The buzz around platelet rich plasma (PRP) and/or exosomes, seems to be everywhere. Med spas around the world are offering them during micro-needling, hair restoration, post laser and more. But what exactly are they, and how do they differ?
Both exosomes and platelet-rich plasma are found naturally in the body and can boost collagen production and tissue repair when applied to the skin or injected into the scalp. They differ in the concentration of growth factors present in the solution and how they are acquired for use. Exosomes contain a higher concentration of growth factors than PRP and have anti-inflammatory properties for tissue repair. Additionally, exosome solutions are prepared in a lab prior to treatment, whereas PRP treatment begins with a blood draw of the patient’s own blood.
PRP: The OG Regeneration Booster
PRP, is a treatment derived from your own blood. Think of it as a supercharged concentration of healing factors. Here's the breakdown:
Source: Your blood drawn during your appointment
Active ingredients: Platelets, brimming with growth factors that stimulate cell repair and tissue regeneration.
Application: PRP is injected or applied topically
Exosomes: The Nano-Sized Messengers
Exosomes are small, nanometer-sized vesicles that play a critical role in cellular communication and the regulation of biological processes within the human body. Despite their small size, exosomes have the ability to carry a variety of important biomolecules, including proteins, lipids, and genetic material, making them a powerful tool for cell-to-cell communication and regulation.
Due to the way in which exosomes are formed, they are very representative of the cells that they are released from. Exosomes secreted from stem cells demonstrate potent regenerative / repair properties when applied to damaged or wounded tissue.
Source: Exosomes for therapeutic use can be derived from various sources, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from donated tissues.
Active ingredients: A treasure trove of proteins, lipids, and even genetic material, all working together to promote healing and rejuvenation.
Application: Exosomes are injected or applied topically
So, PRP or Exosomes?
Utilizing PRP for regenerative and healing purposes in aesthetics has pros and cons. Pro, PRP is appealing for many as it uses your own blood. Con, PRP is derived from an invasive procedure of drawing your blood and is only as good as the health of your body that day. Many variables can come into play when using PRP in a treatment. These variabilities can come from age, viruses, smoking, diet, and overall stress on your body.
Exosomes are cultured in the laboratory to extract the cytokines and growth factors required to improve treatment outcomes. Then, the growth factors and cytokines are put through a filtering process which extracts only the exosomes from the media. Each vial contains over 10 billion exosomes whereas there isn’t a good way to quantify how many exosomes are in a vial of PRP for your patient due to the many variables discussed above. To put it simply, typically, patients only require 1-2 exosome treatments for optimal results, whereas patients will require 3-6 PRP treatments for the optimal results.
Exosome therapy has anti-inflammatory properties, which can be highly effective for tissue regeneration treatment and wound healing. In contrast, PRP does not provide the same anti-inflammatory effects. Exosomes carry a wider range of bioactive molecules compared to PRP's growth factors.
The Takeaway
PRP and exosomes are both promising tools in regenerative medicine. PRP offers a well-established, cost-effective approach, while exosomes hold potential for broader applications and more targeted effects. Both PRP and exosome treatments are derived from naturally occurring molecules in the body, meaning that there is a very low risk of serious adverse events or allergic reactions.
Due to the variability of clinical outcomes, at Mountain Modern Aesthetics and Bio Skin Aesthetics, we have chosen to offer exosomes only with our micro-needling and laser treatments. We recognize that you are coming to us for consistent results every visit, therefore, exosomes was an easy choice for us as it is the only product that can deliver consistent results every time.
References:
Kao DS, Zhang SW, Vap AR. A Systematic Review on the Effect of Common Medications on Platelet Count and Function: Which Medications Should Be Stopped Before Getting a Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection? Orthop J Sports Med. 2022 Apr 12;10(4):23259671221088820. doi: 10.1177/23259671221088820. PMID: 35434168; PMCID: PMC9008823.
CELLESE REGENERATIVE THERAPEUTICS (2018):
Clinical Trial Results of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Conditioned Media Anti-Aging Skin Care Regimen [white paper].
CELLESE REGENERATIVE THERAPEUTICS (2018):
Clinical Trial Results Of Growth Factor Microneedling Hair Regrowth Treatment [white paper].
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