A Blood Facial is simply the combination of PRP and a microneedling treatment. PRP refers to platelet-rich plasma, which is a natural component of the blood. Platelets in the bloodstream are the components that allow the flow of blood to clot from a wound. After the clot has developed, the enzymes that are contained within these platelets are then released. Stem cells are drawn into the area to facilitate with tissue regeneration and repair the damage to the area. These stem cells are the keys to providing more youthful looking skin, as they are responsible for creating new collagen and elastin.

Due to the high concentration of growth elements in PRP, its regenerative properties have been used to benefit other medical branches for decades. PRP has been used to increase wound healing from major surgeries such as facial surgery, cardiovascular surgery, and soft tissue ulcers. It is also commonly used to heal torn ligaments in athletes, as well as other conditions of the joints for many others. PRP has also been proven to reduce the effects of age-related and pattern hair loss as well.

Many non-surgical treatments are only able to address one layer of skin at a time. The microneedling + PRP combination is notable in that it is able to address two layers of the skin simultaneously – both above and below. The punctures created by microneedling allow the plasma to seep into the miniature wounds that have been created, causing the deeper layers to absorb the plasma and reap its benefits, while still being able to affect the outermost layers of skin where it was originally applied.

While microneedling is already a non-invasive procedure without much downtime, the healing benefits of PRP speed up the recovery process even more. Collagen remodeling occurs at a faster pace, which not only reduces the amount of time of the normal swelling/redness after the procedure, but also allows the wounds from the microneedling to repair themselves in less time. While the healing process doesn’t require downtime even without PRP, the faster healing period granted with PRP makes it a convenient option for those with busy, fast-paced schedules who wish to speed up the initial period of redness and swelling.

Studies have shown results that PRP works especially well in regards to acne scars due the PRP’s healing process breaking up the older scar tissue and replacing it with a new restructuring of the collagen that is closer in construction to the skin’s natural appearance. Case studies have shown increased results when microneedling is done in conjunction with PRP when compared with only microneedling alone.

Because PRP is able to treat both the outer and inner layers of skin, the Blood Facial is able to treat many conditions. Some of the most common uses are for:

Wrinkles/fine lines

Sun damage

Acne Scars

Even skin tone/complexion

Hollowness & loss of volume

Due to it being natural, a growing number of patients have been receiving this treatment at younger ages in order to maintain their appearance before the effects of wrinkles and sun damage start to set in and pile up over the years. The Blood Facial thus has the benefit of being able to treat existing conditions, as well as preventing the onset of these effects as well.

For maximum results, it is highly recommended to have 3 treatments spaced out 1 month apart between each. This ensures that the skin has enough time to heal between treatments while allowing enough PRP to get absorbed by the skin which ensures longevity with results.

Some patients like to combine PRP and Botox by receiving their Blood Facial a couple weeks after their initial Botox treatment. The PRP reduces the magnitude of lines that have already been set in the face while the Botox helps limit the amount of facial movement in the forehead, frown lines, and crow’s feet to further delay the onset of expression lines.

At the start of your procedure, topical anesthetic will be applied to your face. This anesthetic will sit in your face for about 30-45 minutes. During this time, a blood draw will be performed from your arm. After the blood is drawn, a centrifuge is used to separate the plasma from the red blood cells and generate the PRP. The separation process takes about 10 minutes and happens while the anesthetic is still on your face. During this time, we will also assess your face in order to determine the key injection areas for the PRP.

After the allotted time has passed, the micro-needling procedure is then carried out using the PRP generated from the patient’s blood as a glide to help facilitate treatment as well as penetrate the PRP into the skin and dermis. Although the face is numb during the procedure due to the anesthetic, you can still have a slight sensation of the microneedling; however, many patients report that this feeling is very tolerable, and not nearly as bad as what they were initially expecting. Some occasional blood drippage can happen in some areas of the face and is normal. The PRP may additionally be injected with a needle in areas that need specific induction of collagen such as under the eyes in the tear troughs or the nasolabial folds/marionette lines (smile lines).

After the micro-needling has been completed, you will then receive aftercare instructions on how to care for your face during the recovery process. Dr. Behroozan also has medical-grade moisturizer and sunscreen that are both free from active ingredients. These products are available for purchase at his office for your convenience. You can begin to use these products immediately after treatment. The Blood Facial is an outpatient procedure, and patients are able to drive themselves back home immediately after.

Immediately after your treatment is over, your face will have some slight redness; however, contrary to popular belief, your face will not be drenched in red blood at the end of the procedure. This is because the red blood cells are separated from the PRP, so that only the plasma, which is clearer in color, is applied to your face. The famous images you may have seen of celebrities where faces are covered in red blood are due to the full blood sample with the red blood cells being applied to the face or when micro needling is performed without the use of PRP. There is no benefit to having the red blood cells applied with this treatment, and thus they are not used during a Blood Facial.

One of the biggest advantages of the Blood Facial is that the downtime is minimal. Slight swelling, bruising, inflammation, and redness are possible short-term side effects and should be expected. These side effects are similar to a mild sunburn and generally wear off on their own within 2-3 days. Because PRP is derived from your own blood, there is no risk of certain concerns such as allergic reactions and cross-contamination.

For the first few days after treatment, moisturizer and sunscreen should be the only products that are applied to your face. Apart from these two products, the face needs to remain totally bare while the healing process is starting. No makeup should be worn, and any skincare routines you normally apply should be paused during this time. After a few days have passed, you can gradually begin to apply makeup again. Until the skin is fully healed, it is also recommended to avoid activities that cause heavy sweating and heat production such as working out.

Because the recovery process involves healing a wound, results from a Blood Facial will progress over the course of a month. The Microneedling and PRP produce new collagen, new cells, and new blood vessels in the skin which does take time to be produced by the body; however, since this is your skin’s own work and not an external substance being added, results are often long-lasting when a full series of 3 treatments is completed.