What's the difference between PRP and PRF?

Both come from your own blood and both deliver concentrated platelets to tissue. The difference is in how they're processed. PRP uses a higher-speed centrifuge spin and an anticoagulant, which yields a liquid platelet-rich plasma that releases growth factors quickly after injection. PRF uses a slower spin without anticoagulant, which lets a soft fibrin matrix form. That matrix holds the platelets in place and releases growth factors gradually over 7 to 10 days. PRP is often used where rapid signaling is the goal. PRF is often preferred when sustained release matters, such as scalp work for hair loss or under-eye remodeling.

How much does PRP or PRF therapy cost at Greenwich MD?

Pricing for a single session is discussed at the consultation. The recommended starting protocol for most facial and scalp indications is a series of 3 sessions spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. After the initial series, maintenance is typically 1 to 2 sessions per year for face, or every 4 to 6 months for scalp. If PRP or PRF is layered with other regenerative treatments such as PDGF therapy, skinboosters, or RF microneedling, combination pricing is reviewed openly at the consultation. There are no hidden fees.

How many sessions do I need to see results?

Most patients complete an initial series of 3 sessions before judging final results. Visible change typically begins around the 4 to 6 week mark, with continued improvement over 3 to 6 months as new collagen builds and (for scalp work) follicular activity progresses. Some patients see meaningful change after the first or second session, but the standard recommendation is to complete the full series before assessing the protocol's effect.

Is the procedure painful?

Most patients describe the discomfort as mild. The blood draw is similar to a routine lab. The injections themselves are performed with very fine needles, and topical numbing is applied beforehand for sensitive areas like the under-eye or scalp. Some patients also opt for a vibration tool or cold compress during injection. Discomfort during the actual injection is brief, and there's no lingering pain afterward.

How long is the recovery?

Downtime is minimal. You can return to most normal activities the same day. Mild redness, swelling, or pinpoint bruising at injection sites is common for 24 to 48 hours. Strenuous exercise, sun exposure, and heat (saunas, hot yoga) are best avoided for 24 to 48 hours after treatment. Makeup can typically be applied the next morning. For scalp treatments, washing the hair is usually delayed by 24 hours.

Can PRP or PRF be combined with other treatments?

Yes. Combinations are common at Greenwich MD and often deliver stronger results than any single treatment alone. The most frequent pairings are PRP/PRF with PDGF therapy, with skinboosters, with Genius RF microneedling, or with standard microneedling. Combination protocols are designed at the consultation based on your indication and goals.

PRP and PRF use your own blood, so there's no risk of allergic reaction or rejection. Safety considerations relate to the injection itself (rare bruising or temporary swelling) and to the underlying patient profile. Active blood disorders, certain anticoagulant medications, active infection at the treatment site, and active malignancy may be contraindications. These are reviewed at the consultation.

How long do PRP and PRF results last?

Results vary by indication and by individual response. For facial skin quality work, most patients sustain results with 1 to 2 maintenance sessions per year after the initial series. For scalp and hair density work, maintenance is typically every 4 to 6 months because hair cycling is continuous and the regenerative signal needs to be refreshed more often. Combining PRP or PRF with other modalities (PDGF, RF microneedling) often extends the durability of results.

Regenerative Medicine

PRP & PRF Therapy | Platelet-Rich Plasma and Fibrin

PRP & PRF Therapy at Greenwich MD: a physician-administered regenerative treatment that uses your own blood-derived platelets and fibrin to stimulate collagen, accelerate tissue repair, and visibly improve skin and scalp quality, delivered personally by a triple board-certified physician. Related: PDGF Therapy at Greenwich MD →

Medically reviewed by Susana Querido, MD – Triple Board-Certified in Family Medicine, Aesthetic Medicine, and Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine. Medical Director, Greenwich MD.

What Is PRP & PRF Therapy?

PRP and PRF are autologous regenerative treatments. That just means they’re built from your own blood, processed on-site to concentrate the cells and proteins that drive healing, and then re-introduced into the skin or scalp. PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. PRF stands for platelet-rich fibrin.

Both work by delivering a high concentration of platelets and the growth factors stored inside them (PDGF, TGF-beta, VEGF, EGF, IGF, and others) directly to the tissue that needs repair. PRF goes one step further: it’s spun at a slower speed without anticoagulants, which lets a soft fibrin matrix form. That matrix holds the platelets in place and releases growth factors gradually over several days, so the regenerative signal lasts longer than with PRP alone.

The treatment is well-suited to patients who want a biologic, science-driven approach to skin quality, fine lines, under-eye hollowing, scalp hair density, and scar improvement. Because the source material is your own blood, there’s no risk of allergic reaction or rejection, and the protocol can be repeated safely.

Quick Facts About PRP & PRF Therapy

Here’s a concise overview of what PRP and PRF therapy at Greenwich MD involves before going deeper into the science and protocol.

Source material: your own blood, drawn at the start of the visit
Processing: centrifuge separation on-site to isolate platelets (PRP) or platelets and fibrin matrix (PRF)
Standalone session cost: pricing discussed at consultation
Initial protocol: typically a series of 3 sessions spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart, customized to indication and response
Maintenance: typically 1 session every 6 to 12 months once initial results are established
Treatment time: approximately 45 to 60 minutes per session including blood draw and processing
Downtime: minimal, usually mild redness or swelling for 24 to 48 hours
Combinations: often layered with PDGF, skinboosters, RF microneedling, or microneedling for amplified results

How PRP & PRF Therapy Works

The process starts with a small blood draw, similar to a routine lab. Your blood goes into a sterile tube that’s spun in a centrifuge at the clinic. The spin separates the blood into layers: red blood cells settle to the bottom, and a concentrated platelet-rich layer rises to the top. That layer is what gets re-injected.

Once introduced into the dermis or scalp, the concentrated platelets release their stored growth factors. Those proteins bind to receptors on local cells (fibroblasts, keratinocytes, follicular stem cells, endothelial cells) and trigger a cascade: new collagen and elastin synthesis, improved microcirculation, recruitment of repair cells to the area, and a more favorable environment for tissue regeneration.

PRP releases its growth factors quickly, within hours of injection. PRF, because of the fibrin scaffold, releases them more gradually over 7 to 10 days. That’s why PRF is often preferred for indications where sustained signaling is helpful, such as scalp treatment for hair loss or under-eye work where slow, steady remodeling matters more than rapid burst.

Results aren’t immediate. Visible change typically begins in 4 to 6 weeks as new collagen lays down, and continues to build with each subsequent session.

Dr. Susana Querido — Your PRP & PRF Therapy Provider at Greenwich MD

Triple Board Certification: Dr. Susana Querido holds board certifications in Family Medicine, Aesthetic Medicine, and Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine. That combination positions her to administer biologic and regenerative therapies like PRP and PRF with both clinical rigor and an anti-aging science perspective. Her regenerative medicine training informs every aspect of how PRP and PRF therapy is planned and delivered at Greenwich MD. Learn more about Dr. Querido →

Physician Oversight: every PRP and PRF session at Greenwich MD is performed personally by Dr. Querido, from the initial consultation through the blood draw, centrifuge processing, and injection itself. There’s no delegation to a technician or assistant, and no off-site lab handling your sample. The full protocol stays with the physician, which matters because injection technique, depth, and placement directly affect outcomes for delicate areas like under-eye and scalp.

Treatment Areas and Combinations

PRP and PRF therapy can be applied to most areas where collagen stimulation, tissue repair, or cellular regeneration is the goal. The most common treatment areas at Greenwich MD include the full face, the under-eye region, the scalp for hair density work, the neck and décolletage, the back of the hands, and acne-scarred or surgical-scar tissue. Because PRP and PRF work synergistically with other regenerative and energy-based treatments, Dr. Querido frequently combines them with complementary modalities to amplify and extend results. The primary combination options offered at Greenwich MD are described below.

PRP & PRF + PDGF Therapy

Pairing PRP or PRF with PDGF therapy creates a dual-biologic protocol. The autologous platelet preparation supplies a broad reservoir of growth factors and cytokines drawn from your own blood, while the concentrated PDGF formulation adds a focused dose of platelet-derived growth factor on top. The two work together: PRP/PRF brings the full signaling profile, PDGF reinforces the specific pathway most associated with collagen production and tissue repair. This combination is especially useful for patients with skin laxity, fine lines, or visible loss of dermal density.

PRP & PRF + Skinboosters

Layering PRP or PRF with a skinbooster treatment addresses regeneration and hydration in the same plan. Skinboosters restore hyaluronic acid levels in the dermis, while PRP/PRF stimulates the structural protein synthesis that improves firmness and texture. Together they improve plumpness, surface luminosity, and overall skin quality in a way neither delivers on its own.

PRP & PRF + Genius RF Microneedling

When PRP or PRF is combined with Genius RF microneedling, the microchannels created by the device let the platelet preparation reach deeper into the dermis, and the radiofrequency-induced thermal injury adds a second collagen-stimulation pathway. This pairing is well-suited for patients with skin laxity, enlarged pores, acne scarring, or significant textural concerns. It also tends to extend the duration of results compared with either treatment alone.

PRP & PRF for Hair Loss

Scalp application of PRP, and increasingly PRF, is one of the better-studied non-pharmaceutical options for early-to-moderate hair loss. Growth factors delivered into the scalp stimulate follicular activity, improve scalp microcirculation, and create a more favorable environment for hair retention and regrowth. PRF is often preferred for hair indications because the fibrin matrix prolongs growth-factor release within the scalp tissue. Results take time. Patients typically notice reduced shedding first, then gradual density and caliber improvements over 3 to 6 months.

Treatment Protocol

Greenwich MD maintains transparent, straightforward pricing for PRP and PRF therapy. The initial series is typically 3 sessions spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. That spacing lets each round of growth-factor signaling complete its first collagen-remodeling cycle before the next session adds to it. Once the initial series is complete, most patients move to maintenance: 1 to 2 sessions per year for facial indications, or every 4 to 6 months for ongoing scalp work.

Each session takes about 45 to 60 minutes from start to finish. That includes the blood draw, centrifuge processing on-site, topical numbing where appropriate, and the injection itself. Patients leave the same day with no formal recovery period, though some redness or mild swelling at injection sites is normal for 24 to 48 hours.

Pricing is confirmed at the consultation and depends on whether PRP, PRF, or a combination protocol best fits the indication, and whether other regenerative modalities will be layered in. There are no hidden fees, and combination pricing is discussed openly so patients can plan a treatment course with clarity.

Is PRP & PRF Therapy Right for You?

PRP and PRF therapy at Greenwich MD suits a broad range of patients, from those in their 30s starting to notice early collagen loss, to those in their 50s and 60s looking for a biologic option that doesn’t add synthetic material. Because the treatment uses your own blood, it tends to be well-tolerated and appeals especially to patients who prefer regenerative approaches over filler-based volumization.

Adults with early-to-moderate skin aging who want to address fine lines, loss of firmness, and reduced luminosity through cellular regeneration rather than filler.
Patients with under-eye crepiness or dark circles tied to thinning skin, where slow, steady remodeling is preferred over filler in a delicate area.
Patients in early-to-moderate hair thinning (androgenetic alopecia, postpartum shedding, telogen effluvium) who want a non-pharmaceutical option or want to layer it with topical or oral therapies.
Patients with acne scarring or post-surgical scars where regenerative remodeling can soften texture and improve color uniformity.
Patients pursuing a biologic-first aesthetic plan who want autologous treatments alongside or in place of synthetic injectables.
Patients combining other regenerative work (PDGF, skinboosters, RF microneedling) and looking to amplify outcomes.

PRP and PRF aren’t appropriate for everyone. Active blood disorders, certain anticoagulant therapies, active infection at the treatment site, and active malignancy may be contraindications. These are reviewed at the consultation.

What to Expect — Your PRP & PRF Therapy Journey

Consultation: Dr. Querido reviews your medical history, current medications, skin or scalp condition, and goals to confirm whether PRP, PRF, or a combination protocol is the right fit, and whether layering with other regenerative treatments would strengthen the plan.
Treatment Day: a small blood draw is performed at the start of the visit, followed by centrifuge processing on-site. While the sample is spinning, topical numbing is applied where appropriate. The injection itself takes about 15 to 25 minutes depending on the area.
Initial Series: 3 sessions over approximately 8 to 18 weeks, with each session spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart so collagen remodeling from one round can begin before the next session adds to it.
Progressive Results: first changes (texture, tone, reduced shedding for scalp work) typically appear at 4 to 6 weeks. Improvements continue to build over 3 to 6 months as new collagen and follicular activity accumulate.
Maintenance: once the initial series is complete, most patients return for 1 to 2 maintenance sessions per year for face, or every 4 to 6 months for ongoing scalp work, to keep the regenerative signal active.

Schedule Your Consultation

To learn whether PRP, PRF, or a combination protocol is the right regenerative treatment for your skin or scalp concerns, schedule a consultation with Dr. Susana Querido at Greenwich MD in Stamford. The consultation is the place to confirm fit, review your goals, and walk through the protocol and pricing in full.