Don t Be Afraid of Your Own Blood An important ingredient for healing and restoration is already inside of you.
Contents Green Medicine What Does PRP Do? Where Does PRP Come From? Is It Gross? PRP in Cosmetic Medicine, And Other Uses Sixth chapter 3 4 5 6 7 8 2
Green Medicine Green medicine incorporates the use of a substance that is manufactured by your own body, rather than a pharmaceu8cal product. The substance we are referring to comes from your own blood. This substance is called Platelet Rich Plasma, or PRP. In today s world, people are searching for more natural solutions to health issues. There are thousands of basic science, animal studies, and clinical studies in humans describing PRP use for surgical, medical, dentistry, and veterinary applications. The obvious advantage to using a substance created by your own body is the elimination of the likelihood of allergic reaction to a foreign substance since the materials come from you to begin with. What could be safer than using your own blood as medicine for healing? 3
Think of a time when you fell and skinned your knee. In addition to the stinging pain and the blood, you might have noticed a clear, yellowish liquid. This is the Platelet Rich Plasma, speeding it s growth factors to the injured area to help your body repair itself. What Does PRP Do? PRP is instrumental in stimulating healing. PRP contains the growth factors that your body uses to create new tissue: bone, connective tissue, collagen and more. New tissue means increased blood supply, bringing more nutrients and oxygen for healthier tissue. 4
Where Does PRP Come From? PRP is extracted from a patient s own blood. A small sample of blood is taken, just like when giving blood for a lab sample. The blood is placed in a centrifuge and spun to separate the red blood cells from the PRP. The magic is in this clear, yellowish serum called Platelet Rich Plasma. PRP can then be injected or applied topically to stimulate healing and rejuvenation. Here a licensed esthetician prepares to apply PRP topically in a procedure called a Vampire Facial. This procedure helps to rejuvenate skin by producing new collagen, making skin tighter, brighter, and smoother. PRP procedures can be done safely and quickly in a doctor s office, making it attractive and often less expensive to patients looking for a more natural solution to their concerns than surgery or the use of foreign substances. 5 5
Is It Gross? PRP is already inside you. It is a part of your blood. When we use PRP, we are not using the red blood cells; we are extracting the growth factors in the plasma. Whether you are having a procedure that involves injecting this substance back into the injured area, or applying PRP topically, you are utilizing the substance and enhancing the process that your body already naturally possesses. Because PRP actually helps you grow new tissue, it doesn t go away. Other than the stressors of continuing to age, factors like smoking or weight gain/loss, or additional subsequent injury, your results are essentially permanent. My skin looks brighter and feels smoother than it has since I was a little girl! ~Angela, actual patient. Microneedling in preparation for topical application of PRP. This procedure is the patented Vampire Facial. Dr. Robert Bowen is an authorized provider of this service. 6
What Are Some Uses for PRP? ~Dentists and periodontists are using PRP to aid in healing after oral surgeries. ~The sports world has been using PRP for a decade to repair joints, tissue and bone in injured athletes. ~Gynecologists and even cosmetic doctors are using PRP to heal urinary incontinence in women. ~Cosmetic doctors are helping patients to combat the signs of aging with PRP. ~PRP is used to enhance the healing of chronic wounds, such as those that occur with diabetes and vascular disorders. PRP in Cosmetic Medicine The cosmetic medicine industry is now utilizing the power of PRP to aid in reversing the signs of aging and promoting healing. We are using PRP to: u Tighten and brighten skin u Restore lost volume in the face u Improve the shape of sagging breasts u Increase the volume of breast tissue u Heal urinary incontinence in women u Improve sexual function in men and women u Speed recovery after laser resurfacing and other procedures u Reverse the effects of Peyronies Disease Because of the flexibility of how PRP works to restore damaged tissue, it can be used in a multitude of situations. Doctors and scientists are constantly discovering how this type of green medicine can help improve the quality of life for patients of all types. 7
The use of PRP is basically approved for anyone. There are very few contraindications. In order to have the best possible outcome, it is important to ensure that you have not taken blood thinners, or that you do not have a bleeding disorder that might preclude you as a patient. Talk with Dr. Bowen about what PRP could do for your health and appearance. If you have blood, you have an important ingredient for healing and restoration already inside you! 8