Is microneedling with PRP worth the money if you only can do it one time? This is to help acne scars.

Our office has many different treatments for scars depending on the depth of atrophy or hypertrophy. Scars require a combination approach using our HI DEF protocol which uses a combination of lasers, topical scar modulation, and RF treatments to pixelate scars, improve contour, reduce hyperpigmentation, and improve the visibility of the scars so that they are no longer visible in ambient light. Everyone has a unique pattern of scarring and we employ our HIDEF technique to improve texture, color, contour, and topography. We often use a combination of treatments that begin with a careful examination to examine the micro texturing of the acne scars. Atrophic scars and indented scars can benefit from injectable fillers such as Radiesse, Sculptra, and Restylane with or without subcision to remove tethered scars and atrophic depression. Hyper-redness in scars can be improved with V beam laser, Excel V, BBL, IPL, and Venus RF to improve the redness and reduce the visibility of deep scars. Fractional Thulium laser and clear & brilliant can also reduce the inflammation and redness of the scar when combined with topical therapy. Fractional lasers such as Fraxel, erbium, and CO2 laser can be combined with radio frequency and also fractional RF to improve textual issues and microtopography. Subcision and TCA cross are also used for deep ice pick scars and narrow valley scars in order to improve the micro texture. Above all, our combination approach with our clinical nurses and board-certified plastic surgeons can improve the quality of your skin by using at home Melarase creams combined with PRP treatments in our office to improve your skin quality and tone. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with an experienced team of experts in order to reduce your scarring.

Finally, hyperpigmentation of scars can be improved with at-home Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads to help reduce active PIH and melanin deposition.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Thank you for your question
Acne scars need a combination approach for improvement. For the best results, one should target the acne scar type. As everyone has a unique pattern of acne scarring, the best solution is a tailored one. Typically you need fillers like bellafill and sculptra for atrophic indented type scars with or without subcision. Subcision for depressed tethered scars. Vascular lasers like yellow laser, aerolase, excel V or IPL for redness or thick scars. And lasers such as fraxel, erbium, co2 or fractional radiofrequency like venus viva, skinfinity, intensif microneedling RF for textural issues and superficial scarring. Deep ice pick scars and narrow box car scars are best treated with TCA CROSS and punch excision. All lasers are combined with microneedling and PRP to get even better results and improve healing times. The majority of patients will have a collection of different scar types, and hence a tailored treatment plan is needed by an expert physician. It is never about the laser or product that gives the results, its about the expert behind the equipment that gets you the outcome. Scars cannot be cured and will need life-long treatments to maintain and build on the results. Best, Dr. Emer.

Hello there,
     Nothing is a waste of time when it comes to stimulating collagen. Any treatment is better than no treatment. That being said, the results seen with one treatment will definitely be minimal compared to completing a full series. I would discuss other treatment options with your provider, since there are other treatments that can be done for acne scarring. Halo laser is a treatment that is much more aggressive than micro needling, and only 1-2 treatments need to be done per year. I would discuss this with your provider. Good luck!
Sarah RN BSN 

Thank you for your message! It is difficult to fully answer your questions without seeing pictures. I would definitely recommend a consultation with a provider in your area so they are able to assess the scarring in person. Microneedling is a great option for scarring, though typically requires multiple treatments. Microneedling, also called collagen induction therapy, is a minimally invasive skin-rejuvenation procedure that involves the use of a device that contains fine needles. The needles are used to puncture the skin to create a controlled skin injury. Each puncture creates a channel that triggers the body to fill these microscopic wounds by producing new collagen and elastin. Through this process there is improvement in skin texture and firmness, as well as reduction in scars, pore size, and stretch marks. You can couple microneedling with PRP (platelet rich plasma) for quicker results and a faster healing time. 

Acne scars are treated differently depending on their appearance and structure. Sometimes there is no actual scar at all, but just a dark spot from inflammation. These spots usually improve on their own if you protect them and keep them out of the sun. In the meantime, to control the inflammation and acne breakouts, topical retin-a cream with intermittent salicylic acid peels can dramatically improve your skin tone and frequency of breakouts. Once the acne is controlled and you continue to do have remaining scars due to permanent dermal injury from acne, a variety of treatments can be performed to remodel the scar from energy-based lasers and radiofrequency devices to mechanical disruption of the scar with microneedling. Deep wide scars can be released and filled in with subcision and a filler such as Bellafill which is specifically designed for divets and depressions left by acne. The very thin or deep ice-pick scars are best treated by excising them completely.  I especially like a combination of a chemical peel for the hyperpigmentation and acne control, microneedling with PRP for texture and collagen building, and PIXEL fractionated laser or RF to resurface and build even more collagen.  I would use the subcision with Bellafill for the individual deeper scars. I recommend at least 3 treatments of microneedling with PRP as one treatment is often not enough. Not everyone is a candidate for all the treatment options however as certain skin types can get worse from certain treatments. For the best treatment options, it is important to visit an expert for an in-person examination. Hope this helps!
Johnson C. Lee, MD 
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon

Hi,Without seeing a photo, I cannot say for sure but most likely you will need multiple treatments of microneedling +/- PRP for acne scars.  If cost is an issue, I'd start with a series of chemical peels first.  Peels are much more economical.  Once the acne scars are 'less severe' from the peels, you can move on to the microneedling and perhaps will need less sessions.  Lasers will also help with acne scars.Best, Dr. Huo

To get the best results you should get a series of treatments. However, there are better products than PRP to use with micro-needling because PRP is strongly pro-inflammatory (not good). In my office we do all our micro-needling treatments using a serum from ProCell Therapies that is made for this purpose and contains a high concentration of growth factors derived from stem cells from human bone marrow. These growth-factors are very anti-inflammatory and are much more "skin specific" than PRP which enables rapid healing with significantly less inflammation post procedure, and have seen great results in the treatment of acne scars.Since cost is important to you, a great alternative is a new at home microneedling treatment kit from Célage Bioscience. This kit will enable you to do weekly home microneedling treatments using a similar growth-factor serum derived from human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.