PRP Injection Your own platelets, concentrated.
PRP — Platelet-Rich Plasma — is prepared from your own blood. A sample is drawn, spun in a centrifuge so the platelet-rich fraction separates from the rest of the blood, and that fraction is injected back into the area being treated. Nothing is added to it. At MARA.H Chatswood it is used on the face and on the scalp, and every course begins with an individual consultation and suitability assessment.
Chatswood · Tue – Sat 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
What it is: your own blood, drawn and spun so the platelet-rich fraction can be injected back into the treated area.
Where it is used: facial skin quality, the under-eye area, acne scarring, and the scalp.
PRP and PRF: related preparations of the same starting material. MARA.H provides both; which one suits you is decided at consultation.
Appointment length: around 1 hour 30 minutes, including the blood draw and preparation.
Number of sessions: a course is usual; how many is set at consultation, not in advance.
What to expect: swelling and bruising at the injection sites for several days, and a bruise on the arm where blood was drawn.
Pricing: confirmed at your consultation, once we know what is involved.
What PRP actually is
PRP stands for Platelet-Rich Plasma. Blood is made up of red cells, white cells, platelets and the plasma they sit in. Platelets are the fraction involved in clotting and in the body’s own repair signalling, and PRP is simply that fraction concentrated.
A sample of your blood is drawn from the arm, placed in a centrifuge, and spun until the components separate by density. The platelet-rich layer is drawn off and injected back into the area being treated, in small amounts across the whole of it. The material is autologous — prepared from your own blood, with nothing added.
It is worth being clear about what PRP is not. It is not a filler and does not add volume the way a filler does. It is not a prescription medicine. And it is not offered here as a treatment for any medical condition — if that is what your concern needs, we will say so at consultation rather than treat around it.
What PRF is, and how it differs from PRP
PRF stands for Platelet-Rich Fibrin. It starts as the same thing — a sample of your own blood — and differs in how that sample is processed. No anticoagulant is used, and the blood is spun more slowly. Instead of a liquid concentrate, a soft fibrin clot forms, holding platelets and white cells in a mesh that breaks down gradually rather than dispersing at once.
Anyone reading about PRP meets the term PRF within a few minutes, which is why the difference is set out here rather than left to guesswork. The two are frequently discussed as though one has replaced the other; the evidence base for both is still developing, and neither is presented on this page as better than the other.
MARA.H provides both PRP and PRF. Which one suits you is decided at consultation, based on the area being treated, your skin or scalp, and what you are trying to change — not by which sounds newer. Both require a consultation and clinical assessment before they can be booked, and both begin with the same consultation.
PRP or PRF: what actually differs
Same starting material, different processing. The table below is the whole of the difference, without the marketing that usually sits on top of it.
| Preparation | How it is made | What that changes | At MARA.H |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRP | Blood collected into a tube containing an anticoagulant, then spun at higher speed | Stays liquid, so it can be injected in precise, small amounts across an area | Provided at MARA.H; whether it suits you is decided at consultation |
| PRF | Blood collected without an anticoagulant and spun more slowly, so a fibrin clot forms | Holds platelets and white cells in a mesh that breaks down over a longer period; handled as a gel rather than a liquid | Also provided at MARA.H; whether it suits you is decided at consultation |
| What this means for you | The question at consultation is not which acronym you want. It is what your concern is made of, what your medical history allows, and whether an autologous treatment belongs in the plan at all. Sometimes the answer is that it does not, and we would rather say that than book you in. | ||
Want to talk it through before you decide?
See Available TimesWhat people ask us about — face
These are the facial concerns PRP is considered for at assessment. Whether it is the right thing for any of them, for you, is a separate question answered at consultation.
Overall skin quality
The most common reason people ask. What can be achieved depends heavily on the starting point, and is discussed against your skin rather than against a general claim.
The tear trough area
Frequently asked about, and also the area where swelling lasts longest and lumpiness is most likely. It is assessed carefully and it is not suitable for everyone.
Acne scarring
Usually discussed alongside other treatments rather than on its own. Indented scarring in particular needs a plan, and the sequence is set at assessment.
What PRP is not for
It does not add volume the way a filler does, it does not address pigment, and it is not offered as a treatment for any medical condition. Where that is what the concern needs, we say so.
The scalp: what we will and will not say
Hair thinning is the second reason people ask about PRP, and it is the subject on which the most is claimed online. We are going to be deliberately careful here, because the gap between what is claimed and what can be stated is wider on this topic than anywhere else on our site.
Thinning hair has several possible causes — hormonal, nutritional, medication-related, autoimmune, and others besides. Several of them need a medical diagnosis before a cosmetic treatment is a reasonable idea at all, and some of them respond to something entirely different. If you have not had that assessment, see your GP or a dermatologist first. That is not us passing you along; it is the order the work should happen in.
Where PRP is used on the scalp, it is injected across the thinning area during the same kind of appointment described further down this page, and the same risks apply. A course is usual rather than a single session, response varies between individuals, and maintenance is part of it.
What you will not find here are hair counts, response rates, percentages, or a description of what your scalp will look like afterwards. Nobody can tell you that in advance, and we will not pretend otherwise. What we can do is look at your scalp, tell you what we think is going on, and be straight with you about whether this is worth your money.
The appointment, step by step
Described as it actually happens, including the parts people are not expecting. Allow around an hour and a half. The steps are the same for PRP and for PRF; what differs is how your blood is processed between steps 02 and 04.
Consultation
Medical history, every medication and supplement you take, previous reactions to a blood draw, and whether PRP belongs in your plan at all. Pricing is confirmed here.
Blood draw
A sample is taken from your arm, in the same way as a routine blood test. Some people feel light-headed during or after a draw — tell us if that has happened to you before.
Centrifuge
The sample is spun until the components separate by density and the platelet-rich layer can be drawn off. This takes several minutes, during which the treatment area is cleansed and prepared.
Injection
The concentrate is injected across the treatment area in small amounts. Pinpoint bleeding at the injection points and swelling that builds as it goes are both usual.
Before you leave
The area is cleaned, you are told what to expect over the coming days, and your aftercare is given to you in person — written for what was actually done.
What PRP and PRF involve, stated plainly
PRP and PRF are both prepared from your own blood, and both involve a blood draw and broken skin at the treatment area. What is set out below applies to either, and anything specific to the preparation chosen for you is covered at your consultation.
What most people experience
Bruising, swelling, redness and tenderness at the injection sites, and a separate bruise on the arm where blood was drawn. Pinpoint bleeding at the moment of injection is usual. Swelling builds over the first hours, is most noticeable through the first 24 to 72 hours, and is most pronounced around the eyes. Most people describe the injections as sharp at the moment they are given, with an aching tenderness in the area for several days afterwards.
Less common risks you should know about
Infection can occur wherever skin is broken, and injection sites are no exception. Lumps or firm areas can form and take time to settle, and this is more common in the under-eye area than elsewhere on the face. Prolonged swelling in the tear trough is a recognised outcome and can last well beyond the usual few days. Bruising can be extensive rather than pinpoint, particularly where medication or supplements affect bleeding. Fainting or light-headedness during a blood draw happens to some people. Nerve irritation, pain that persists rather than settles, and changes in skin colour at injection sites are uncommon but possible. Careful technique lowers these risks; it does not remove them.
Recovery and what it affects
Plan around this treatment rather than fitting it in. Expect visible swelling for several days and bruising that can take one to two weeks to clear, and expect both to be more visible if the under-eye area was treated. The arm where blood was drawn usually bruises as well. Makeup, exercise, heat and alcohol all have timings attached to them, and those are given to you at the appointment rather than printed here — the aftercare section below explains why.
Results and responses vary
PRP is prepared from your own blood, and what is in your blood is not what is in someone else’s. Response varies between individuals for reasons that cannot be fully predicted beforehand, and some people notice little. A course is usual rather than a single session. Any change is gradual rather than immediate, is not permanent, and maintenance is part of the plan. We do not publish figures for how much change to expect, because at consultation the honest answer is a range rather than a number.
When this isn’t suitable, or needs assessment first
PRP is not appropriate where there is active infection or inflamed skin in the treatment area. Blood and platelet disorders, current anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication, active cancer or current treatment for it, and blood-borne infection all mean this is assessed before anything is booked, and in some cases the answer is no. Pregnancy and breastfeeding, autoimmune conditions, recent corticosteroid use, and a history of keloid scarring also need assessment first. Tell us everything you take, including supplements bought without a prescription — fish oil, vitamin E and anti-inflammatories all affect bruising.
If something doesn’t seem right
Increasing pain, spreading redness, heat, discharge, fever, a lump that is growing rather than settling, or any change in vision after treatment near the eyes — these should be looked at rather than waited out. Call the clinic on 0468 358 861. If it is severe or you are worried, contact your GP or call 000.
After your appointment
On the day
The injection sites will be raised, red and tender, and swelling builds over the first hours. Leave them alone. A cool compress helps if the area feels tight — place it, do not press — and keep it away from the eye area unless your treating practitioner has told you otherwise.
Do not disturb the injection sites
Do not rub, massage, scratch or pick at the treated area, and let any small scabs at the injection points come away on their own. This applies to every treatment at MARA.H and it applies here. Where the scalp has been treated, that includes leaving the area alone when you wash your hair.
Sun protection
SPF50+ broad spectrum every morning for at least two weeks after facial treatment, reapplied every two hours when you are outdoors, with a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. Skin that has been through needle trauma takes on pigment more readily than usual, and Australian sun does not make allowances for that.
Hydration
Hyaluronic acid products help with the dryness and tightness that can follow, and can be used as part of your usual routine unless you have been told otherwise. Anything active — acids, retinol, strong vitamin C — waits until your treating practitioner tells you it can go back in.
Timings set for you on the day
| Activity | When |
|---|---|
| Rubbing, massaging, scratching or picking at the injection sites | Not at any point |
| SPF50+ broad spectrum every morning | Daily for at least two weeks after facial treatment |
| Hyaluronic acid and other hydrating products | As part of your usual routine, unless told otherwise |
| Makeup over the injection sites | Set for you on the day |
| Exercise, saunas, hot showers and alcohol | Set for you on the day |
| Acids, retinol and vitamin C | Set for you on the day |
| Other facial treatments or injectables | Set for you on the day |
| Your next session in the course | Set for you on the day |
Why several of those say “on the day”
Because the honest answer depends on how many sites were injected, where they were, and how your skin behaved while it was happening. A single printed timetable would be less accurate than the instructions you are handed at the end of your appointment, so this page does not carry one. If you leave without them, call us and we will go through it.
Call us if
Call the clinic on 0468 358 861 during opening hours, and do not wait for your next appointment to raise it. Outside hours, or if it is severe, contact your GP or call 000.
One more thing
Your treating practitioner will give you instructions based on what was actually done and how you responded on the day. Those take priority over this page.
Check this list before you book
The short version of the assessment. If any of these apply, raise it when you book rather than on the day.
Bring these up when you book
- ·Any medication that affects bleeding or clotting, prescribed or not
- ·Supplements — fish oil, vitamin E, high-dose anti-inflammatories
- ·Any blood or platelet condition, or a blood-borne infection
- ·Fainting or light-headedness at previous blood tests
- ·Pregnancy or breastfeeding, and any event you are planning around
Assessed before we proceed
- ·Active infection or inflamed skin in the treatment area
- ·Anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy
- ·Active cancer, or current treatment for it
- ·Autoimmune conditions, or recent corticosteroid use
- ·A history of keloid scarring
None of these is an automatic no on its own. They mean the decision is made at assessment — and sometimes the outcome of that assessment is that PRP is not the right thing for you.
PRP is prepared from your own blood and is not a prescription medicine. Prescription treatments at MARA.H are provided following consultation with Dr Jenn Lee, an Ahpra Registered Practitioner (General Registration MED0002666421). If anything prescription-only forms part of your plan alongside PRP, that is the route it takes.
PRP Injection FAQ
PRP stands for Platelet-Rich Plasma. A sample of your own blood is drawn, spun in a centrifuge so the platelet-rich fraction separates from the rest of the blood, and that fraction is injected back into the area being treated. The material is autologous, which means it is prepared from your blood and nothing is added to it. At MARA.H Chatswood every PRP course begins with an individual consultation and suitability assessment, and pricing is confirmed at that appointment.
Both start as your own blood, and the difference is in how it is processed. For PRP the blood is collected into a tube containing an anticoagulant and spun at a higher speed, so the platelet-rich plasma stays liquid and can be injected. For PRF, which stands for Platelet-Rich Fibrin, no anticoagulant is used and the blood is spun more slowly, so a soft fibrin clot forms that holds platelets and white cells in a mesh and breaks down gradually. MARA.H provides both. Which one suits you is decided at consultation, based on the area being treated, your skin or scalp, and what you are trying to change.
It begins with consultation and suitability assessment. Blood is then drawn from your arm in the same way as a routine blood test, and the sample is spun in a centrifuge for several minutes while the treatment area is cleansed and prepared. The concentrate is injected across the treatment area in small amounts. Allow around an hour and a half for the appointment. Pinpoint bleeding and immediate swelling at the injection sites are usual.
Expect swelling, redness and tenderness at the injection sites, building over the first hours and most noticeable in the first 24 to 72 hours. Bruising is common and can take one to two weeks to clear. Swelling is most pronounced around the eyes, and prolonged swelling in the tear trough is a recognised outcome that can last well beyond a few days. The arm where blood was drawn will usually bruise as well. Plan around this treatment rather than fitting it in before an event.
A course is usual rather than a single session, and how many is set at consultation rather than in advance. It depends on what is being treated, your starting point, and how you respond to the first session. Any change is gradual rather than immediate, is not permanent, and maintenance is part of the plan. We do not publish figures for how much change to expect, because the honest answer is a range rather than a number.
It is used on the scalp, and we are careful about how we describe it. Thinning hair has several possible causes, including hormonal, nutritional, medication-related and autoimmune ones, and several of those need a medical diagnosis before a cosmetic treatment is a reasonable idea at all. If you have not had that assessment, see your GP or a dermatologist first. Where PRP is used on the scalp it is injected across the thinning area during the same kind of appointment described on this page. We do not publish hair counts, response rates or percentages, and nobody can tell you in advance what your result will be.
PRP is not appropriate where there is active infection or inflamed skin in the treatment area. Blood and platelet disorders, current anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication, active cancer, and blood-borne infection all mean this is assessed before anything is booked, and in some cases the answer is no. Pregnancy and breastfeeding, autoimmune conditions, recent corticosteroid use, and a history of keloid scarring also need assessment first. Tell us everything you take, including supplements bought without a prescription, because fish oil, vitamin E and anti-inflammatories all affect bruising.
MARA.H Skin & Aesthetics is at Level 2, 12 Thomas Street, Chatswood NSW 2067, a short walk from Chatswood station on Sydney’s North Shore. Hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM. You can see available times through Fresha or call 0468 358 861. Every PRP course begins with an individual consultation, and pricing is confirmed at that appointment.
Still have a question we haven’t answered?
See Available TimesRelated Treatments at MARA.H
PRP is one option among several, and rarely the only thing in a plan. These three cover what sits either side of it — the sequence is decided at assessment. For the full breakdown of how PRP, PRF, mesotherapy and polynucleotides differ, read the Chinese-language PRP guide.
Polynucleotide Skin Boosters
The autologous sibling of PRP — prepared from purified polynucleotides rather than your own blood, and often compared alongside PRP for skin quality.
Learn More → Texture & ScarringSkin Needling
Controlled micro-injury used for texture and acne scarring — often discussed in sequence with PRP rather than instead of it.
Learn More → Injectable HydrationMesotherapy
Injectable hydration for skin quality, using a manufactured product rather than one prepared from your own blood.
Learn More →Start with a consultation.
MARA.H Skin & Aesthetics · Level 2, 12 Thomas Street, Chatswood NSW 2067 · +61 468 358 861 · Tue – Sat 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Three minutes’ walk from Chatswood station; paid parking at Westfield and Chatswood Interchange. Every PRP course begins with an individual consultation and suitability assessment, and pricing is confirmed there.
This page provides general information only and does not constitute medical advice. All treatments require an individual consultation to assess suitability. Individual results may vary.