At Beverly Medical Center, our top priority is helping patients to enjoy their best lives at every stage of life. We offer a full spectrum of proven integrative care and treatments, from preventative care to nutritional and lifestyle strategies. We believe that the combined effects allow individuals to enjoy the best quality of life as they age.
But what about cosmetic concerns, like wrinkles or sun spots or thinning hair? Many patients had come to us seeking advice on safe and effective aesthetic treatment options. As an integrative practice, we couldn’t endorse treatments that ran counter to our healing philosophy.
With Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapies, we found an option that stimulates rejuvenation by harnessing the body’s own healing power.
Platelet-Rich Plasma: The Latest in Healing, Recovery, and Beauty
BMC founder Dr. Beverly Goode-Kanawati had followed developments in aesthetic treatments for years. To her, the treatments always seemed to be procedures or practices that seemed to do more harm than good. They “burn, disrupt collagen, involve injections of chemicals and foreign substances, some of them include many toxins.”
But once she discovered Platelet-rich Plasma treatments, she knew she’d found a therapy that fit and that worked!
PRP offers an all-natural, hypoallergenic alternative to injectables that freeze the face or to artificial fillers; PRP facial treatment can improve wrinkles, scarring, photo-aging, lax skin, and more. All done by using the patient’s own blood to help the skin revive, lift, and become more youthful.
As a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M), Nurse Practitioner, Sandra Britt, MS, APRN, ANP-C, has a special focus on anti-aging wellness and extensive experience delivering PRP treatments. When providing PRP facial rejuvenation, Sandy strives to deliver the best end-to-end experience. Thus starting with a thorough assessment and preparation instructions before the treatment visit even begins.
The PRP Facial Experience
How PRP is Done – First Step
First, we create “potion” by drawing a small amount of blood. Then the blood is spun in a centrifuge to separate it into its different components, and then concentrating the platelets. Platelets contain a number of growth factors that spur a healing reaction that continues for weeks and even months.
Facial Prep then Micro-needling
Sandy first delivers a facial massage and applies a topical numbing cream. She applies the platelet “potion” to the face, neck, and décolletage for micro-needling. These micro-needles produce a healing reaction. Then, when the Platelet Rich Plasma is applied into the micro-channels, the skin rejuvenates even more.
After the micro-needling, treatment includes targeted injections of PRP into areas of focus. Areas such as marionette lines, crows’ feet, or even the eyelids to reduce some of the sagging that occurs over time. We have also begun to use targeted injections at the hairline and scalp to stimulate hair regrowth and rejuvenation of thinning hair, while avoiding the use of surgery or long-term medication.
Treatment can cause some redness and swelling, which typically resolves within hours. We provide soothing topical after-care products and anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory supplements. Our comprehensive approach ensures that patients get the most benefits, in the safest and most relaxing environment possible.
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A PRP facial rejuvenation treatment can cause noticeable improvement in skin texture, tone, and brightness immediately. However, you also see increasing rejuvenation for four to six weeks post-treatment. Many individuals experience such significant improvements that they can forgo other, more invasive strategies like medication and surgery.
Before and After Photos of PRP Facial Treatment
How does PRP compare?
“Beth”, one of our first patients to do a PRP facial with us, is an attractive woman in her mid-60s. She loves clothes and looking great, but laughingly admits that she was a sun worshipper in her younger days.
Beth had tried a variety of aesthetic and antiwrinkle approaches over the years, including two early face lifts for loose skin. She tried a “miserable” phenol peel 20 years ago for sun damage, which burned off a layer of her skin. Then also claimed to purchase every expensive product out there to help.
She didn’t want to do fillers, and with PRP, she didn’t need to. Beth noticed a significant reduction in wrinkles after her first PRP treatment, and two years later, remains delighted with a regimen that leaves her looking well rested and better, but in a subtle way. And her twice-annual PRP facials now constitute her primary skincare routine. “It costs the same as all the expensive products I was trying before, but this actually works!” she marvels.
Expanding What We do with PRP
PRP Facial Rejuvenation therapy is yet another example of how we blend critical basic understanding of products and procedures with expanding knowledge, always with the goal of enhancing the health of each and all of our patients. We invite you to contact us to learn more about how an integrative approach can help you to age and live well—feeling and looking your best, from the inside out.
Learn more about our PRP Facial Rejuvenation Service Here.
Originally published in Health & Healing in the Triangle, Vol. 21, No. 6, Health & Healing, Inc., Chapel Hill, NC, publishers.
