"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, I'm Director Kwon Si-jin 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.
Using your own blood doesn't make everything work. Let me go through the reasons one by one.
PRP borrows 'your body's own capacity to recover' to support skin regeneration; it isn't magic that erases a scar in one go.We'll also go over what to check during the consultation.
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
When you look in the mirror after one PRP session, you might think, "Huh, it didn't change as much as I expected?"
Here, let me go through the reasons one by one.
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." (responses differ for each person)
Scars, Pores… It Isn't a Fix for Everything; It Has Indications
PRP is used to assist recovery from acne scars, enlarged pores, fine lines, and depressed skin.
That said, "is used for" and "solves" are different statements.
Honestly, reversing deep, firm scars with PRP alone is a stretch.
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.(responses differ for each person)
Is it safe because it's my own blood?
Because your own blood is used, it's easy to think "then there's nothing to worry about." To be precise, it means a lower allergic burden from foreign material.
What comes with an injection remains as it is.Bruising and swelling are possible, and because a needle enters, infection control is necessary.
And the effect is described as varying considerably between individuals.The explanation given is that the quantity and state of the components obtained from blood differ from person to person and with the day's condition.
So rather than "it's my own blood, so it must be good," it's more in order to look first at "does this approach suit my concern?"
How it goes in also shapes the result
Even with the same product, the method of injection changes both the result and the recovery.
For covering a broad area evenly, a device that holds a consistent depth and spacing has the advantage; for delicate areas such as around the eyes, adjusting by hand is said to be better.That's why dividing the work between device and hand comes up. At our Myeongdong clinic we have DermaShine Pro as our automated injection device.
And depth matters.Too shallow and the marks linger; too deep and it passes the layer it was meant for.Same product, same number of sessions, different result — this is usually where it splits.
With injectable treatments, the process of calming things down affects the result as much as what goes in.That's why we've also equipped recovery and aftercare devices such as LDM-MED and Sonoel.Leaving a stimulated area to itself, versus following it with a calming stage, changes the condition you arrive in for the next session.
How the days after the treatment run
- Day 1 to 2raised marks can remain at the injection sites, generally described as settling within a day or two
- 2 to 3 daysredness fades
- 1 to 2 weeksif bruising formed, it tends to clear around now
On a day when the whole face has been covered closely, redness can run a little longer, so it's more comfortable to avoid the run-up to an important date.
During recovery, attend to sun protection and moisturising, and it's safer to postpone anything that adds a lot of heat, such as saunas, for a few days.
That said, if something still feels firm after two weeks, if redness runs severe, or if pain steadily worsens, it's safer to have it checked where you had the treatment.
- It is a supporting treatment that assists your own recovery
- The evidence is still limited for this treatment
- We approach it slowly, over several sessions
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.
See it as a supporting role
Keep only the point and 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.
That question you raised at the start — can you see its answer now?
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 are your concern, PRP alone has limits.In that case, it's right to set a different direction together during an assessment.
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 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)