Aesthetic Medicine > Aesthetic Treatments > Autologous Bio-Cellular (ABC) Regeneration with Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

Autologous Bio-Cellular (ABC) Regeneration with Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

It is a bio-stimulation technique using the patient’s own platelets to regenerate aged and damaged tissue. There is an increasing trend in using concentrated platelets to facilitate healing in a number of areas including dentistry, neuro-surgery, wound healing, and orthopedics. More recently, it is also used for rejuvenating purpose in cosmetic dermatology.

A basic understanding of the components within blood is important to understanding the therapeutic value of PRP. Blood normally contains 93% red blood cells, 6% platelets, and 1% white blood cells.

Blood = Plasma + red blood cells (RBCs) + white blood cells (WBCs) + platelets

Plasma - made mostly of water and acts as the transporter
RBC - carries oxygen to the cells
WBC - fights infection
Platelet - helps hemostasis (stops bleeding), construction of new tissue, and re-vascularization of injured area (new blood vessels in injured area)

Because of the different weights, sizes, and densities of RBCs, WBCs, and platelets, it is possible to separate them into different portions. RBCs are the heaviest, and so will sink to the bottom after centrifugation (spinning) of the blood sample.

The concept behind PRP is to take out as many platelets as possible in a small volume of plasma, among with the least number of other cells such as RBCs and WBCs. In other words, it is a super-concentrated platelets-in-plasma. The percentage of platelets in a PRP sample will be well over 90%.

Why Platelets?

Platelets play a significant role in the healing of tissue. They contain at least seven different growth factors that stimulate soft tissue healing, such as:

• PDGF (platelet-derived growth factor)
• TGF-β (transforming growth factor)
• VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor)
• EGF (epithelial growth factor)
• IGF (insulin-like growth factor)
• PRP also includes fibrin, fibronectin and vitronectin, which are proteins known to act as cell adhesion molecules.

How PRP is Prepared?

Platelet-rich plasma therapy is an outpatient procedure. The patient’s blood is drawn and placed in a centrifuge separating the components of the blood. 

Take blood

Centrifugation

The RBCs at the bottom are discarded. The plasma is now rich in platelets, and is separated via the centrifuge and withdrawn for the procedure.

Platelet-rich Plasma therapy is considered safe because the blood used for the procedure is autologous, i.e. taken directly from the patient (no risk of rejection).

There are many types of kits available for this preparation. The secret of these kits over a plan tube is that they will help to separate the RBCs and platelets better, so that more platelets are taken out, and the concentration is higher.

Physiological Effects of Autologous PRP

• Release of growth factors
• Attract stem cells
• Encourage stem cell proliferation / differentiation
• Increase tissue regeneration
• Decrease inflammation
• Increase collagen
• Increase bone density

PRP can be used topically together with Fractional CO2 Laser or Micro-Needle Therapy, and “pushed” in by cryo-electroporation. It can also be injected directly into the skin as intra-dermal or hypo-dermal injections.

PRP can also be combined with other ingredients such as hyaluronic acid to obtain an even better result.

More recently, advances are made where the platelet-poor portion of plasma is warmed up, so that it becomes a semi-solid gelatin form (like heating up egg-white). It is then injected as a filler, which creates a tissue volume and acts as a scaffolding for the PRP to build effects on.
 

Contra-indications of PRP Therapy

• Dysfunctional platelets or severe deficiency in platelets number
• Bleeding problems, or anti-coagulation therapy
• Chronic liver problems
• Acute or chronic infection.