The field of aesthetic medicine is thriving

Today, there are more options than ever before when it comes to taking care of your skin, and aging well. However, many techniques rely on invasive surgical procedures, or the use of foreign substances such as dermal fillers and threads, toxins. For some of us, these interventions may feel too drastic, or we simply don’t like the idea of a foreign substance in our body.

Whatever your reason may be, there are more natural options available, such as facials, laser techniques, micro-needling, facial acupuncture, platelet-rich plasma and platelet-rich fibrin injections, which may jive with your personal skin philosophy.

What is Platelet-Rich Fibrin?

Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) has emerged as a useful and effective technique in aesthetic medicine. And unlike many other techniques, it is considered to be a completely natural substance - there are no additives, toxins, or foreign bodies added. PRF utilizes components of your own blood - platelets and fibrin - without the addition of any foreign substance.

PRF is injected into specific areas to provide a three-dimensional scaffold to create volume within the face. Fibrin acts as a mesh for the platelets to adhere to; together they gradually release growth factors and interleukins, stimulating cellular migration and proliferation, resulting in the healing of facial tissue. (1) This process also leads to a restoration of facial volume. PRF has previously been used in wound healing (1), dental surgery (2), and bone grafting (3) with excellent results.

What Can I Expect?

Prior to the treatment, your blood will be drawn and processed by your Naturopathic Doctor. Your Naturopathic Doctor may anesthetize certain areas of your face, via either topical anesthetic or an injection. The PRF solution will then be injected using a cannula into the desired treatment areas.

Side effects are generally minimal and transient. Mild bruising, pain, and swelling is expected for 3 to 4 days. It may take up to 3 treatments to achieve the desired result. Your Doctor will re-evaluate after 8-12 weeks to determine if another treatment is required.

Who is a Candidate For This Treatment?

If you are looking for a treatment to increase facial volume, but are hesitant to have any synthetically-derived substance utilized in a facial treatment, such as fillers, PRF may be the ideal treatment for you. Your own blood is utilized, without the risk of activating your immune system or adverse reaction. It is an ideal treatment if there are concerns of:

• Facial volume loss
• Thinning or darkening of the under-eye area

Who is NOT a Candidate For This Treatment?

PRF does rely on healthy platelet levels and clotting mechanisms. For this reason, patients who are on anti-clotting medication, have liver disease, or are currently in treatment for cancer, are not candidates for this treatment.

Let your Doctor know if you are taking any medications or supplements that may increase bruising, such as fish oil, ginkgo, and certain Chinese herbal formulation. They may recommend you discontinue these, if possible, leading up to your treatment. It is also recommended that you avoid alcohol for at least 3 days before and after the treatment.

For best results, your Doctor may recommend that you take supportive supplements or intravenous treatments, leading up to and after the treatment. They may also recommend homeopathic formulas to decrease swelling and bruising.

Are you interested in learning more about Platelet-Rich Fibrin, click here to book your consultation with one of our experienced Naturopathic Doctors today!

---

REFERENCES

1. Maniyar N, Sarode GS, Sarode SC, Shah J. Platelet-Rich fibrin: A “wonder material” in advanced surgical dentistry. Med J DY Patil Vidyapeeth [serial online] 2018 [cited 2019 Oct 2];11:287-90. Available from: http://www.mjdrdypv.org/text.asp?2018/11/4/287/238169

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3740636/

3. https://www.intechopen.com/books/bone-grafting-recent-advances-with-special-references-to-cranio-maxillofacial-surgery/the-use-of-platelet-rich-fibrin-in-bone-grafting