Skin Club by DermaGenesis

The body has an amazing capacity to heal itself. When the body becomes injured, a natural healing process occurs to repair the damaged or aged tissue. The body signals platelets and other components in our blood supply to migrate to the site of injury. Under normal conditions, these platelets release a variety of growth factors that initiate and subsequently promote healing. The application of concentrated platelets, which release a supra-maximal quantity of growth factors, helps to stimulate recovery in aged tissue and non-healing injuries.
For 20 years, the application of autologous Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) has been safely used and documented in many fields including; orthopedics, sports medicine, dentistry, ENT, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, urology, wound healing, cosmetic, cardiothoracic and maxillofacial surgery.

Blood components

Blood contains plasma, red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), and platelets. Plasma is the liquid component of blood, made mostly of water and acts as a transporter for cells. Plasma also contains fibrinogen, a protein that acts like a net and catches platelets at a wound site to form a clot. RBC helps pick up oxygen from the lungs and delivers it to other body cells, while removing carbon dioxide. WBC fights infection, kills germs, and carries off dead blood cells. Platelets are responsible for hemostasis, construction of new connective tissue, and revascularization. Typically a blood specimen contains 93% RBC, 6% Platelets, and 1% WBC. The rationale for Platelet Rich Plasma benefit lies in reversing the blood ratio by decreasing RBC to 5%, which are less useful in the healing process, and increasing platelets to 94% to stimulate recovery and rejuvenate aged skin. Platelets are small discoid blood cells made in bone marrow with a lifespan of 7–10 days. Inside the platelets are many intracellular structures containing glycogen, lysosomes, and two types of granules. The alpha granules contain the clotting and growth factors that are eventually released in the healing process, which stimulate the inflammatory cascade healing and skin rejuvenation.

Platelet Rich Plasma

Platelet Rich Plasma is defined as a volume of the plasma fraction of autologous blood having a platelet concentration above baseline. Normal platelet concentration is 200,000 platelets/ul. Studies have shown that clinical efficacy can be expected with a minimum increase of 1million platelets/ul. Slight variability exists in the ability to concentrate platelets, largely depending on the manufacturer’s equipment. However, it has not been studied if too great an increased platelet concentration would have inconsistent effects. The application of autologous Platelet Rich Plasma has been safely used and documented in many fields including; orthopaedics, sports medicine, dentistry, ENT, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, urology, and wound healing; as well as cosmetic, cardiothoracic, and maxillofacial surgery. In addition to stopping bleeding during injuries, platelets contain an abundance of growth factors and cytokines that are essential in healing aged skin and soft tissue injuries as well as bone mineralization.

The procedure

Various blood separation devices have differing preparation steps essentially accomplishing similar goals. About 30–60 ml of venous blood is drawn with aseptic technique from the anticubital vein. The blood is then placed in an FDA approved device and centrifuged for 15 min at 3,200 rpm. Afterward, the blood is separated into platelet poor plasma (PPP), RBC, and PRP.
Next the PPP is extracted through a special port and discarded from the device. While the Platelet Rich Plasma is in a vacuumed space, the device is shaken for 30 seconds to resuspend the platelets. Afterwards the Platelet Rich Plasma is withdrawn. Depending on the initial blood draw, there is approximately 3 or 6 cc of PRP available which are injected for specific purposes.

Platelet Rich Plasma effects

The effects of Platelet Rich Plasma are normally noticeable after few treatments. The initial concern, such as pigmentation, acne, scars, open pores, etc may not be eliminated completely, but the skin will appear healthier, radiant and clearer after few treatments. Results are even better if sun exposure, smoking and stress are kept to a minimum. The results may last for months to a year or two; however, the longevity of PRP effects depends on the skin condition, skin type and lifestyle. PRP when performed regularly over a prolonged period has several long-term benefits to the skin. They include:

• New cell production is enhanced
• Strengthens the collagen matrix
• Skin firmness is enhanced
• Blood flow to the skin improves
• Photo aging is delayed
• Fine lines are diminished
• Skin becomes healthier and radiant

Risks, side effects and safety

Any concerns of immunogenic reactions or disease transfer are eliminated because Platelet Rich Plasma is prepared from autologous blood. No studies have documented that PRP promotes hyperplasia, carcinogenesis, or tumor growth. Growth Factors are not mutagenic and naturally act through gene regulation and normal wound healing feed-back control mechanisms
Relative contraindications include the presence of a tumor, metastatic disease, active infections, or low platelet count of less than 100,000 / ul or low Hemoglobin of 10g /dl. Pregnancy or active breastfeeding are contraindications. Although adverse effects are uncommon, as with any injection there is a possibility of infection, no relief of symptoms, and neurovascular injury. Scar tissue formation and calcification at the injection site are also remote risks.