Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF)
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and Platelet-Rich Fibrin(PRF) have a long history of being used in orthopedic medicine, dentistry and reconstructive surgery, and now its benefits are being applied to other fields of medicine such as dermatology, skin wound healing, cosmetic facial rejuvenation and hair loss. Studies dating back 30 years have documented PRP/PRF grows new collagen when injected into the skin, and newer studies show that it can treat sun damage and aging skin issues
About PRP and PRF
PRP and PRF therapy is a treatment that harnesses your body's own healing and regeneration processes. PRP and PRF's medicinal effect originates from a multitude of growth factors and signalling molecules found in platelets and blood plasma. The next-generation Arthrex® PRP system allows simple preparation of pure, organix and clinically evaluated PRP and PRF without the use of synthetic additives.
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Arthrex® ACP® is the ONLY all-in-one closed system available in Canada for both PRP and PRF production and the Aviva Medical Aesthetics is the ONLY clinic offering this service in Kingston at this time. It is a liquid PRF. This machine is able to obtain a liquid PRF form by using a 100% organic system and fibrinogen is not present in other systems that require anticoagulant. With the Arthrex® ACP® the centrafuge spins slower than others which keeps the platelets, growth factors and fibrins intact.
What is the difference between PRP and PRF?
The procedure for both treatments is very similar. A blood sample is taken and centrifuged to create a liquid serum of PRP or PF. The serum is then injected back into the skin or hair for natural rejuvenation.
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The difference between the treatments is mainly how the blood is synthesized. PRF starts with a smaller blood sample, and then it is centrifuged at a lower speed than PRP. This means that the blood components are not completely separated and the process is more gentle. This leads to more platelets being present in the concentration of PRF than in traditional PRP serum.
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Why choose PRF?
It is the next generation of medical aesthetics, using your body's own ability to regenerate tissues through natural growth and healing factors. No additives are required for PRF, which also means less pain at the injection site, less side effects and little risk of reaction.
What do we use PRF for?
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Mature skin or aging skin
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Alopecia - hair loss and hair thinning (hereditary and non-hereditary causes)
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Scar treatment
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Joint inflammation
How does PRF work for hair growth?
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Increases blood supply to the hair follicle
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Increases hair shaft size/thickness
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Triggers and maintains the growth phase
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Activates new hair growth
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Controls hair-growth cycle
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Decreases hair loss
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Improves hair quality
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What is neuromodulators (Botox, Dysport etc.)? How do they work?A neuromodulator, more commonly referred to as botox, is a medication that when injected into a muscle stops it from contracting. It is made up of purified botulinum toxin A. It is safe, has been used for many, many years and has no long term effects. It works by blocking the nerve impulses that communicate with the muscle to tell it to move. When the muscle contraction is softened e.g. furrowing of brow, raising eye brows, squinting etc. deep wrinkles and fine lines are not able to form.
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What risks are associated with neuromodulator treatments?Major side effects are quite rare but may include allergic reaction. More common side effects may include bruising, redness, bleeding, tenderness at the injection site, and infection, It is safe, has been used for many, many years and has no long term effects. Less common include drooping eyebrow or eyelid, assymmetries to the smile. In depth knowledge of anatomy and intensive training in aesthetic injecting means we can do everything we can to reduce these risks and be prepared for them when they happen. Even the best injectors experience complications.
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How long until I see results? And how long do these results last?Most neuromodulators take at least 2 weeks to fully settle in, this is particularly true of brands such as Xeomin. Dysport is a favourite as it tends to kick in sooner than other products on the market, patients report they start to notice changes at 5-7 days post-treatment. Treatment of fine-lines and wrinkles lasts around 12 weeks while treatment for excessive sweating and jaw pain/tension headaches is closer to 6 months.
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Are neuromodulator (botox) treatments painful?The needles and syringes we use for injection are called insulin syringes. They are very, very small and the injections are quite superficial (close to the skin's surface). They leave tiny pin pricks and many would not rate the pain higher than a 2/10 on a pain scale. The downtime afterward due to pain is minimal to none. You are able to resume most of your normal activities as long as you are following post-care instructions.
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How many treatments are required?Initially, for hair and skin treatments are every 4-6 weeks then maintenance 1-2 times per year. For joints there are 2 treatments 4-6 weeks apart then 1-2 times per year.
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Are treatments time consuming?No, a single treatment doesn't take more than 30 minutes.
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Does it hurt?You may experience some sensitivity. However, when possible we use analgesic/numbing creams, vibration tool, and distraction.
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What is the recovery time?There is minimal downtime. You may use Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or cool compresses for sensitivities after injections. Most people are able to return to normal activities right away.
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Is this a cure for baldness?This is not a cure for baldness, The genetic medical problem will always remain. However, there is great evidence to show that regular treatments can significantly slow down the affects of androgenic alopecia and even work to increase the hair density.
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What areas are treated with PRF?At Aviva Medical Aesthetics we use PRF to treat: - Joint pain/inflammation both acute and chronic (shoulder, elbow, knee and thumb joints) - Hair restoration - Microneedling facial for skin rejuvenation - Scar treatments - Tear troughs (undereye) - Nasolabial folds
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Which joints can be injected into with PRF?- Shoulders - Elbows - Thumb joints - Knees
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What is microneedling?Microneedling uses a device that creates tiny pinpricks across the skin of the face and neck. Using a glide serum such as hyaluronic acid, PRF and/or Meso treatments that are infused into the skin while the microneedling creates micro-injuries. This combination signals your body to send healing factors resulting in increased collagen to create firmer, tighter, and glowing skin.
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What does microneedling treat?Microneedling is used to treat: - Hyperpigmentation such as melasma or post inflammatory hyperpigmentation - Scarring (trauma/injury, post-operative) - Acne scarring - Increase collagen to tighten and firm aging skin
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How many treatments are required?You will need three treatments every four weeks initially, then it is recommended to return for a treatment every year for maintenance.
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Does microneedling hurt?We apply numbing cream to treatment areas that significantly reduce the discomfort. Afterward as the numbing cream wears off you may notice some skin sensitivity and redness. Applying cool compresses can be helpful for this.
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What are dermal fillers?Most dermal fillers have a base of hyaluronic acid. You may know hyaluronic acid as a common ingredient in skin care products but it is also a naturally occur sugar based substance that we have in our body. Part of the way it acts as a volume replacement is by pulling water into the area to refresh and hydrate.
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What types of treatments do we use filler for?The most common areas for filler are the cheeks, jawline, nasal labial folds, lips, and chin. Other areas such as tear troughs we offer PRF as a safer, more natural treatment option.
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How long does an appointment take?The treatment itself can take up to 1-1.5 hours. There is an art to filler injection, we take time to consult with you to determine your aesthetic goals and spend this treatment time slowly adding product to sculpt your unique facial features for a natural result.
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How long does filler last? Is it permanent?No filler is not permanent, our bodies slowly metabolize the filler over a period of 9-12 months. How long the product lasts is individual to each person as well as the area we are treating. Areas that have more movement such as the lips and chin may be metabolized faster than the cheek. After it is metabolized, or absorbed back into the body, your facial features will return to your baseline features.
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What are the possible risks of filler?The most common risks with filler treatments are bruising, swelling, and redness. These are so common that we always recommend not booking these treatments with in 2 weeks of any important events. Bruising can take up to 10 days to resolve. Lumps and bumps are normal as well, they may increase in the 1-2 weeks after treatment and then soften with in 3-4 weeks of treatment. If they are not resolving please contact our clinic for follow up. The most serious potential complication of filler treatment is a risk of vascular occlusion which occurs when the filler product is inadvertently placed into an artery which would block blood flow to a portion of the face. Blocking blood flow can result in tissue death (necrosis) or even blindness. These events are exceedingly rare and we take every precaution to avoid them through our in depth knowledge of anatomy and injection technique. We also know how to spot these issues early and have an antidote that when injected dissolves the product and resorts blood flow.