The concept of PRF (Platelet Rich Fibrin) is based on the centrifugation of whole blood without anticoagulants. (J. Choukroun et al. 2001). At the end of the spin, a fibrin clot containing the majority of the platelets and white blood cells is obtained. This fibrin clot called Platelet Riche Fibrin or PRF will release gradually and growth factors or cytokines in the site (VEGF, PDGF, TGF Beta, Thrombospondin). The expected objective of these growth factors is to accelerate the soft tissue and bone healing. Numerous international publications are available and demonstrate the effectiveness of PRF in many indications: oral surgery (implants, bone grafting, periodontal surgery, extractions, etc...), Orthopedic, cosmetic and dermatological surgery. Today, the PRF is recognized around the world, from Nice to New York from Los Angeles to Shanghai, from Rangoon to Moscow, from Sao Paulo to Cape Town, Santiago to Zagreb...
Why I-PRF ?
I-PRF is the latest evolution of platelet-rich plasma. Long-term research prof. Josepha Choukroun of Nice showed that this method is superior to platelet-rich plasma.
I-PRF is an acronym for an injectable PLATELET RICH FIBRIN.
How does this procedure differ from classical platelet rich plasma?
I-PRF is a platelet suspension and other fibrin regeneration stimulants. Fibrin injected into the patient's skin slowly coagulates, resulting in:
- delicate filling effect
- a natural network on which repairing processes takes place
- most importantly - the platelets suspended on fibrin fibers slowly release growth factors. This is a fundamental difference with platelet-rich plasma. Thanks to the slow release of growth factors, we get stronger regenerative stimulation effects. Why? - because initially the skin cells that we want to stimulate do not have receptors for growth factors. It is only under the influence of growth factors that they start to produce.
I-PRF is more concentrated platelets. With 8 ml of blood we get a solution of only 1 ml PRF, not 4 ml, as in the case of popular kits
I-PRF is mesenchymal stem cells. Studies using a flow cytometer have shown that i-PRF has a high concentration of circulating mesenchymal stem cells. With this innovative feature, i-PRF has the strongest potential for stimulation of regeneration.
What is the procedure like?
As before any surgery in the field of aesthetic medicine, consultation is needed. Once the indications and contraindications have been established, the procedure is performed. 30 minutes before the treatment, the treated area is lubricated with anesthetic cream.
The i-PRF treatment itself goes through the following stages:
- We charge a small volume of patient's blood (at least 32 ml) in special tubes.
- The tubes are centrifuged for 5 minutes in a special centrifuge
Then about 1 ml of i-PRF is withdrawn from each tube
- In the last stage with a very thin needle or cannula, i-PRF is applied to the treated area of the skin.
Is it painful?
Thanks to the use of anesthetic cream and very thin needles, the i-PRF cannula is only associated with discomfort. Larger discomfort occurs only in the case of hairy scalp treatments (baldness treatment).
What are the contraindications to treatment?
Due to the fact that this procedure consists in injecting the patient's own blood components into the skin, the contraindications to i-PRF are very narrow. These include such classic anti-depressions as: 1. Blood diseases: - platelet dysfunction syndrome, - critical thrombocytopenia, - fibrinogen deficiency, - haemodynamic instability, - septicemia. 2. Cancer. 3. Chronic liver disease. 4. Acute and chronic infections. 5. Pregnancy and lactation. 6. Anticoagulant treatment. 7. Use of aspirin and other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
What effects should be expected?
The self-made i-PRF treatments give the effect of revitalizing, improving the condition of the skin. Often they also improve skin hydration. The effect of strong improvement in skin quality and clear wrinkle reduction is obtained after i-PRF combination with fractional lasers or DermaPen. Therefore, independent i-PRF treatments should be considered as prophylaxis of aging. In cases where we want stronger effects, combination therapies should be used together with other aesthetic medicine treatments.
I-PRF is also used in aesthetic medicine with great effectiveness in the treatment of alopecia.
i-PRF. Numerous scientific publications describing the action of the white cells on vascularization and wound healing were published these recent years. With the unanimous conclusion that platelet concentrates enriched leukocytes are more effective on tissue and bone healing. The publication of our research on the A-PRF (PRF enriched leukocytes) and clinical outcomes confirm absolutely this scientific position. However, the use of platelet concentrates in "liquid" and not coagulated remains an important indication in various medical and dental applications. That is why we have focused our research to a liquid "blood concentrate" enriched in white blood cells but also platelet-enriched to increase the healing properties while retaining the principle of centrifugation "without anticoagulants" or "no additives ". The research was led by Dr Joseph Choukroun, the inventor of the PRF technique with collaboration of two laboratories among the most renowned in the world (FORM in Frankfurt, Germany and Research Lab Clarion in Clarion, USA). The result is the new protocol i-PRF ! Research of i-PRF ("i" as injectable) has been directed towards obtaining a blood concentrate with very high leukocyte content but which coagulates few minutes after the end of spin. This "super PRF" is produced with new tubes i-PRF specific for this preparation. The use of i-PRF is in its infancy, but already, the results in both oral surgery in regenerative medicine are very promising injection into soft tissue to increase vascularity and perhaps improve the biotype, injection into the bone graft particles (biomaterials) to coagulate and get a "solid" free of all movements granules. The interest of the graft clot also lies in how to carve a bone graft and give it a compact form. The protocol i-PRF is a real scientific and clinical innovation and will allow very many practitioners to improve their results in bone grafts.