overall it didn’t bother me too much.

Afterward the treatment was complete, my face felt slightly hot and was ever so slightly puffy in a few places, both of which are perfectly normal reactions, so I was told. I was also warned that I might have a little swelling, and some bruising may still appear and last for a couple of days.

The litmus test came a several days later, when I saw a close friend I hadn’t seen in a while, and who didn’t know I’d had anything done. Without any visible bruising or swelling – I was lucky – she said right away that I looked really, really well and my complexion was glowing. In the weeks which followed, other people also remarked about how well I looked, or that my skin looked great.

Regen PRP can be used on many areas of the face and body for rejuvenation, including around the eyes, the cheeks and mid-face, the neck, beneath the jaw, along the jawline, and on the lower or mid-cheek areas of the face. As Bell explained, however, the treatment can also be used successfully on the backs of the hands and the décolletage, and they are trialling other areas of the body requiring rejuvenation, including post-pregnancy tummies and arms.

As the weeks passed after my treatment, I continued to feel and see improvements to my skin particularly in plumpness, texture and tightening. The idea of having so many injections may not appeal to everyone, but the results are definitely worth the effort and the minimal discomfort. And at least what’s in my face is natural – literally all mine.

Ballpark Cost: Regen PRP is charged by the vial: $500 for one, $800 for two, $1100 for three, and $1400 for four. One vial is usually used to treat a small area such as the eyes and the lips, but to treat the entire face and neck, most people will need up to four. Around three sessions, a month apart each, are recommended to see good results, and after that, all that is required is annual maintenance.

Where: There are a number of clinics across Australia offering Regen. For more information visit www.facetoday.com.au or call 1300 668 573, or visit Regen Lab Aesthetic at www.regenlab.com, or call 07 5577 3950.

by Joanna Hall

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