PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma): How Your Own Blood Repairs Your Skin

Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy has been used in orthopaedic medicine and wound healing for decades, and its application in aesthetic medicine is now supported by a substantial and growing body of research. At London & Glow, we offer PRP as part of our regenerative aesthetics programme — and specifically because it aligns with our clinical philosophy: using biological mechanisms rather than artificial materials to restore what hormonal change has diminished.

The Basic Science

When you bleed, platelets — small cell fragments in the blood — activate and release a cocktail of proteins called growth factors. These growth factors coordinate the healing response: signalling to nearby cells to proliferate, produce collagen and elastin, and lay down new structural matrix.

PRP exploits this mechanism by concentrating the platelets from a small sample of your own blood (typically 10–20ml, drawn like a standard blood test) to three to five times their normal concentration, then re-injecting this concentrated platelet preparation into the skin.

The growth factors released by the concentrated platelets include:

• Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF): stimulates fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis
• Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF-β): promotes extracellular matrix production
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF): promotes angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation)
• Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF): promotes epithelial cell proliferation

In the skin, this translates to a stimulation of collagen production, improvement in vascular supply, and enhanced tissue regeneration.

What the Evidence Shows

The evidence base for PRP in skin rejuvenation is heterogeneous — the quality of studies varies, as do the PRP preparation protocols. With those caveats noted, the overall findings are encouraging:

A 2019 meta-analysis in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (Everts et al.) reviewed 26 clinical studies of PRP for facial rejuvenation and found consistent improvements in skin texture, firmness, and patient satisfaction. Objective measures of skin quality, including collagen density assessed by ultrasound and histology, showed measurable improvement in several studies.

A 2021 randomised controlled trial compared PRP with saline injections for periocular rejuvenation and found statistically significant improvements in wrinkle depth and skin elasticity in the PRP group at three and six months.

PRP's application for androgenetic alopecia (hair thinning) is supported by stronger evidence — multiple randomised controlled trials demonstrate efficacy — which provides confidence in the underlying growth factor mechanism.

PRP and Menopausal Skin

For women navigating the skin changes of perimenopause and menopause, PRP offers a biologically congruent approach. The deficit that oestrogen decline creates — reduced fibroblast activity, diminished collagen synthesis, impaired skin regeneration — is precisely what PRP growth factors address.

There is an additional dimension worth noting: PRP is entirely autologous — it comes from your own body. There is no foreign material being introduced, no risk of allergic reaction to a product ingredient, and no concern about biological compatibility. For patients who are cautious about injectables, PRP offers a treatment whose biological building blocks are as natural as it gets.

Several studies have specifically examined PRP in older or post-menopausal patients and found that they respond well to treatment, with improvements in skin quality comparable to younger cohorts — suggesting that the growth factor mechanism operates somewhat independently of the hormonal environment.

The Treatment at London & Glow

PRP treatment at London & Glow begins with a medical consultation to assess suitability, review medical history, and discuss treatment goals.

On treatment day:

1. A small blood sample (10–20ml) is drawn from your arm

2. The sample is placed in a centrifuge and spun for approximately 10 minutes to separate and concentrate the platelets

3. Topical anaesthetic is applied to the treatment area

4. The PRP is injected into the skin using a fine needle, targeting areas of concern

Treatment typically takes 60–75 minutes in total. Some patients experience mild redness and swelling at injection sites for 24–48 hours; this resolves without intervention.

A course of three sessions spaced four to six weeks apart is typically recommended, with maintenance treatments every six to twelve months depending on individual response.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

PRP works well for patients who:

• Have visible skin thinning or loss of structural quality
• Want to avoid or reduce reliance on synthetic filler materials
• Are looking for gradual, natural-looking improvement
• Want to complement other regenerative treatments (microneedling, polynucleotides)

PRP is not appropriate for patients with active infection at the treatment site, certain bleeding disorders, platelet dysfunction, or those taking anticoagulant medications that cannot be temporarily paused.

Combining PRP with Other Treatments

PRP's effects are amplified when combined with microneedling — a combination sometimes called the "vampire facial" in popular culture, though this term does not capture the clinical rationale well. Microneedling creates micro-channels in the skin and stimulates the wound-healing response; applying PRP topically or by injection at this stage delivers concentrated growth factors directly to the activated fibroblast population.

This combination has a stronger evidence base than either treatment alone and is the approach we typically recommend for patients with significant skin quality concerns.