Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) isn’t unlike the fountain of youth. It can completely energize your appearance, and with long-lasting results, helps you look younger for longer. At Inner Vitality in Bellevue, WA, we recommend this treatment for anyone seeking an alternative to surgery.

The effects of this therapy typically last around 18 months, although some patients enjoy their results for a full two years. Each body metabolizes the treatment a little differently, so the effects you see will be unique to you. Your results will also depend on factors like genetics, aging, and sun exposure – the fewer rays you catch, the better.

Unlike a traditional facial, PRP uses your body’s natural ingredients. You can therefore be assured of its safety and, in turn, re-up its results without fear of damaging your skin. This means that as soon as your effects start to fade, you can schedule a maintenance session.

No matter how old you are or what shape your skin is in, platelet-rich plasma can benefit your overall appearance. You can extend the life of these benefits with some simple at-home steps.

The first tip we want to mention is high-intensity cardio exercise; by ramping up circulation with a good workout, you also increase red blood cell production and strengthen your immune system. Turbo-charged immunity not only means a healthier body but also the best treatment results possible.

We know one of the hardest habits to change is how you eat, but introducing more green, leafy vegetables to your diet can help you derive longer results from treatment. We also recommend you reduce sugary, fatty, and processed foods. The multiple benefits of healthy, nourishing foods include greater circulation and lower cholesterol.

Again, B vitamins help increase your red blood cells and hemoglobin; they also deliver energy to help you feel renewed in all your daily activities. The full range of B vitamins is essential to your health and can be found in a variety of plant and animal foods. You can also take a supplement if you’re feeling particularly low.

If anything you ingest can improve blood flow throughout the body, it’s water. Warm water can be especially beneficial as it encourages veins to expand for stronger blood movement. Chilled water, on the other hand, often causes veins to close. While you’re watching what you drink, also alternate between hot and cold water flow during your next shower; this is known to stimulate circulation as well.

If our advice sounds like a healthy living commercial, it’s important to remember your lifestyle will impact your cosmetic treatment outcomes. To illustrate, the toxins found within cigarettes reduce the volume of PRP available and keep the platelets from functioning properly.

In addition, cigarette smoke – namely hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, and nicotine – can undermine expedient wound repair. When compared to nonsmokers, smokers have higher incidences of slower healing after cosmetic therapies. This means more time is required to see your results. Facial skin is already fragile; we recommend you eliminate all risks and kick cigarettes to the curb.

Caring for your skin becomes even more important after treatment with platelet-rich plasma. You should therefore expect to stay out of the sun for three days after therapy. Now is additionally the time to establish a sunscreen habit to protect your skin each time you do go outside. You should also keep your face clean and well moisturized. And while we’re on the subject, refrain from picking anything on your face; nail beds are loaded with harmful bacteria.

Platelet-rich plasma contains a high concentration of platelets derived from whole blood. Also found within this treatment are eight growth factors that each support:

• Tissue repair
• Collagen synthesis
• New blood vessel growth
• Cellular turnover

On top of these skin rejuvenating benefits, the treatment also includes microneedling. This is the perfect way to prep your skin so it can drink in the platelet-rich plasma for a healthier, softer, and smoother appearance.

This aspect of treatment creates microscopic punctures in your skin. Don’t worry – these don’t cause pain or traumatize tissues, but your body does perceive them as injuries. This kicks natural healing processes into high gear, particularly the production of collagen. This in and of itself provides benefits like plumper tissues, a smoother surface, and lifting so your facial contours once more look youthful and well-defined.

Microneedling is additionally important because it creates channels. These aren’t visible, but they allow the platelet-rich plasma to work even better than it otherwise would. True skin healing occurs below the surface, where serums and moisturizers rarely reach. By targeting those underlying tissues, we’re able to provide long-lasting benefits that truly refresh your appearance.

Plasma makes your blood liquid. It has a yellowish color and contains other components like white and red blood cells. Also contained within the plasma are platelets, your blood’s front line of defense where healing is concerned. When you cut your skin and start to bleed, platelets are the first responders, forming a clot to slow blood loss and, eventually, create a scab.

Platelets are soldiers in the truest sense of the word, multi-tasking throughout the body to reduce inflammation, speed healing, and encourage the growth of collagen and elastin. These two proteins are vital in giving your face its firm, taut texture heralded as youthful. But the body can only produce so many platelets for purposes of healing. This is where treatment becomes a vital component of your beauty routine.

By drawing a sample of your own blood and separating platelets from the red and white blood cells, we’re able to get a highly concentrated formula. We then take this one step further and deliver that formula right to your face, where it can deliver incredible results in a shorter period of time.

Whereas dermal fillers – which work beautifully, by the way – contain ingredients from external sources, PRP uses your own blood. This ensures it is:

• Highly effective (your body knows how to heal itself)
• Organic
• Not likely to cause allergic reactions

We mentioned fillers just a moment ago because they, too, can plump tissues and restore contours. But they rely on lab-formulated hyaluronic acid (HA) that helps volumize and smooth. The results are great, but these treatments don’t address root concerns the way platelet-rich plasma does.

The skin undergoes a series of dramatic changes as it ages. The most visible effects are owed to diminishing levels of elastin and collagen, which cause tissues to hang more loosely. As skin sags, you look older and more fatigued than you likely are. Time also causes facial tissues to become thinner and more transparent.

Platelet-rich plasma, on the other hand, works from within to restore lost nutrients and improve oxygen delivery. Collagen production is immediately triggered. Visibly, your skin starts to tighten and a lovely pink glow spreads across your cheeks. This is owed to growth factors and an increased supply of lush blood flowing to your face, delivering nutrients even as it sweeps away toxins.

Gradual improvements rank at the top of the benefits you’ll enjoy; unlike other therapies, platelet-rich plasma takes about a month to reinvigorate your appearance. This is often much preferred to therapies that instantly plump your cheeks or erase lines, as those around you won’t even know you’ve had treatment. They’ll only notice a refreshing brightness to your complexion with softer, rounder contours.

If you’re wondering why this treatment takes time to develop, it’s because it works within the context of your body’s natural repairing processes. The good news is that as collagen and elastin ramp up, they’ll continue to deliver benefits long into the future. In addition, the tissue remodeling you’ll enjoy will gradually evolve to:

• Whisk away wrinkles
• Fade scars
• Delete lines
• Tighten skin
• Restore a healthy glow

From sun exposure and the foods we eat to air pollution and time spent in front of computers, our skin is subject to constant attack. Daily living can lead to a rough texture compounded by sunspots and other sources of discoloration. With PRP, old cells give birth to new ones to dramatically change your overall appearance; But the treatment does more than refresh tissues; it also improves skin’s overall health.

The stronger and thicker your skin is, the better protected it is from outside irritants. A robust barrier additionally helps skin retain moisture, a key element in plump tissues that radiate vibrancy.

You can see and feel the effects of dehydrated skin. It looks tired, red, and irritated. Boosting moisture levels helps you look softer and smoother as well as restore the skin’s natural bounce. As an added bonus, treatment reduces the appearance of pores to give you a more refined sheen.

We know how hard it is to slot time for yourself into an already packed schedule. This treatment requires no downtime so you can get back to your day. Simply arrive for your appointment, undergo treatment – about an hour, sometimes less – and return to the tasks you had planned. And if you’re wondering about the tiny injuries caused by microneedling, rest assured they heal as quickly as they are created.

Unlike surgery, you need to put very little effort into preparing for treatment with platelet-rich plasma. We’ll provide instructions specific to your needs during your consultation, but your attention should be focused on three key steps:

• Wear sunscreen every day in the week prior to treatment
• Drink at least eight glasses of water each day for three days
• Arrive at your session with a bare face

It’s time to get excited about a treatment that can finally help you look your best. PRP is effective, easy, and long-lasting. You’ll enjoy a more youthful appearance for nearly two years, and as the results start to fade, you need only schedule a maintenance session with our office. See what everyone’s been talking about – learn more about platelet-rich plasma by calling Inner Vitality in Bellevue, WA, today.