I Tried The Botox Alternative Hailey Bieber And Kendall Jenner Swear By
Have you heard of PRP? If the answer is no, you’re not alone. Just about every single person I mention this acronym to seems to draw a blank – and I’ve been talking about it incessantly since trying it for the first time back in November. You may, however, have heard of the vampire facial, which combines PRP (platelet-rich plasma) with microneedling. Forget that infamous 2019 selfie of Kim Kardashian, PRP treatments are not actually a bloodbath.
Within the aesthetic treatment arena, PRP remains far less known – and far less frequently administered – than injectables such as Botox, which, according to beauty and wellness booking platform Fresha, still accounts for around 1.5 million searches a month in the UK, or dermal filler.
Though PRP remains relatively under the radar, it’s the only regenerative treatment that both Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner confess to having regularly – as detailed to Owen Thiele during their respective appearances on his YouTube series, In Your Dreams.
“It’s when they take your blood from your arm, and they spin it,” Bieber explained. “I love doing PRP with microneedling.” The Rhode founder reveals that she has the substance injected into her smile lines and under-eye area – a process she “trusts” because it’s derived from her own body and is therefore biomimetic. Jenner, meanwhile, has “been doing that for a long time because of my acne scars”. As for me? Well, I’ve had it all over my face and scalp – and the results have been significant. Namely, a transformation in the appearance of my dark circles, clearer skin generally, and faster healing of post-blemish redness. I’m yet to see a huge change in my hair density, but this requires more treatments and at least three months (the length of the hair cycle) to see results.
“Many people are moving away from frequent Botox and filler treatments and are increasingly interested in regenerative approaches that improve skin and hair quality over time, rather than altering facial structure,” explains Korean dermatologist Dr Jinah Yoo. “PRP has existed for decades, but how we use PRP today in Korea has evolved, which is why it’s popular again. We often use it for a regenerative approach.”
Like the aforementioned models, I was drawn to PRP for its “natural” credentials. I want my face to move, but I also want to have a rejuvenated, line-free appearance. I have acne-prone skin, and as I turned 30 this year, my focus is on preventative rejuvenation to calm inflammation early, rather than as a corrective treatment to address pronounced lines. Yet while Dr Yoo details that “outcomes are strongest when treatments are started early, before significant tissue degeneration occurs”, PRP is still promising when introduced later.
“For facial rejuvenation, PRP can improve skin quality at a cellular level,” says Dr Yoo. “Patients typically notice better texture, elasticity, hydration and overall skin vitality.” When it comes to the head, she adds, “PRP can create a more supportive follicular environment. By increasing growth factor and exosome activity, it can help prolong the growth phase of hair, reduce shedding, and improve hair calibre.”