Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy - The Secret To Youthful, Beautiful Skin Lies Within

Platelet-Rich Plasma - healing the skin with the body's natural powers of rejuvenation 

I have always considered one of the top functions of cosmetic medicine being the harnessing of the body's own healing and restorative processes to rejuvenate the skin. Laser treatments, for example, selectively wound the skin to encourage the skin to produce new skin in its' place. Skin creams and treatments are also designed to help boost and support the skin's natural healing and renewal processes. 

What is Platelet-Rich Plasma?

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is another example of a medical technique that is being used to improve the skin using the natural, healing components of the body. This treatment is also known as a Vampire Facelift. 

This treatment has been used for many years to help heal wounds and encourage quicker healing, for example in athletes suffering from sports injuries. Tiger Woods, the world's number one golfer, used PRP therapy to recover quickly from knee surgery. PRP also has a long history in the treatment of surgical recovery, bone cancer, ulcers, and torn ligaments, and there have been reported successes in a large variety of other conditions. 

In recent years, PRP therapy was introduced as a method of rejuvenation for the skin, helping to accelerate normal cell renewal and healing processes by stimulating collagen formation, revascularization (increasing blood supply) and repair. Using your own blood means that there is no risk of adverse reactions to the treatment. PRP can also be used as a 'natural filler' to help restore volume where necessary. 

How does PRP benefit the skin?

Blood contains platelets, which helps to clot the blood and repair damaged areas in the body. Platelets also release growth factors to stimulate the growth of new, healthy tissue. When PRP is injected into the skin, it activates dermal fibroblasts, a skin component that plays a key role in maintaining skin integrity and youthfulness, causing the synthesis of cell-renewal ingredients such as collagen, adhesive molecules and cytokines. It has also been shown to be effective in the treatment of wrinkles and for skin rejuvenation due to its growth factor activity. Read more about this research here.

A study done by doctors Alessio Redaelli, Domenico Romano and Antonio Marciano from Milan,Italy, and published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, May 2010, showed that Platelet-Rich Plasma treatment improved skin wrinkles, texture, elasticity, volume and skin tone. Patients reported an 82% improvement in skin tone, 52% improvement in wrinkle appearance, 87% improvement in general appearance, and 100% satisfaction with the treatment outcomes. 

Here are some photos of their findings from this study:

Before and after PRP treatments, showing improvement in texture, skin tone and colour. 

Before and after PRP treatment, showing scar revision. 

These photos, below,  are from a clinical study done in Munich, Germany by S. Zenker and published in a paper entitled 'Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for Facial Rejuvenation', and shows how PRP can be used for skin rejuvenation for patients of any age and skin condition. 

How is the treatment performed?

The PRP treatment involves drawing your own blood from the veins in your arm. This blood is then placed in a centrifuge, which spins at high speed to separate the platelets from the other blood components.   

The platelet-rich plasma is then injected into the face in multiple injections. Each injection helps to spread the PRP into all areas of the face, while causing a small damage to encourage rejuvenation. PRP can also be used to rejuvenate the neck, decolletage and hands. PRP is also successfully being used as a hair loss remedy.

Kim Kardashian posted this picture of herself after PRP. As you can see, Kim's skin is glowing with youth and vitality!

Post-Treatment

You can see the benefits of the treatment from the second week, although repeat treatments are necessary for best results. A package of 6 treatments at 1 monthly intervals will give you excellent results. Results are gradual and the skin will continue to improve as the process of renewal can go on for up to a year after the treatment. A combination therapy together with fractional laser treatments can help to further improve and accelerate the rate of rejuvenation.

Safety and Results

The treatment is very safe as there is no risk of any allergy or reaction to the materials being injected. The skin is being encouraged to renew itself, so you will merely have better, firmer skin, but there is no chance of looking 'fixed' or 'unnatural'. It is particularly beneficial for the eye area, helping to improve dark circles and eye bags. It is also great for fine lines and wrinkles, and gives the complexion an overall youthful glow and uplifted appearance.    

If you're wondering how the platelets, which are already present in the body, can provide any further benefits by being re-injected, the important thing to know is that the process of injection is creating micro-wounds so that the body's wound-healing process is activated. The concentrated platelets injected into the area help to improve the process, and by doing so, all the skin's internal components are also being boosted. With regular maintenance and proper care, the skin can potentially be rejuvenated so the aging process is prevented for longer. 

--- Cosmetic Medicine, MD

Dr. Liow Tiong Sin is an aesthetic practitioner who practices in Kuala Lumpur and Melaka, Malaysia. He has more than 12 years of expertise with non-surgical cosmetic treatments, and conducts training courses for other doctors from all around Asia. 
To connect with Dr. Liow, Like Cosmedmd's Facebook page, visit Beverly Wilshire Medical Centre's website at http://www.beverlywilshiremedical.com or drop him an email at cosmedmd@gmail.com

Just the Facts - About Weight Loss

I'm starting a new series of posts entitled Just the Facts, to present bite-sized facts about various topics in cosmetic medicine. Got a topic you'd like me to address? Contact details are down below! 

Today's topic is about weight loss. So many people are fighting obesity today, and despite the many success stories, countless books, endless magazine articles, it seems weight loss, dieting and slimming remain a problem and concern for so many people. If you are struggling with weight control and want to take control of your health problems, too, its important to recognize that healthy weight loss is possible, but requires commitment, dedication and perseverance. Instead on focusing on slim-fit jeans, think about how you want to feel when you can walk up a hill without being breathless, or if you'd like to be able to chase after your grandchildren without worrying about a heart attack! If you're serious about getting healthy and gaining a better lifestyle through weight control, do read on for some tips on gaining a healthy lifestyle. 

Just the Facts - About Weight Loss 

Read more »

How To Avoid An Infection At The Nail Salon

Getting a mani-pedi seems to be getting very common nowadays, with nail salons cropping up everywhere you look. While beautiful nails are an important part of many womens' beauty regimes, it can be a hidden hotbed for infections. There are many documented cases of bacterial and fungal infections transmitted during nail treatments, and even deadly diseases such hepatitis B and disfiguring flesh-eating staphylococcus infections. 

If you can't live without your routine nail polish touch-up, here are some tips to ensure you stay safe and healthy when you visit your favorite manicurist:

Read more »

Do You Have Dry Skin? Top Five Causes Of Dry Skin

Dry skin conditions often contribute to irritated, sensitive skin, and can lead to premature aging symptoms such as wrinkles and a dull complexion. 

If your skin often feels rough and dry, consider if these factors may be the cause:


Read more »

Hyaluronic Acid - Every Skin's Best Friend

If you keep your ears to the ground in beauty matters, the ingredient hyaluronic acid should be something that is familiar to you. Often touted as a "fountain of youth" component of skincare, hyaluronic acid can be found in skin lotions, creams, serums, and is used as an injectable dermal filler, but what exactly is it? 

Read more »

How Bad Is It To Sleep With Your Makeup On?

Journalist Anna Pursglove of MailOnline.com took up the challenge to not wash off her makeup for 30 days. By the third day of the experiment, her skin felt dry and taut and tiny white cysts had started to form around her eyelashes. In a week, her skin had become flaky and lumpy, and her friends commented that she looked tired. By the end of the month, she had visibly blocked and enlarged pores all over her nose, dry skin across her lips and cheeks, and red eyelids, and her eyelashes had developed dandruff.

Read more »

Getting Botox or Fillers From A Salon or Spa? Here's what you should consider..

It is getting quite common for beauty salons and spas to offer injectable treatments such as Botox and dermal fillers to customers who frequent their premises. They also have special events that they organize to attract their customers to a Botox party or event to which a doctor may be invited. If you are tempted to try a discounted session of Botox or fillers at a beauty salon or spa, here are some things you must consider beforehand:

Read more »

Which Kind Of Under-Eye Circles Do You Have?

Dark circles are a common beauty problem, but not all under-eye circles are created equal. The color of your dark circles can help you decide what kind of treatment is most effective for your condition.

Read more »

Is Skincare Enough? The Truth About Skin Care and Aging

The amount of skin care products available on the market is staggering, with existing brands releasing new ranges all the time, and new brands coming on to the market everyday. They are marketed for acne-prone, mature age, pigmented, oily, sensitive, combination skin, in too many varieties to count, each marketing a special ingredient or function. I know that when my wife visits the cosmetics and skin care counters, I'd better get a comfortable place to sit because it will be a long wait as she goes through her many options!

As an aesthetic practitioner, skin care is my expertise, so it is not unusual that I am asked this question: If I take care of my skin and have a good skin care regimen, am I doing enough for my skin to help it age well?

Read more »

Is Water Intake Important For Skin Health and Beauty?

We all know the rules for beautiful, clear skin. Apply plenty of sunblock. Cleanse well. Get plenty of sleep and drink your 8 glasses of water per day. But how essential is drinking plenty of water for beautiful skin?

Water's importance in maintaining proper health is indisputable. 70% of the body is made up of water, and it is a vital component of any healthy diet. So many of the body's functions require water: it keeps your bowels regular, flushes toxins from your body and energizes your muscles.

 

Read more »

Sleeping Well Actually Helps You Look Well - Study Finds Link Between Beauty Sleep and Facial Appearance

We're all familiar with the term beauty sleep, but most of us think the effects of sleep-deprivation are minimal or temporary. A study by researchers at the University Hospitals Case Medical Center evaluated the skin of 60 women aged 30-49 years of age, and found that those who rated their quality of nightly sleep to be poor actually had increased signs of skin deterioration and aging. Their skin also showed a decreased ability to recover from environmental factors such as wounds and sun damage. 
Read more »

Thread Lifts - The No-Surgery Face Lifting Alternative

A surgical facelift is no longer the only option for lifting and contouring a face. Besides the use of neuromodulators such as Botox and Dysport to relax hyperactive muscles and dermal fillers to plump up lost volume, skin tightening lasers and radio-frequency treatments are also great ways to fight the effects of gravity and collagen degeneration. 

Thread lifts, often refered to as brand names such as Silhouette Lift, Contour Lift or Happy Lift, are another important method that is gaining in popularity and efficacy. Also known as suture lifts, thread lifts involve the use of threads or sutures made from the same materials used in surgery to close wounds. When placed under the skin, they can be used to tighten and volumize areas of the skin that are loose or sagging. Much like suspension cables, they are designed to hold up the skin in place, and provide a supportive structure that defies the effects of gravity and aging.

Read more »

How to be Beautiful - Finding Your Facial Harmony

If you ask a person why they would consider plastic surgery or cosmetic treatments, usually they will tell you they dislike their nose, or wish they had bigger eyes, or want to change their chin. Some would ask for Angelina Jolie's lips or Scarlett Johannsen's nose, thinking that the fuller lips or perkier nose would make them more beautiful. 

Yet study after study has failed to identify the 'Perfect' nose or chin or lips, because it is not the specific shape or size of each facial feature that makes a face attractive, it is how all of those features harmonize with each other. This is the study of facial harmonics, or profiloplasty. By improving the harmony of facial features in relation to each other, we can improve an individual's features so they look like themselves, but more aesthetically pleasing.

Read more »

Eating Well To Look Well

True or false : your diet affects the aging of your skin. Answer: True!

An article from Prime Journal by Howard A. Epstein, PhD, titled "The Effect of Diet and Nutrition on the Skin" showed that diet greatly affected the ability of the body to defend itself from oxidative stress.


An apple a day keeps the wrinkles at bay ...

Our skin naturally produces compounds that protect us from free radical damage. Oxidative stress UV rays, however, break down the antioxidant compounds, so the body has to produce more to replace them. Wrinkling, acne, hyperpigmentation, dry skin and poor wound healing are just some of the long-term effects from oxidative stress. The body needs many compounds such as vitamin C, retinol, and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and zinc to fight against skin damage and aging.

A study was conducted among individuals from various ethnic groups, from different countries, to examine if there was any relationship between their diet and the condition of their skin. The study showed that a diet high in green leafy vegetables, fruits, and legumes gave great protection against oxidative skin damage. Plant foods often possess anti-inflammatory properties, and have been shown to boost the immune system as well as replenish antioxidants. Foods such as tea, apples, onions, garlic and eggplant were found to be associated with reduced wrinkle formation, whereas a diet high in dairy products, fat, meats and sugar was found to be associated with wrinkle development.

Olive oil, legumes, fish, vegetables and cereal foods were some of the foods eaten by the group with the best skin aging profile.
Mice studies have also shown that a diet high in green tea could inhibit cell damage from UVB radiation, preventing the formation of cancerous skin cells and regulating cell function at the DNA level.

Our choice of foods have been shown to impact the health of the body as a whole, but it is less well understood that skin aging and damage can be affected as well. Rather than expensive lotions and treatments, the secret to a youthful look may well be no further than what's on your plate!

-- CosMed, MD  

Dr. Liow Tiong Sin is an aesthetic practitioner who practices in Kuala Lumpur and Melaka, Malaysia. He has more than 12 years of expertise with non-surgical cosmetic treatments, and  conducts training courses for other doctors from all around Asia. To connect with Dr. Liow, Like Cosmedmd's Facebook page. or email. 

Laser Facials - The Future Of Skincare

Jennifer Aniston keeps her skin youthful
 with laser facial treatments

Laser facials have been getting a lot of attention in the press of late, after Jennifer Aniston publicly announced that they are the reason she looks closer to 25 than her real age of 43. Other celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Courteney Cox have also been quoted in the media talking about procedures such as Fraxel as part of their beauty maintenance regimes.  

Much as the regular visit to beauty salons for a facial rejuvenating mask and steam session was the norm in previous years, the trend today is for doctors to offer lower-powered, no-downtime laser sessions that can deliver on all of those spa treatments' promises of anti-aging, skin beautifying and rejuvenation. These laser facials are designed to fill the gap in your skincare regime, when you don't necessarily need or want a full laser resurfacing, but would like improvement on the limited results you get from skincare, spa and salon treatments.

Read more »

BBL Keeps You Forever Young

 

Scientifically Proven Way Of Reversing The Aging Process

Before - Age 43. After - Age 55. BBL treatments have been shown to reverse the appearance of aging skin




Mankind has been searching for the secret to eternal youth without success for millienia, but a new study has found an aesthetic treatment that may actually deliver. A new study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2013) has shown that BBL (Broadband Light) treatments are able to change the gene expression of skin cells so they are rejuvenated and act like younger cells.

While most aesthetic treatments can only help to mimic the appearance of youthful skin, BBL treatments are the first to be a proven functional anti-aging therapy, where the process of aging is actually reversed and the skin is able to be renewed and rejuvenated from within.
Read more »

What You Need To Know About Cosmetic Lasers

What You Need To Know About Cosmetic Lasers -

10 Common Myths  About Laser Treatments

Many of my patients are new to the concept of cosmetic lasers, and are understandably concerned about their use. They have heard so much about the potential of lasers to damage and permanently scar the skin, and often are swayed by claims made in the media and advertising about the ability of various creams or beauty treatments to replace the effects of laser treatments. Here I have listed some of the common misconceptions about cosmetic laser treatments, and I hope to help dispel some of these common myths.

Read more »

Botox and You Infographic

Here is an interesting infographic produced by the American Academy of Procedural Medicine (AAOPM) that explains about the many applications of Botox, and what to expect during a treatment.

Read more »

How To Avoid Botox - Prevent Wrinkles With A Healthy Lifestyle

Can skincare help you avoid Botox? Not as much as lifestyle choices

I was recently asked to contribute some quotes for a local magazine, and one of the questions the reporter asked was, 'how early in age would women have to begin using anti-aging skin products so they could avoid the need for treatments such as Botox.' I think this question is very interesting, because it shows that many people are unaware of the ongoing effects of environment and lifestyle choices on their skin.

Many people only start worrying about wrinkles in their thirties, when the stresses of hectic, active or unhealthy lifestyles start showing up in the form of dull skin or fine lines on previously pristine complexions. By their forties, the damage would have worsened enough that indeed, Botox, lasers and skin tightening therapies would be a god-send. Applying anti-aging products at that stage may not be enough to reverse or delay the damage that was already done. 

Should women be using anti-aging skincare in their teens and twenties to prevent effects of aging in later years? Anti-aging creams and lotions have certainly improved vastly in previous years, and many have proven skin smoothing and tightening qualities, but most are designed to replenish and boost insufficient collagen production, which is not a concern in such a young age. Others contain retinoids, which work by encouraging the rate of exfoliation and skin renewal, also not a concern when the skin is young and healthy and able to renew itself naturally. These anti-aging skin products are mainly focused at the 30s to 40s age group, when natural skin rejuvenation qualities of the skin have been compromised or decreased as part of the aging process.

Skincare products can be helpful but should not be the key focus when the goal is to prevent signs of premature aging. Aging is a process that begins as early as birth, and some scientists even argue it is a process that commences at the moment of conception. The key building block of healthy skin, collagen, declines at a rate of about 1% per year, so a 30 year old woman will have lost about 30% of her collagen, although these factors, as outlined below, may cause that rate of deterioration to be accelerated. 

Read more »

Survey Shows Botox Patients Look 5 - 6 Years Younger After Treatment

A recent study done by Allergan, the company that markets Botox, surveyed patients who received Botox treatments and asked them to assess themselves for improvement in their appearance. 

In most clinical studies, doctors are the ones who assess the results of treatments, but this study focused on the self-perception of age (SPA) of patients. The questionnaire was given to participants both just before their treatment, and one month after one Botox session. Patients were asked to describe their features in terms of looking their current age, younger than their current age, or older than their current age.

At the follow-up, most of the 249 patients surveyed felt they looked an average 5 - 6 years younger than they did before their treatment. The study also found that patients who received Botox in more than one area felt they looked better overall, as stress shows on many areas of the face, such as the forehead, eyes, frown lines and lines around the mouth. 

In my practice, I often recommend patients to allow treatment not just in areas where their wrinkles are deep and obvious, but I also suggest adding a few tiny injections all over the forehead and other areas. This tends to give a subtle, undefined gentle lifting effect, that is more harmonious and acceptable to the patient. 

If you have had Botox treatments, did your doctor treat your wrinkles specifically, and did the outcome meet your expectations? Do you think your Botox treatment met your desired anti-aging goals?

- Cosmetic Medicine, MD

Dr. Liow Tiong Sin is an aesthetic practitioner who practices in Kuala Lumpur and Melaka, Malaysia. He has more than 12 years of expertise with non-surgical cosmetic treatments, and  conducts training courses for other doctors from all around Asia. To connect with Dr. Liow, Like Cosmedmd's Facebook page. medical centre website or email. 

Cellulite Treatments - Is A Permanent Solution Available?

Cellulite, also known as adiposis edematosa or orange peel syndrome, is a natural occurring condition that affects up to 90% of women, and can occur anywhere on the body from the arms, abdominal and back areas, but is most common on the buttock and thigh areas. Sedentary lifestyles combined with unhealthy diets as well as practices such as smoking and tanning can exacerbate the appearance of cellulite. Genetics and hormonal changes also appear to be an important factor, as healthy, fit and active women do report having cellulite even from ages as young as their 20s. 


There are many treatments that can, however, give on-going improvements and can potentially prevent a worsening of the existing condition. 


There is no treatment available that can cure cellulite permanently, as it is an on-going effect of the natural bodily processes. But there are treatments that can significantly improve it's appearance. 

Read more »