Explainer
Explainer
Both are made from your own blood and both use concentrated platelets to stimulate collagen and tissue repair. The difference is in the spin. PRP is centrifuged at high speed with an anticoagulant; PRF is spun more slowly with none, which preserves a fibrin scaffold and releases growth factors gradually over days rather than immediately.
Both start the same way: a small blood draw, much like a routine blood test, spun in a centrifuge to separate the components.
PRP is collected into a tube containing an anticoagulant, which stops the blood clotting so it can be spun at high speed. This concentrates platelets efficiently, but the anticoagulant prevents the fibrin matrix forming.
PRF is collected into a plain tube with nothing added and spun more slowly. Because clotting is allowed to begin naturally, a fibrin mesh forms and traps platelets and white blood cells within it. Nothing artificial ever enters the sample.
The fibrin scaffold changes the timing of the treatment. PRP releases its growth factors quickly — most within about a day. PRF releases them steadily across roughly a week, which means a longer stimulus to the tissue from a single session.
PRF also holds more white blood cells, which contribute to the healing and remodelling response, and it can be left to set into a gel that provides light structural support. That property is why PRF is generally preferred under the eyes, where a small amount of gentle volume alongside skin-quality improvement is often exactly what is needed, and where conventional filler carries more risk.
In practice the choice follows the area:
Neither is universally superior. Any clinic insisting one is always better is describing the equipment it owns rather than your treatment.
These are regenerative treatments, so results build rather than appear. Most people notice improvement in skin quality from around six weeks, developing over three to six months as collagen remodels. A course of three sessions four to six weeks apart is typical, with maintenance once or twice a year.
Because the material is entirely your own, allergic reaction is not a consideration. Expect some bruising, particularly under the eyes, and mild swelling for a day or two.
| PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) | PRF (Platelet-Rich Fibrin) | |
|---|---|---|
| Anticoagulant used | Yes — prevents clotting during processing | No — nothing is added to your blood |
| Centrifuge speed | Higher speed | Lower speed, shorter spin |
| Fibrin scaffold | Broken down during processing | Preserved, forming a natural matrix |
| Growth factor release | Rapid, over roughly 24 hours | Gradual, over about 7 days |
| White blood cells retained | Fewer | More, supporting the healing response |
| Consistency | Liquid | Liquid, or a gel when left to set |
| Commonly preferred for | Scalp and hair, broad facial treatment, microneedling | Under-eye hollows, delicate areas, volume support |
| Longevity in tissue | Shorter | Longer, due to the scaffold |
What is the main difference between PRP and PRF?
PRP is spun at high speed with an anticoagulant. PRF is spun more slowly with nothing added, preserving a fibrin scaffold that releases growth factors over about a week rather than a day.
Is PRF better than PRP?
Not universally. PRF suits delicate areas such as under-eyes because it is gentler and longer-acting. PRP has more published evidence for hair restoration and combines readily with microneedling. The area being treated decides.
Which is better for under-eye circles?
PRF is generally preferred. Its slower growth factor release and light structural support suit the thin under-eye skin, where conventional dermal filler carries more risk.
Are PRP and PRF safe?
Both use your own blood, so allergic reaction and rejection are not concerns. PRF has nothing added to it at all. The usual injection considerations — bruising, swelling and correct technique — still apply.
How many sessions will I need?
Typically three, spaced four to six weeks apart, then maintenance once or twice a year. Hair restoration protocols often require more.
When will I see results?
Improvement in skin quality is usually noticeable from around six weeks and continues developing for three to six months as collagen remodels. These are gradual treatments, not immediate ones.
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