PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, uses a small sample of your own blood, spun to concentrate the platelets and the growth factors they contain, which is then injected into the tissue being treated. Sage Dermatology offers PRP at our clinic at Yonge and Wellesley in downtown Toronto.
How it is prepared
Blood is drawn at the start of the appointment, as for a routine test, and spun in a centrifuge for several minutes to separate the plasma and its concentrated platelets from the red cells. The preparation is done in the clinic and used within the same visit. Because the material is your own, allergic reaction is not a concern. Preparation methods differ between clinics, and that variation is one reason published results differ.
What we use it for
PRP is used at the clinic for skin quality and for hair treatment. On the skin it addresses texture, fine crepey lines and overall dullness, and it is often paired with microneedling or radiofrequency microneedling in the same session, where the channels created by the needles let the plasma reach the dermis directly. For treatment of the under-eye area and the face specifically, see our page on PRP for the face and under eyes.
What the evidence supports
PRP is worth being straightforward about. The published evidence for skin quality and texture is reasonable but not dramatic, and results are gradual and cumulative rather than striking. If you are expecting the effect of filler or of a resurfacing laser, PRP is not that, and we would rather set the expectation before you book than after.
What to expect
A visit takes about an hour including the draw and preparation. Expect redness and some swelling for one to three days. A course of three treatments spaced four to six weeks apart is typical, with maintenance once or twice a year. Results build over two to three months as new collagen forms.
Cost and coverage
PRP is cosmetic and not covered by OHIP. Cost depends on the areas treated and the number of sessions, and is confirmed at consultation. We provide receipts for health spending accounts.
Booking
No referral is needed. Call 416.792.0159 or email info@sagedermatology.ca. Sage Dermatology is at 591 Yonge Street, Units 202 and 203, steps from Wellesley subway station, with underground parking on Gloucester Street. Plan your visit.