"They say PRP regenerates skin with my own blood — does it really work?"
"Will one session completely erase scars?"
This is what people looking into PRP are most curious about first, and most honestly so.
Hello, we're Director Kwon Si-jin & Yoon Ju-hyun at DA Clinic Myeongdong ^^
We're getting ready to open our doors in Myeongdong soon, and with the opening ahead of us, since so many people are curious about PRP, I wanted to lay it out first as a matter of information.
Let me be honest from the start. PRP is a procedure that borrows "your body's own healing power" to support skin regeneration — it's not magic that erases scars in one go.
Read for just 3 minutes and you'll get both the standards to look for wherever you go and a realistic sense of what to expect.
PRP Is a Procedure That Reuses 'the Growth Factors in Your Own Blood'
PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) is an autologous regeneration procedure in which about 10–20cc of the patient's own blood is drawn, spun in a centrifuge to separate out only the platelet-rich plasma layer, and then injected back into the skin.
Platelets contain various growth factors such as PDGF, TGF-β, and VEGF. The principle is that these components stimulate the damaged dermis to assist recovery and collagen regeneration.
To put it simply, picture gathering the "repair signals" already present in your body into one place and spraying them back where they're needed — it makes it easy to understand ㅎㅎ
The fact that it uses your own blood components, not a substance made externally, is the biggest feature that sets PRP apart from other injectable procedures.
Because It's Not an External Substance, the Allergy Burden Tends to Be Low
One reason PRP keeps coming up is precisely that it's "autologous blood."
Unlike filler or other injected substances brought in from outside, it uses blood drawn from your own body.
So it's known to have a relatively low risk of allergy or rejection reactions caused by external substances.
That said, "autologous blood means it's automatically safe" isn't true. Since it's an injection-based procedure, a hygienic environment for drawing and injecting blood has to be the premise.
We're preparing to open with single-use sterile blood-draw kits and a closed-system centrifuge. Handling the blood so it isn't exposed to outside air is something worth confirming wherever you get the procedure.
Honestly, It's Not a Procedure That Changes Dramatically in One Go
Let me be honest in pointing this out.
When you look in the mirror after one PRP session, you might think, "Huh, it didn't change as much as I expected?"
Because growth factors work by assisting collagen regeneration, even when a change appears, it usually rises slowly over 4–6 weeks after the procedure.
On top of that, it's a procedure where you expect cumulative change from receiving it several times at 4–6 week intervals, rather than once. It's closer to the picture of reviving soil by spreading fertilizer in several portions, rather than dumping it all on a field at once.
And this part is the most important — PRP has large individual variation in effect, and academically the evidence is still limited. Even with the same number of sessions, some people feel their texture improved, while others may feel less of an effect.
That's why we recommend you view it not as "it definitely gets better," but as a "supportive direction that assists your own healing power." (There may be individual differences)
Scars, Pores, Hair Loss… It's Not a Cure-All; It Has Indications
PRP is used to assist recovery from acne scars, enlarged pores, fine lines, and depressed skin, and scalp PRP injected into the scalp is also used as an adjunct measure for hair loss management.
That said, "is used for" and "solves" are different statements.
Honestly, reversing deep, firm scars or significantly advanced hair loss with PRP alone is a stretch.
In the case of hair loss especially, PRP is closer to a supportive role that assists the environment around the follicles, and it's seen as meaningful when viewed together with other methods like drug treatment.
So I think it's right to first pinpoint, through an assessment, whether PRP is the right direction for your concern. This isn't me telling you to get PRP no matter what.
Bruising and Swelling Are Common, and People Like This Should Tell Us in Advance
Since it's an injection-based procedure, faint redness, swelling, or bruising can occur at the injection sites.
These usually subside within 1–3 days, but bruising can last a few days longer depending on the person, so if you have an important event, it's good to allow some leeway.
The blood draw is at the level of an ordinary health-check blood draw, and the injection is done after applying numbing cream, so it's often just a mild stinging.
That said, if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a blood clotting disorder or immune condition, the procedure may not be recommended or may require prior confirmation.
If you tell us about these points before the procedure, we'll confirm together whether it's a situation where you can receive it. (There may be individual differences)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does PRP work even with just one session?
A. PRP is a procedure where you expect cumulative change from receiving it several times rather than once. Because growth factors work by assisting collagen regeneration, even when a change appears, it usually rises slowly over 4–6 weeks after the procedure. So it's common to view about 3 sessions at 4–6 week intervals as one cycle. That said, since it's a procedure with large individual variation in effect and still-limited evidence, it's hard to assert that "this many sessions will definitely make it better." It's more fitting to adjust the number of sessions and intervals while watching your skin condition and response.
Q. Is PRP really safe?
A. Because PRP uses your own blood rather than an external substance, it's known to have a relatively low risk of allergy or rejection reactions. That said, it doesn't mean "autologous blood, so automatically safe." Since it's an injection-based procedure, a hygienic environment for drawing and injecting blood has to be the premise. So it matters whether the blood is handled so it isn't exposed externally, as with single-use sterile kits and a closed-system centrifuge. Also, if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a blood clotting disorder or immune condition, it may not be recommended or may require prior confirmation, so please mention it in advance.
Q. Can PRP treat hair loss too?
A. Rather than "treating" hair loss, PRP is closer to an adjunct measure that injects growth factors into the scalp to assist the environment around the follicles. Scalp PRP is used to help improve the hair-growth environment, but it's hard to view it as a procedure that reverses hair loss on its own. So it's generally seen as meaningful when viewed together with other methods like drug treatment. Since the effect has large individual variation and the evidence is limited, we recommend first pinpointing, through an assessment, whether PRP is the right direction for your hair loss condition.
In Closing — We Recommend It for People Like This
If I sum up today's content in one line, it's this.
Myeongdong PRP — view it as a 'supportive procedure that assists your own healing power,' and approach it several times, slowly, with realistic expectations.
If you find external substances burdensome and are looking into an autologous-blood-based procedure, or if you want to cultivate scars, pores, and texture step by step, it's worth considering.
That said, if you want a dramatic change in one go, or if deep scars or significantly advanced hair loss are your concern, PRP alone has limits. In that case, it's right to set a different direction together during an assessment.
This article isn't meant to recommend a procedure; it's an informational article put together as a matter of information while preparing to open.
DA Clinic Myeongdong is set to open soon. We'll share opening news and clinic information first on our blog and Instagram ^^
Thank you for reading to the end. This has been Director Kwon Si-jin & Yoon Ju-hyun at DA Clinic Myeongdong.
This column is an informational article intended to provide general medical information; the effects and side effects of any procedure may vary by individual. DA Clinic Myeongdong is set to open soon. (Medical Service Act Art. 56)