Have you been struggling with dark circles under your eyes? If you’re tired of constantly caking on concealer, a PRP Facelift treatment may be able to help. The skin around the eyes is notoriously difficult to address since that area is so delicate and sensitive. That’s why our Mariposa Aesthetics & Laser Center office in Oklahoma City, OK, is excited to offer this natural treatment option.
How To Get Rid of Dark Circles? Why a PRP Facelift Can Help You
Say Goodbye To Tired Eyes
Dark circles can be a pain to deal with. While the ever-elusive good night’s sleep can help reduce them somewhat, as our skin ages these circles tend to make their home under our eyes for good. This can leave us looking tired, even when we’ve had a restful night and have a system full of caffeine. That’s where a PRP facelift can come in.
One of the ways this treatment works is by improving both the blood supply in the treated areas and stimulating collagen production. Since the skin around our eyes is so thin, it’s often one of the first areas to show signs of aging. A PRP treatment can support the health of this skin so it becomes firmer and smoother.
How It Works
Step One of the Treatment Process
Each treatment involves a three-step process. First, the practitioner will draw some of your blood. You may have one or several tubes of blood drawn, depending on your need. Imagine going to get a simple blood test of some sort; that is usually the amount of blood needed for this treatment. Much like a blood test, the blood is usually drawn from the arm.
Step Two
Once your blood has been drawn, it can be put into the centrifuge. This is a machine that spins the blood rapidly for about ten minutes. This movement separates the fluids of the blood so the platelets can be accessed.
The platelets will then be naturally activated, and just like that, you have your very own platelet-rich plasma, a powerful treatment made with your body’s own healing abilities.
Step Three
Now it’s time to re-inject this platelet-rich plasma into the desired area. When the PRP treatment is re-introduced to your body, that should be taken as a signal to create more reparative cells. This treatment is one where you can often see fast results, but these results actually get better with time as the body continues to repair itself. When you start to see good results, just wait, they’re probably going to get even better.
The time treatment takes can range slightly, but from start to finish the process usually takes about an hour. After the treatment is complete, you’ll be all set to go!
The Science Behind It
Growth Factors
PRP can help improve volume in the face, and it also contains growth factors that will work behind the scenes to strengthen and rejuvenate the skin. When these growth factors are activated, it can improve three aspects of the aging process. The first is that a more even, youthful tone to the face can be restored due to the formation of new blood vessels.
The second is that as the PRP treatment encourages the area to produce more collagen, this collagen can have a lifting effect on the treated area. That’s why we call it a PRP facelift. Thirdly, these growth factors also encourage the body to rebuild the dermis. This can help the outermost layer of your skin to feel and look smoother.
Stem Cells at Work
Unipotent stem cells play a key role in healing the skin when it’s damaged. Most of the time, these stem cells are dormant, waiting to activate until they’re needed. The renewal abilities of these stem cells make them a powerful restorative tool for developing new tissue once they jump into action.
The platelets within the platelet-rich plasma can activate the dormant stem cells, which encourages them to get to work in rebuilding this treated skin. Unipotent stem cells only grow on one specific tissue, but they can be found anywhere in the body. When the unipotent stem cells of the skin are activated, they know their job is to restore your skin. This specialized process takes treatment to a new level.
No Interference With Your Schedule
We’re all busy, and taking time off to recover from a cosmetic treatment may not always be ideal or appealing. A surgical PRP facelift may take a month until you can completely resume your regular activities. While surgical PRP facelift are certainly effective, a PRP facelift takes that recovery time right out of the equation. You can get your treatment and return to your daily life.
It Can Be Used for So Much More
Sun Damage
One of the skin concerns PRP treatment can help address is sun damage. Sun damage can cause uneven pigmentation, as well as issues with the texture of your skin. It can also contribute to premature aging of the skin, such as the appearance of wrinkles.
The high concentration of platelets present in PRP treatment can help improve and heal some of the damage your skin may have suffered on the beach.
Injury Treatment
This treatment is sometimes used to help patients heal faster after plastic surgery, but that’s not where its usefulness ends. Due to its ability to heal, PRP treatment is also often utilized to help expedite recovery from injuries and address joint pain. When used to help the body heal from an injury, it may be combined with other treatments to boost its effectiveness. It is often used for muscle injuries and tendon issues as well.
Many of these injuries are either due to sports, work-related, or happened while enjoying a strenuous hobby. These injuries can hinder a person’s ability to function and get back to doing what they love. PRP therapy is seen as a boost for the body, to jump-start the healing process.
Arthritis
Osteoarthritis can damage or break down the articular cartilage of bones over time. This breaking down can increase friction in joints, which can result in a loss of mobility in these joints, as well as other painful symptoms. It is the most common kind of arthritis.
While most common for people who are 60 or older, this painful condition can affect people of all ages, especially if joints are used heavily. When it comes to treating it with PRP therapy, the goal is to help rebuild the insufficient cartilage tissues. Ideally, this then would lead to less pain and friction, as well as better joint function.
PRP Treatment FAQ
1. How Safe Is It?
Very! Nothing foreign is being brought into your body, so for patients who are leery of dermal fillers, or who have allergies to some ingredients contained in dermal fillers, this treatment can be a natural alternative.
During a consultation, we will be able to help you determine if this treatment is right for you. We also encourage you to ask us any questions you may have about the process. We would be happy to address any concerns you have and walk you through the different steps of your treatment.
A Time-Proven Treatment
PRP has a great track record. The term PRP came about in the 1970s. It was used to describe a plasma with a higher concentration of platelets when compared to circulating blood. Soon after, it was found that this platelet-rich plasma had anti-inflammatory abilities, and could even stimulate cell growth.
When it first began to be used medically, it was primarily used for sports injuries. Some of these injuries happened to high-profile athletes, which contributed to a media buzz around PRP therapy. Since then, more and more uses have been discovered for platelet-rich plasma, which includes uses in pediatric and cardiac surgery, as well as for cosmetic treatments.
2. How Often Will I Need Treatment?
Your treatment plan can be adjusted depending on the results you want and your body’s needs. While one initial treatment may be enough, sometimes more than one starter treatment is needed to get your skin where you want it to be. Once your skin is where you want it to be, you can move on to less regular treatments to support and maintain your results.
Many patients choose to just wait until they notice some of the benefits of the PRP therapy wearing off. Others prefer a set schedule of about every four to six months. Treatment is highly flexible and we would be happy to work with you to set up the ideal schedule, whether that’s several times a year, or every couple of years.
3. How Does It Compare To Other Treatments?
Hyaluronic Acid
There are similarities between how PRP treatment works and how HA fillers work. Both treatments can be used to help sculpt the face. One of the primary differences is that PRP is entirely autologous, which means it comes from you and is used only for you. This is one of the many reasons PRP treatment is considered very safe since there really isn’t much for the body to negatively react to.
Surgical Facelift
A surgical facelift involves the skin being lifted and the tissue underneath being sutured to both tighten and lift the face. This procedure can offer dramatic effects, but these effects come at a cost. First off you have the price, which can be prohibitive for many patients who would otherwise be interested in it.
Secondly, you would both have to be sure you could handle surgery, and then have to set a good bit of time off afterward to recover from it. While surgery may be a good solution for some, whether you are looking into alternatives due to financial reasons, or just don’t want to go through a surgical procedure, a PRP treatment can help give you some of the visual results without the hassle.
This Treatment Plays Well With Others
This treatment is great on its own, but it can also be paired with other treatments. Since it uses your own platelet-rich plasma for its effectiveness, PRP treatment shouldn’t interfere with other injections or treatments you may want to pursue. Of course, it’s always a good idea to check with your doctor or practitioner beforehand, just to be safe.
Treat Yourself and Your Skin
It’s so important to put your trust in the right place. That is why our team is extensively trained, certified, and licensed. We are ready to use the latest technology and treatments to support the health of your skin. Our consultations are complimentary, so why not stop by and see what we’re all about? Reach out to our Mariposa Aesthetics & Laser Center team in Oklahoma City, OK, to learn more about all the different skincare treatments we offer.
