As a licensed plastic surgery facility and spa, at Saltz Plastic Surgery/Spa Vitoria, we offer platelet-rich plasma treatments for our patients seeking facial skin rejuvenation.
What is platelet-rich plasma?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is the essence of the blood and contains fundamental protein growth factors. PRP has been used for years to speed healing of joints, tendons, and muscle tissue in professional athletes. More recently, it has begun to be used in the face to help initiate the production of collagen to tighten and firm the skin, and increase blood supply to the area.
How is PRP therapy done?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy begins with the collection of the patient’s blood, usually the same amount taken for standard lab tests. The blood sample is then placed in a centrifuge to separate the platelets, white blood cells, and plasma. The red blood cells are removed. What’s left is a serum with concentrated numbers of platelets, white blood cells, and various growth factors. In fact, this “platelet-rich plasma” now has four to five times the normal number of platelets. The PRP is now injected into the area needing attention. Athletes use PRP to speed healing after injury or surgery, but PRP also does wonders for rejuvenating facial skin.
The entire PRP process start to finish only needs around 15 minutes and is relatively painless.
I heard there was a potential contamination in New Mexico
You may have read or heard about potential contamination of PRP in a spa in New Mexico this past September. The New Mexico Department of Health reported that a spa performing “vampire facials,” which use PRP, exposed patients to hepatitis B and C, and even possibly HIV. It was thought blood may have been hurriedly drawn from more than one person at a time and then the samples got crossed. The other possibility was that the microneedling device used to deliver the PRP was not properly sterilized when used on the next patient, transferring the contamination.
This kind of news is frightening for patients, as it should be. Plus, it tarnishes practices such as Saltz Plastic Surgery that follow all the licensing requirement, methodology, and do things the right way.
Do your research.
PRP treatments are rapidly gaining in popularity. Because of that lots of providers who have no business doing these kinds of treatments are getting in. They don’t have the proper procedures and protocols in place for handling blood; their facility may not even be licensed to perform these kinds of treatments. Utah has lots of these kinds of businesses. Beyond shoddy handling of PRP or microneedling, there are practices in this state where non-surgeons and doctors certified in other specialties are performing plastic surgeries they are not trained in or certified to perform.
Bottom line. PRP treatments at Saltz Plastic Surgery/Spa Vitoria are completely safe and have virtually no risk. That’s because we follow the correct protocols. Our sterilization and blood handling follow the same standards as any hospital. We’re a fully licensed facility, supervised by a board-certified plastic surgeon. That’s what you need to look for when considering a procedure such as PRP. Know the practice that is providing the treatment.
Interested in putting your own blood to work rejuvenating your facial skin? Call the professional team at Saltz Plastic Surgery, (801) 274-9500 in Salt Lake, and (435) 655-6612 in Park City, for your appointment.
