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In this episode of Anti-Aging Hacks, I go a little deeper into the healing factors in your own blood, or platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

We discuss and answer the following questions:

1. What is PRP and how is it beneficial for healing and anti-aging?

2. What might be the disadvantages of PRP and why is it not consistent across all kinds of applications?

3. The preferred way to use PRP as an anti-aging technique, vampire facial and hair rejuvenation

This week my guest is Dr. Farhan Taghizadeh, who is the founder of Arizona Facial Plastics. An accomplished plastic surgeon based in Phoenix, AZ, he completed his ENT training in 2004 at the University of Rochester and traveled to Switzerland for a fellowship specializing in facial cosmetic surgery to study and deepen his understanding of the complexities of facial structure.

Fun fact, Dr. T has done over 3,500 facelifts.

This is a really interesting episode where we get to go a little under the surface and behind the marketing of PRP and understand how it works a little more. In addition, there is discussion of various other biological products that can be used in conjunction with PRP for more enhanced results.

Here are the notes from our discussion:

Dr. Taghizadeh’s background 2:00

– Facial plastic surgery and reconstructive surgery

– Has done over 3,500 facelifts

– Worked with European doctors and Asian doctors and learned about their views on anti-aging

Why is there excitement in Regenerative Medicine 5:20

– Regenerative medicine has converged with biological medicines

– Autologous and regenerative products have found their way into aesthetics

Why Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is exciting 6:20

– Different types of platelet-rich plasma

– Platelet-poor plasma (PPP) is not really concentrated. No wealth in PPP technology

– Increasing the concentration of platelets gives it a more beneficial effect

– Depends on spin speed, centrifuge type

– Plasma is studied using bone marrow aspirates (BMAX)

Where does PRP help the most 8:45 am

– Platelet-poor technologies have been associated with fibrosis and scarring

– Platelet-rich technologies that have been used in orthopedics have shown several benefits

– Doctors are still not sure how long PRP works

– Another disadvantage is that PRP comes with inflammation, as platelets react to inflammation

– Because of Marketing in aesthetics – this does not come out

– Dr. T has moved to tissue-based products rather than using your own platelets

– Not many mesenchymal stem cells in the blood as we age and PRP comes with platelets that can cause inflammation so care must be taken

Does the type of device or frequency mean 12:20

– Not a matter of platelet density, but how long the platelet has been spinning and the G-force on the platelet and the probability of the platelet surviving the spin

– Some centrifuges cause high G-forces which aloof the platelets and lousy platelets cause inflammation

– Dr. T tries to get more platelets to survive the spin, to try to reduce the G force

– The second calculation is nuclear yield, which is the number of platelets

How to measure Nuclear Yield 14:40

– Flow cytometers and similar machines can measure the platelets

– Other companies can publish the data in the nuclear yield

How does a consumer find out that their doctor is the right one 15:20

– See before and after pictures

– Talk to the doctor and ask questions

How often do you do PRP and how long does it last? 16:20

– Lots of variation, depends on the regimen. There can be 4-6 week intervals or longer.

– Works in the same way as other fillers when used as a filler

– When used with calcium chloride as a gel, it has different lifetimes

What is the patient experience 17:00

– Simple blood donation for 60 cc of blood

– Blood mixed with an anticoagulant

What about other additives such as Acell 18:00

– Dr. T’s opinion is that there is a significant improvement in allowing the platelets to be less inflammatory

– Micronized Acell powders or AmnioDry or others act as micromatrix

– These are cell signals that are rich in cellular materials called extracellular matrix

– They help to signal continuous regeneration of the tissue

– The stem cells are mobile phones, but the ECM products are the cell towers, so they help guide the treatment

– Micromatrix proteins are the next wave and have a much better impact on tissue

PRP for hair 20:20

– Mixed results

– Advanced androgenetic hair loss can cause further fibrosis of hair follicles

– For people who start younger, it is better

– Better experience with high nuclear yield platelets

– It can be advantageous to add Acell or AmnioDry micromatrix products

– If the patient is old and doing PRP, some people may lose the hair follicle

PRP for Face 21:40

– Used together with Fractional CO2, microneedling or microneedling with RF

– Use the gel topically

– Inject PRP into the face

– There may also be inflammation on the face

– Platelets are excellent at regenerating scar tissue and this helps with microneedling and microneedling with PRP

– Topical helps better than injecting it

– Injection gives you a full effect

How does facial PRP work on the face?

– When you damage the skin, the cells send signals to destroy old collagen

– This destruction of old collagen is a stimulant for new collagen

– MAP proteins are crucial for the amount of collagen that is broken down, signaling the fibroblasts to degrade new collagen

– MAP proteins are moderately enhanced with PPP and significantly enhanced with PRP

– As we age, the skin becomes dull and MAP proteins reduce their function – Collagenase is an enzyme that tells our skin to die

– As we get older, collagenase tells us that our skin is getting thinner and more damaged

– As we get microvascular disease, the skin has to thin so it uses less blood supply so we can shunt that blood to other organs

– Collagenase activity is reduced when we use ablative lasers

– PRP can increase the reduction of collagenase

PRP and combination therapies 20:35

– Being used more and more with other procedures to increase VEGF growth factor

– The fat treatment technique is more important than PRP

How soon after the injury should you apply PRP 27:30

– Depends on which product and the age of the individual

– If you are young, adding these to your tissue is very beneficial

– Once you lose cartilage, it becomes a big problem

Is there room for PRP in an anti-aging regimen 29:15

– Joint health is important, so exercise is very important

– Anti-inflammatory agents are very important

– Keep CRP very low

PRP for sexual rejuvenation 30:15

– In men, they try to get more blood flow to the penis

– Erectile dysfunction is associated with degeneration of peripheral nerves (metabolic syndrome) and blood flow

– PRP does not add nerve growth factor, but adds VEGF

– Nitrates such as Viagra and Cialis increase blood flow, but not nerve sensation

– In women there is UTI and PRFM and platelets are very effective for contraction and maintenance of the urethra and better muscles

– More pelvic floor strength with PRP and blood flow is also improved

– The next is biological products with PRP

– Men get erections without feeling – due to metabolic syndrome and nerve degeneration

– Many men stop taking medicine because blood flow is not their problem

How a consumer improves platelet count 34:00

– Diets with fatty acids, cholesterol, large meals can affect the platelet count

– People who eat more salads, etc., anecdotally have better platelets

Is PRP Effective as we age 35:30

– Depends on platelet count

– Age is less of a factor than nuclear yield

– Mesenchymal stem cells in the bone marrow decline significantly after the age of 40

Top anti-aging tips to look years younger 36:20

– #1: Metabolic Syndrome and Effects on the Skin: Huge Epidemic of Type-2 Diabetes. Affects skin color, tone. Manage insulin resistance. Take care of this first.

– #2: Maintain facial volume – #3: Reduce collagenase activity: Ablative lasers have been shown to improve collagenase activity

Where to find Dr. Taghizadeh

– Arizona facelift

– Instagram and Facebook: @arizonafacialplastics

– Lots of clinical and device research

– Do a lot of remote consultations

– Do a lot of analysis, do anti-aging programs now, so people can get the results they’re looking for

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