Regen PRP has proven to be a natural alternative to improve aged and wrinkled skin using your own blood, returning youthfulness to the face and body.
It’s no secret that Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is shaping the future of aesthetic medicine, as more and more people are turning to it for facial rejuvenation, attracted by the possibility of using their body’s own natural resources to help reverse the signs of ageing.
With a long history of use in sports medicine, it’s only relatively recently that aesthetic medical professionals have started to explore the many cosmetic and anti-ageing benefits of PRP. Indeed, over the past 10 years the efficacy of PRP in cosmetic medicine has been widely documented in scientific literature.
RegenLabPRP was the first to market PRP in the Australian aesthetic arena in 2007. Now, with 60 clinical studies backing it, RegenLabPRP is a proven PRP system using optimal concentrations and offering consistent results. There is no doubt that Regen PRP therapy is achieving great things in aesthetic medicine, most notably a younger looking and luminous complexion. It provides gradual, natural-looking results for patients who want the complete package.
Regen PRP draws – quite literally – on your own blood by re-injecting higher concentrations of blood platelets, which release growth factors to the treatment site. These growth factors “speak the language” of stem cells and kick-start rejuvenation from the inside out. This in turn increases collagen production to achieve thicker, smoother and more supple skin.
Dr Bruce Williamson, from SkinSmart Medical Services in Sydney, was one of the first practitioners in Australia to use PRP and has been for the past seven years, ‘PRP really is a game changer for my practice. It’s a natural product, injects easily, is versatile – and we are experiencing some really good results,’ he says.
Dr Herbert Hooi was also one of the first Australian doctors to start using Regen PRP. ‘It presented a natural alternative to injectables,’ he says. ‘After obtaining great results in my first patients, I have not looked back. The range of procedures I can perform with it is growing every year.’
What does the procedure involve?
The procedure involves extracting a sample of the patient’s blood, centrifuging this sample to concentrate the blood’s platelets and re-injecting the concentrated solution into the treatment area. Regen PRP can achieve effective rejuvenation in a number of problem areas such as under the eye area and on the neck and décolletage. The procedure usually takes around 45 minutes per two test tubes.
Typically, results take four to six weeks to appear following PRP treatment, and continue to improve in the three months following treatment. A repeat PRP session is usually recommended at the eight-week mark, to generate the ‘boost’ effect. This phenomenon occurs when the cells – which are already activated from the first treatment – are ‘re-boosted’ by repeat treatment, augmenting the final result.
“For skin boosting treatments, the results appear over a few months, when patients will begin to notice improvement in skin tone, skin tightness and texture. Compared with lasers and fillers, PRP is a natural alternative that uses the body’s own growth factors – which is one of the main reasons it has become so popular,’ says Dr Williamson.
There is some temporary swelling immediately after the procedure but this should subside in the following day or so. Collagen rejuvenation can take from six weeks, depending on the condition of the skin and the patient’s lifestyle.
‘In terms of how long results last, it really depends on different factors. Initial results will usually appear at three to four weeks and can last a couple of years with some maintenenace top-up treatments,” says Dr Williamson.
What can PRP treat?
A treatment with seemingly endless areas for application, Regen PRP calls upon the body’s natural processes to rejuvenate the skin. From improving skin laxity and tone in the face, neck and décolletage to reducing the appearance of stretch marks on the abdomen or thighs, Regen PRP offers an all-encompassing anti-ageing treatment.
‘I use PRP for improving the texture of ageing skin, especially around the eyelids, neck and décolletage. It will give a degree of skin tightening as well but not to the extent of dedicated skin tightening procedures such as radiofrequency-based treatments. I also use PRP for stretch marks, acne and other scarring and in combination with non-surgical vaginal treatments for stress incontinence and tightening,’ says Dr Hooi.
Dr Williamson emphasises that almost anyone can benefit from PRP. ‘It really does have endless possibilities – not only can it be used for skin rejuvenation treatments but it can also be used for hair loss, enhanced sexual satisfaction, osteoarthritis and sporting injuries. Personally, I have recently had my knee injected with PRP and it has reduced joint pain caused by inflammation.’
What is the Vampire Facelift?
The next evolution of PRP treatment is the trademark ‘Vampire Facelift’ by Dr Charles Runels in the US, which is becoming one of the most sought-after treatments around the world.
The Vampire Facelift is a unique combination treatment, which uses a combination of PRP with HA (hyaluronic acid) fillers in a specific way to gently and naturally restore youthful volume and shape, without looking overdone.
Firstly the practitioner uses HA fillers to replace lost volume in the face and add contour. PRP is then injected into the face to improve the tone, texture and luminosity of the skin.
Only a few Australian doctors are trained to provide this procedure – one such doctor is Dr Robin Chok, who has been using Regen Lab PRP since 2012.
‘I was most impressed by the results of Dr Charles Runels’ Vampire Facelift procedures when I saw them back in 2012. Dr Runels’ technique is a combination of strategic placement of HA gel fillers for structure and Regen PRP overlay for enhancement of the skin,’ says Dr Chok.
Results include reduced pore size, more supple skin and an improvement of the fine crepey skin around the eyes. The improvement is gradual and results are cumulative. Usually a course of three to four treatments over a four to six month period are required, with a single top-up treatment once or twice a year.
Dr Williamson and Dr Hooi are also part of the small number of Australian doctors trained in the Vampire series of treatments. ‘These include the Vampire “Face Lift” and the “O-Shot” and “P-Shot” for enhanced sexual satisfaction. Having performed a number of these treatments already, I am amazed at some of the results being achieved,’ Dr Hooi says.
The O-Shot uses PRP in specific areas of the vagina to improve sexual satisfaction. Improvement in vaginal tightening and sensitivity can result in better orgasms and a happier sex life. Similarly, the P-Shot uses PRP to improve the strength of erections, penile girth and sensitivity.
What are the benefits of Regen PRP?
PRP is associated with a plethora of benefits. It is a ‘body own’ physiological product in comparison to animal derived or human donor products, which eliminates the occurrence of donor transmissible infections.
‘Regen PRP is one of the simplest and safest PRP systems on the market. Comparative studies have shown Regen PRP has a very high platelet yield (above 90 percent). Many other systems range from 40 to 60 percent, meaning they require more blood to be drawn from the patient to produce PRP at optimal concentration for skin tissue regeneration,’ remarks Dr Hooi. Regen has the versatility to yield up to four times the concentration of the patient’s platelets, however this is not necessary for skin tissue regeneration.
Dr Chok says, ‘Most patients who try PRP love the effect, especially the smoothness and youthfulness of their skin, and the fact that the results look absolutely natural. Male patients are also attracted to the PRP Vampire Facelift procedures, especially for the face or neck. They enjoy having a fresher yet natural-looking appearance.’
‘I think there is a great future in regenerative medicine. PRP is the first step towards this as it aptly demonstrates the benefits of manipulating a natural healing process,’ says Dr Hooi.
‘I believe regenerative medicine has a huge future and it is very exciting. While we will see future treatments targeting stem cells, it will be interesting to see the way in which we will use PRP. We’ve really just hit the tip of the iceberg with this medicine,’ Dr Williamson concludes.
