Do PRP injections have the same risks as fillers when accidentally injected into a vessel? Looking to try the Vampire Facelift.

Question

I'm 37 and starting to see some volume loss under my eyes, temples, lips and lower face (which I assume is due to loss of cheek volume). The volume loss is also making my asymmetries more noticeable (it was never noticeable before 35). I'm not a fan of fillers but did start using Xeomin for brow lift and lip flip recently. It has made a difference in balancing the asymmetry. I would like to find the least toxic and sustainable solution for volume loss which is why I'm considering PRP injections.

Brent Moelleken, MD · Answer

PRP is not thought to have a significant risk of embolization and vision problems, but I wouldn't want to have a bolus of platelets (which form clots) injected into one of the arteries in the nose or glabella that communicates with the vessels going to the eye.  There was just a study in our journal carefully delineating the anatomy of the vessels that can presumably cause embolization.

Anyway, PRP is not likely to enhance volume.

Fat injection can absolutely embolize if injected into the wrong vessel accidentally.

It is possible to elevate cheek tissue (cheeklift) and enhance areas of the face with autologous fat fascial tissue from the patient's own tissues.  These techniques do not require any injection of tissue, so cannot embolize.  They can also predictably augment lose facial volume and elevate cheek tissues closer to the eye, where they once were.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

any injections can cause side effects but there are less side effects with PRP versus fillers with regards to blood vessels.

at home peels like cosmelan, enlighten and aerify along with dermarolling (MTS roller with anteage MD ampules weekly, see linkt) should be started now to prevent further aging.

For facial rejuvenation,  I would suggest a combination approach of 
1) skin care with products and PRP/microneedling
2) PDT light therapy few times a month with growth factors
3) laser treatments like clear and brilliant regularly and a few times a year Fraxel/halo Viva, Co2/Erbium
4) Sculptra injections a few times a year for collagen production with fillers like juvederm/restylane/belotero/radiesse/bellafill
5) thermage/ultherapy for yearly skin tightening with or without PDO or cone based instalift threads for lifting
6) botox every 2-3 months to stop movement lines and prevent lines at rest
7) deep microneedling RF like Fractora/morpheus8 for tightening of the skin
8) Vascular laser like vbeam/excel V or BBL forever young treatment every quarter (3-4 months)

Best, Dr. Emer.

Umang Mehta, MD · Answer

Great question! PRP is an excellent treatment for skin texture and acne scars when combined with microneedling or injected under the skin. It's not going to work for larger areas of volume restoration like the temples, cheeks, etc. that you had mentioned. Hyaluronic acid fillers are safe and effective when injected by experienced injectors. Radiesse is another commonly injected filler for larger volume areas. Another good alternative to these fillers is Sculptra, which is very long-lasting and works by stimulating your own collagen production. To learn your best options, you should seek an in-person consultation with a board certified facial plastic surgeon, plastic surgeon, dermatologist, or oculoplastic surgeon with experience injecting all of these fillers. 
Kind regards,
Dr. Mehta

Leslie Pickens, MD · Answer

There have been no serious side effects reported for PRP which is your own blood plasma drawn from and re-injected into your body.  Your blood vessels already contain your blood plasma with cells including platelets; therefore, there is no risk of allergy, nodules, tissue death, granulomas or lumps.  However, the results from PRP injected alone do not last as long as the combination with traditional filler for immediate volume.  Filler also provides a scaffolding or framework to support the new cell growth stimulated by your PRP.  Some, nonetheless, choose to have PRP injected only and have repeat injections more frequently up to every 3-6 months as opposed to annually with filler.

Leonard Grossman, MD · Answer

There is no risk associated with injecting PRP into a blood vessel since it was already removed from a blood vessel to start with. However, if you have significant volume loss in the face, I would not consider using PRP because the results will be gone in a matter of two to three weeks maximum. I would consider having fat grafting since fat grafting will create natural and practically permanent results. I hope this helps and good luck from New York City plastic surgery

Do PRP injections have the same risks as fillers when accidentally injected into a vessel? Looking to try the Vampire Facelift.

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