In simple terms, PRF injections use your own blood to help rejuvenate your skin, especially in the under-eye area. We’ll get into more detail later, but PRF bears some similarities to the popular PRP treatments athletes sometimes undergo for injuries. Double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Somenek goes into more detail. “Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) injections are essentially a form of undereye fillers,” he says. “They’re considered the next generation of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments, which are usually used to aid sports injuries. PRF is an autologous blood concentrate that uses your blood to help rejuvenate your skin.”

“In a PRF procedure, blood is drawn from the patient and centrifuged at slower speeds than in a PRP (platelet-rich plasma) procedure,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp adds. “The absence of an anticoagulant in the tube allows the formation of a spongy, gel-like product rich in platelets, stem cells, growth factors, and fibrin that can be injected into the skin to address signs of aging, hair loss, or skin healing.”

In simple terms, PRF injections use your own blood to help rejuvenate your skin, especially in the under-eye area. We’ll get into more detail later, but PRF bears some similarities to the popular PRP treatments athletes sometimes undergo for injuries. Double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Somenek goes into more detail. “Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) injections are essentially a form of undereye fillers,” he says. “They’re considered the next generation of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments, which are usually used to aid sports injuries. PRF is an autologous blood concentrate that uses your blood to help rejuvenate your skin.”

“In a PRF procedure, blood is drawn from the patient and centrifuged at slower speeds than in a PRP (platelet-rich plasma) procedure,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp adds. “The absence of an anticoagulant in the tube allows the formation of a spongy, gel-like product rich in platelets, stem cells, growth factors, and fibrin that can be injected into the skin to address signs of aging, hair loss, or skin healing.”

Uses your body’s own cells

Can potentially treat under-eye circles

Can potentially decrease wrinkles

Minimal risk of side effects

Stimulate skin healing

Can potentially improve hair loss

The main benefit of PRF is that it employs your body’s own cells in a way to promote the health of your skin. As the product originates from the patient, it is very safe.

However, if you’re looking to PRF injections as a replacement for fillers, especially in areas like the under-eye or cheeks, you may find yourself disappointed. “The reality is they don’t really create a volume change there,” says Dr. Amir Karam. “For treatment under the eyes or different places where a filler normally is needed to add volume, PRF injections are going to be ineffective. And then when there is not a substantial change in appearance to these areas, the conclusion is that the individual patient was a poor responder to the growth factors and therefore wasn’t able to create volume in response. So, in my opinion, this is a very unreliable way of adding volume to correct volume loss in the face.”

There are a number of things you’ll want to make sure you have in order before your PRF injections. Thankfully, Somenek gave us the full rundown.

• Avoid any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for two to four weeks before your treatment. NSAIDs include Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Aleve, Motrin, or Excedrin (if your physician instructs you to take these medications, get clearance before stopping any of them). These medications can potentially interact with the PRF platelet coagulation process, rendering the treatment less effective. Note, Tylenol is not a blood thinner and is okay to take before treatment.
• Don’t forget to hydrate. Hydration is key to obtaining enough quality PRF during your treatment and getting better results. You should drink at least 64 oz of water throughout the day before your appointment. On the day of your appointment, be sure to come hydrated and moisturize the injection area beforehand.
• Avoid consuming alcoholic beverages for at least seven days prior to your treatment.
• Avoid Omega 3s, fish oil, ibuprofen, vitamin E, garlic supplements, and aspirin for two to four weeks prior to your treatment (if your physician instructs you to take any of these medications, make sure to get clearance before stopping any of them).
• Hold off on using any topical retinol and/or exfoliating acid products three days before your treatment and three days after to avoid any potential excess skin redness or irritation.

And as always, you want to make sure that the medical spa or medical facility you’re going to is reputable and uses sterile techniques and sanitary instruments, since there is blood being drawn. Karam can’t emphasize this enough: “Because your blood is being drawn and re-injected, using sterile techniques is extremely important, otherwise, you have the risk of forming infections, which could be very difficult to treat in the locations that they’re injected in.”