Skin Care Education

PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma)

A treatment that uses the healing and growth factors concentrated from your own blood to stimulate tissue repair, collagen production, and overall skin quality improvement. Often called a vampire facial when combined with microneedling.

What Is PRP?

PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. It is a treatment that uses material derived from the patient’s own blood to stimulate the skin to repair and regenerate itself. A small amount of blood is drawn, similar to a routine blood test, and placed in a machine called a centrifuge that spins it at high speed. This separates the blood into its components, allowing the collection of the layer richest in platelets, which are the cells responsible for healing and clotting. This concentrated platelet-rich layer is the PRP.

Platelets carry a range of natural proteins and signals that tell surrounding tissue to repair itself, produce more collagen, and generate new healthy cells. When this concentrated material is injected into the skin or applied during a microneedling treatment, it delivers a concentrated dose of these natural repair signals directly where they are needed, prompting the skin into a repair and rebuilding response that improves quality, firmness, and texture over the following weeks.

Because PRP is made entirely from the patient’s own blood, the immune system recognises it as the body’s own material rather than something foreign. This means there is effectively no risk of allergic reaction, making PRP one of the most biocompatible aesthetic treatments available. It is used for facial skin quality improvement, under-eye rejuvenation, scalp health and hair growth, and to support healing after other aesthetic treatments.

What to Expect

The session begins with a blood draw from the arm, taking a small amount of blood similar in volume to what is drawn for a routine blood test. The blood is placed in the centrifuge for several minutes while the treatment area is prepared and, if needed, a numbing cream is applied.

The prepared PRP is then delivered to the skin by injection, by microneedling with the PRP applied to the skin during the procedure so it enters through the tiny channels created by the needles, or by a combination of both. Injection-based delivery involves the same mild discomfort as any fine-needle treatment. Microneedling delivery is comfortable with numbing cream applied. After treatment, some redness, minor swelling, and occasional small bruises at injection sites are normal and typically settle within 24 to 48 hours.

Results build gradually as the skin responds to the repair signals over the following weeks. Most people notice improvement in skin quality, texture, and glow from around four to six weeks after treatment, with results continuing to develop over several months. A course of two to three sessions spaced four to six weeks apart is typically recommended for the best outcome.

Who It’s For and Results

PRP is suited to a broad range of people and concerns. It is commonly used for improving overall skin quality and radiance, reducing fine lines and early laxity, improving the texture and colour of acne scarring, rejuvenating the under-eye area, and promoting scalp health and hair growth. Because it uses the patient’s own material, it suits most skin types and tones without the pigmentation risks associated with more aggressive treatments.

It is a popular choice for those who prefer a natural, biologically driven approach to skin improvement, those with sensitive skin who do not tolerate more intensive treatments well, and those who want to support and extend the results of other professional treatments. It is also frequently used alongside microneedling, laser treatments, and energy-based devices to enhance healing and results.

The results of PRP are typically described as a natural-looking improvement in skin quality, hydration, and glow rather than a dramatic structural change. It is most effective as part of a consistent skin health programme rather than as a one-off treatment, and its effects complement those of other professional treatments well.

Frequently Asked Questions: PRP

A vampire facial is a popular term for PRP microneedling, a treatment in which microneedling is performed and the patient’s own PRP is applied to the skin during or immediately after the procedure. The tiny channels created by the microneedling allow the PRP to penetrate more deeply into the skin than it could through intact surface, enhancing the combined effect of both treatments. The name comes from the use of blood and the slightly dramatic appearance of the treatment process, which has been widely shared on social media. Clinically it is simply a combination of microneedling and PRP applied together.

Yes, and this is one of the most established applications of PRP outside of skin aesthetics. When injected into the scalp, PRP delivers growth factors directly to the hair follicles, supporting their health and stimulating activity in follicles that have become dormant or miniaturised. It is most effective for androgenetic hair loss, the common pattern-related thinning that affects both men and women, particularly in the earlier stages when follicles are still present but underperforming. Results build over several months and a course of three to four sessions is typically recommended, with maintenance treatments every six to twelve months.

Most protocols recommend an initial course of two to three sessions spaced four to six weeks apart for facial skin improvement, or three to four sessions for scalp and hair applications. After the initial course, maintenance treatments once or twice a year help sustain the results. The number and frequency of sessions can be adjusted based on the individual’s response and the specific concern being addressed.

Yes, and it frequently is. PRP is most commonly combined with microneedling, where applying the plasma during the needling procedure enhances both treatments simultaneously. It is also used alongside laser treatments, radiofrequency, and energy-based devices, where it can support healing and enhance the tissue response to those treatments. Some providers combine PRP with hyaluronic acid skin boosters or other injectables to deliver a broader range of benefits in a single session. Its biocompatibility and supportive nature make it one of the most versatile combination treatment options in aesthetic practice.