Northwest Plastic Surgery Associates

The Benefits of PRP Therapy

Jan 17, 2018 @ 10:35 PM — by Stephen Hardy M.D.
Tagged with: Plastic Surgery Prp Therapy

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a treatment used to aid healing and speed recovery by injecting platelet-rich plasma into areas that have experienced trauma. PRP therapy can be combined with different types of surgery to improve healing and speed recovery. At North West Plastic Surgery Associates, Dr. Stephen P. Hardy offers facelift with PRP to help patients enjoy a faster recovery with enhanced results. Faster recovery and enhanced results are just two of the many benefits of PRP therapy, making it a popular treatment for our Missoula, MT patients undergoing facelift surgery. Find out more as we discuss PRP therapy and its benefits.

What Is PRP Therapy?

PRP therapy is a treatment in which platelet-rich plasma is injected into the tissues to help the body recover from injuries, including surgical procedures.

With PRP therapy, platelet-rich plasma is extracted from a patient's own blood. This substance is extracted from the blood by spinning samples in a centrifuge. This separates the solid components of the blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, from the liquid plasma. The platelets are then separated from the rest of the blood cells and recombined with the plasma.

Platelets are harvested from the blood as they aid in healing by helping the blood to clot and contain growth factors that help the cells regenerate. Accordingly, adding PRP to areas of injury can help boost the body's ability to heal.

The Benefits of PRP Therapy

Improved healing is a significant benefit of PRP therapy, but it's not the only benefit. Here are just a few of the many benefits of PRP therapy.  

Improved Healing

Injecting platelet-rich plasma into injured tissue boosts the regenerative properties of the cells for improved healing. When combined with facelift surgery, PRP is injected into incision sites, near sutures, and beneath the skin to help the tissues heal faster and with better results.

Reduced Scarring

Another benefit of PRP therapy is reduced scarring. This is especially beneficial for those who are undergoing facelift surgery and would like to minimize the appearance of visible scars.

Faster Recovery

PRP therapy increases the number of platelets in the tissues, which can help speed healing for a faster recovery after surgery.

Reduced Swelling

Combining PRP therapy with facelift surgery can help reduce swelling, allowing patients to see the results of their treatment sooner.

Less Blood Loss

Because PRP therapy increases the number of available platelets at injection sites, many patients who have PRP therapy experience less blood loss.

Decreased Bruising

Bruising is caused by injury to blood vessels within the skin. Injured blood vessels essentially bleed into the tissues, causing the characteristic purple color seen in bruising. PRP therapy helps decrease the amount and severity of bruising by increasing blood clotting factors and decreasing blood loss.

Improved Skin Texture 

Many patients who have PRP therapy combined with facelift surgery notice improved skin texture. Many see smoother, tighter skin and improved skin volume. 

Schedule a Consultation

To learn more about PRP therapy or to find out which treatments are right for you, we invite you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hardy.