PRP Injection: 6 Things to Know Before You Get It

This is an English adaptation of a clinical article Dr. SangYoul Yun — board-certified dermatologist and Medical Director of Delight Dermatology in Gangnam, Seoul — originally published in Korean. Read the Korean original on Naver. It has been restructured and translated for international readers.

Hello, this is Dr. SangYoul Yun, board-certified dermatologist, writing to help those considering skin regeneration, collagen synthesis, and a hydrated glow. PRP (platelet-rich plasma) is an autologous-blood skin-regeneration treatment. Platelets, one component of blood, contain a range of growth factors and play an important role in wound healing and regeneration. PRP is the plasma component — highly concentrated in platelets — extracted by centrifuging your own blood. It's often called a "stem cell injection," because after centrifugation the platelets, white blood cells, and stem cells form a white band (the buffy coat), the core layer of PRP. Here are 6 things worth knowing before you get PRP.

1. The role of platelets

The alpha granules of platelets contain growth factors involved in hemostasis and tissue healing (PDGF, TGF, PDAF, PDEFG, EGF, TNF, LDGF, FGF, CTGF) and proteins involved in cell adhesion (fibrin, fibronectin, vitronectin). These growth factors regenerate epithelial cells and increase wound-healing capacity through collagen synthesis, fibrous-tissue formation, and neovascularization.

2. The PRP procedure

1. Blood draw
2. Extract PRP with a centrifuge
3. Inject the PRP into the skin using a Dermashine device

3. Who PRP is for

It suits those with fine lines and wrinkles, significant sun damage, or a wish for a fresher, more even complexion.

4. The effects of PRP

• The procedure is short — 5 to 10 minutes — with little pain.
• It has no downtime.
• Because it uses your own blood, there is no infection, allergy, or rejection reaction, making it safe.
• Combining it with laser treatment, RF lifting, or MTS can improve results further.
• It offers wrinkle improvement, lifting, pore reduction, tone improvement, and collagen regeneration.

5. Results

Overall improvement appears within a few weeks to a few months.

6. Number of sessions

Generally three or more sessions are needed, and the effect can last up to 18 months.

PRP is effective for skin regeneration with no downtime, and combining it with other skin boosters such as Rejuran can produce a synergistic effect. Whether it's right for you, and which treatments to pair it with, is best confirmed in a consultation.

Medical disclaimer. This article is general information and does not replace individual consultation. Although PRP uses your own blood, whether it suits you, which treatments to combine it with, and the number of sessions depend on your skin and general health, and should be decided through an in-person consultation with a dermatologist.