The Technology
Cutting edge technology
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is cutting edge in the field of cosmetic, non-surgical techniques. Although the procedure is relatively new in aesthetics medicine, PRP has been recognised as an effective treatment in surgery, sports injury, diabetic ulcer treatment, and orthopaedics for over 25 years. Since the procedure uses no synthetic materials, there's virtually no risk of allergic reaction or adverse effects from this procedure. PRP procedures and medical devices are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia. The TGA guidelines state that a medical or dental practitioner needs to be involved in all PRP procedures that make a therapeutic claim even if solely for aesthetic reasons. To ensure patient safety and that the best medical protocols are followed, patients who are seeking PRP procedures should ask the person performing the procedure if they are working with a doctor or dentist and if they are using TGA approved PRP equipment.
How does Alocuro PRO-PRP facial rejuvenation work?
When the PRP is injected into the skin, the platelets release their growth factors, which instruct other cells in the body what work has to be done (eg make new collagen). One cell that is stimulated during the process is the fibroblast cell, which is the cell type that creates collagen. Collagen is what gives skin a youthful appearance. As we age, collagen is produced less and less, causing wrinkles and fine lines in the skin. Therapies such as PRP therapy that stimulate collagen production can counteract this.
Who performs the PRP procedures?
An Alocuro accredited medical practitioner (GP or medical specialist) will customize your PRP treatment plan to address your unique facial rejuvenation goals.
How the PRP is extracted from the patient's blood?
Alocuro's PRO-PRP kit is used to increase to platelet concentration within plasma. It is a point of care device where a blood sample is taken - similar to a regular blood test. The blood in then introduced into the sterile Pro-PRP device for centrifugation. After the centrifugation process, the components of whole blood are separated into visible layers and a special section of the plasma that contains the platelets is carefully collected for reinjection in to the patient. The entire process from blood withdrawal to completion of injection procedures, is approximately one hour.
How is the PRP injected?
The highly concentrated PRP is then injected directly in to the site requiring rejuvenation to stimulate the body's stem cells to produce new collagen and blood vessels (responsible for delivering oxygen and nutrients to cell). The PRP starts the process that will hopefully lead to a stronger and long-lasting rejuvenation of both the surface and deeper layers of your skin.
Point-of-care (POC) autologous cell therapy technology provides the entire process from collection of your blood to re-injection of PRP within the one attendance with the treating medical practitioner. There is no freezing or storage of a patient's biological material for use at a later time. The entire process is provided under strict guidelines to provide a very safe procedure with minimal risk of complications.
When to expect to see results Immediately after the procedure, the injected skin will feel tighter than usual, and lines / wrinkles will already be less visible. However this degree of tightening will not last, and the skin surface will return more to normal after 4 days. However the PRP will be working under the surface of the skin to make new cells and improve the subsurface layers of the skin. This is not an immediate process and the pronounced effects occur about 4-6 weeks after the procedure with most patients reporting that the improvements last 1-2 years.
How Often Should it be performed Published research and our Doctors' results have shown that the best results are achieved by a series of 3 injections at 4 or 6 week intervals, and then yearly thereafter. Depending on the patient's age, some patients choose to return every six months rather than yearly.
How does Alocuro PRP system provide an optimal PRP procedure Alocuro’s PRO-PRP kit is a patented medical device specifically for the purpose of producing platelet rich plasma (PRP). The sterile, single use, disposable PRP kit is solely for use by medical and dental practitioners. The Alocuro centrifuge and PRP kit allows a high quality, point-of-care PRP to be prepared at the patient bedside – in clinic or intra-operatively to aid the surgical procedure.
High platelet concentration and Pure PRP The Alocuro PRP system has been proven by Australian pathology laboratory testing to produce a consistently high platelet concentration with the ability to either include or significantly reduce leukocytes in the collected PRP. The regenerative and healing outcome from PRP is delivered primarily by the effects exerted by growth factors released by the platelets at the target injection site. The volume of growth factors is directly linked to platelet number. As platelet numbers increase, growth factor release increases = increase in regenerative outcome. (To note there are also numerous other technique and procedural elements that also contribute to optimising patient outcome from PRP procedure)
Alocuro PRO-PRP advantage
• The 30ml device provides a high number of platelets available for collection (almost 4 times the platelet number of a 8ml vacutainer PRP system)
• Very efficient platelet collection – usually 90% efficient
• High and moderate platelet concentration available within the same system
• Ability to significantly reduce leukocytes (for intra-articular and chronic tendon pathology clinical indications)
• Short processing time (7 minutes)
• Flexible PRP volumes and platelet concentration. One centrifuge and PRP kit system can provide multiple PRP methodologies – cosmetic, hair, scarring
• Excellent price to performance ratio