Thank you for your question!
You’re asking if platelet-rich plasma (PRP) really does help improve scared skin, quality
and improve vascularity. And you state in your question that you’ve seen some studies
from 2009 – 2010 when platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was relatively new and that you want
to know if there are new studies.
Well I can certainly give you a perspective in this area. I’m a board certified cosmetic
surgeon and fellowship trained oculofacial plastic and reconstructive surgeon. I have
been in practice in Manhattan and Long Island for over 20 years. I have been in a leadership
position when it comes to PRP for many indications. We use platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in our practice
every day for a lot of different things. So I can certainly give you my perspective as
someone who uses this every day.
So I can understand first of all what your hesitancy is and your confusion is. Unfortunately,
in the modern world, we are dealing in the aesthetic field with the kind of shifting
of the way consumers receive information in a way that’s comparable to medical doctors
and pediatricians have been usurped in a way by pharmaceutical companies. So just the way
pharmaceutical companies will often advertise heavily and put information in front of people’s
eyes about new drugs before doctors are given an opportunity to learn about them to test
them and see if they are right for their patients. Laser companies, device companies, injectables,
these same billion dollar plus companies will promote devices that are expensive and certainly
offer a lot of things. What is absent from all of that messaging is of course something
as straightforward as platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been
around since the late 90s when oral surgeons were trying to help improve vascularity in
bone when they are doing dental implants as well as with orthopedic surgeons and people
who follow sports are very familiar with injured athletes going to places like Germany for
platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections.
Now in the aesthetic field, because there is certainly plenty of opportunity to use
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), there are certainly more up to date studies to support its value
but I can tell you first as a practicing physician who is actually using this material that I
think that there is incredible use for platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Now since you did not submit
a photo, when you make a statement like scared skin, what I don’t know is how scared is
the skin. I’ve used platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with great success in acne scars. I’ve
used it for thickened scars or hypertrophic or what people often refer to as keloid scar
but that’s a different classification. I’ve used it for wound healing. I use it for skin
complexion improvement. I use it for under eye circles and in combination with Acellular
matrix. We have actually develop a system for treating male or female pattern hair loss
called Hair Regeneration and we’ve even started a company called Trichostem™ Hair
Regeneration centers.
So there is certainly no question in my mind about the value of platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
but unfortunately, when you ask a lot of doctors about it, they know absolutely nothing and
what’s particularly disheartening about that is that not only do they know nothing
but they are quick to disparage it. It seems that many aesthetic doctors in all levels
of specialty, not just plastic surgeons or dermatologist but all different specialties
within the aesthetic umbrella, they are quick to disparage it which anything that they don’t
know and which does not help patients and doesn’t help people learn about things of
value. So this is what makes this open communication medium so valuable is that you can get information
from experienced practitioners like myself who can give you some perspective since I
have absolutely no interest in getting sponsorship from anybody. I just simply talk to my patients
about the things I use in my practice and how they work for me. So I would say to you
that you don’t have to question whether or not platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has value
in many different modalities including the treatment of scarring but you have to learn
if it is right for you.
So I recommend you to seek out a qualified experienced doctor who does a lot of platelet-rich
plasma (PRP) treatment who understands it, who uses it a lot and has familiarity to your
condition. Once you find the right doctor, I can tell you that platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
is not a solution that works perfectly in everybody in the same way. There is an art
to doing it, there is an art when to do it, how much to do it, where to do it. There are
a lot of variables. I think of it in many ways as surgery. I also think of it in many
ways as an experienced doctor to use past experience to apply the knowledge to future
patients. So with that being said, I think you just
have to find someone you are comfortable with and explore your options. Platelet-rich plasma
(PRP) can be one part of a more global treatment plan but certainly I think that there is no
question in my mind recommending it for a variety of modalities like I said, we use
it in our practice every day.
So I hope that was helpful, I wish you the best of luck and thank you for your question!