PRP Treatment in Knightsbridge, London: One Platform, Many Uses

What is PRP treatment and how does it work?

PRP treatment uses platelet-rich plasma prepared from your own blood. A small sample is spun in a centrifuge to separate red cells from plasma, and the platelet-rich layer is then applied to or injected into the skin or scalp, where platelet growth factors support repair, collagen production and follicle activity.

Platelets are best known for blood clotting, but they also carry growth factors that signal to surrounding tissue. When PRP is placed in the skin, these signals are thought to stimulate fibroblasts (the cells that make collagen and elastin), support new small blood vessels and calm the healing response. In the scalp, the same signals are thought to prolong the growth phase of hair follicles that are shrinking but still active.

The process begins exactly like a routine blood test. The sample is spun in a sealed tube, which separates it into layers: red cells at the bottom, a thin buffy coat containing white cells and platelets, and plasma on top. Depending on the system, the practitioner collects the platelet-rich portion with or without the buffy coat. The result is then delivered by microneedling, fine injection or both.

It helps to be clear about what PRP is not. It is not a filler, so it does not replace lost volume. It is not a muscle relaxer, so it does not soften expression lines. It is not a lift. Its role is to improve the quality of tissue: thickness, texture, elasticity and, in the scalp, the calibre of existing hairs. Patients who understand that from the start tend to be the most satisfied.

Why does PRP preparation quality matter? LP-PRP vs LR-PRP

Not all PRP is the same. The kit, spin protocol and collection technique decide how many platelets and white cells end up in the syringe. A widely cited classification separates pure, leukocyte-poor PRP from leukocyte-rich PRP, and a hair-loss protocol review recommends 3 to 6 times the platelet concentration of whole blood.

In 2009, Dohan Ehrenfest and colleagues proposed a classification that is still used today. It sorts platelet concentrates by their white-cell (leukocyte) and fibrin content into four families, including pure PRP (leukocyte-poor) and leukocyte-rich PRP. The authors noted that each preparation method produces “a different product with different biology”, which is one reason study results vary so widely.

Concentration matters too. A 2018 review of PRP for pattern hair loss by Stevens and Khetarpal recommended platelet enrichment of 3 to 6 times the concentration of whole blood, citing laboratory work that found an optimal platelet concentration for new blood-vessel formation of about 1.5 million platelets per microlitre. More is not automatically better, which is why a known, reproducible preparation is worth more than a large volume.

How is PRP used for the face, under-eyes, acne scars and hair?

The same PRP is used in four main ways: worked into microneedling channels for facial skin quality, placed with fine injections for thin under-eye skin, combined with laser, microneedling or subcision for atrophic acne scars, and injected across the scalp for early to moderate pattern hair loss.

Facial skin: the “vampire facial”

For facial skin, PRP is most often combined with microneedling, a treatment Levirgo offers as the Vampire Facial. The needling creates thousands of tiny channels and its own collagen-building injury response; PRP is spread over the skin so it can reach those channels. Expect fresher, smoother and slightly firmer skin built gradually over weeks, rather than an overnight change.

The under-eye area

Under-eye darkness has several causes: thin skin that shows the muscle and vessels beneath, pigment, hollowing from volume loss, and puffy fat pads. PRP can only help the first. In a small 2014 study by Mehryan and colleagues, a single session of intradermal PRP improved under-eye colour evenness at three months, but did not significantly change melanin content or wrinkle volume. For hollows or bags, other under-eye treatments are usually a better fit.

Acne scars

Scar protocols use PRP as an accelerator alongside a treatment that physically remodels the scar, such as fractional laser, microneedling or subcision. This is where some of the most convincing data sit, and it is explained in the evidence section below. If scars are your main concern, see our scar treatment options and the guide to laser skin resurfacing in London.

Hair

For hair, PRP is injected across thinning areas of the scalp. It suits people with early to moderate pattern hair loss who still have fine, miniaturised hairs, and it works best alongside medical treatment. Because hair loss has many causes, the diagnosis comes first. We cover that in detail in PRP hair restoration by doctors, and the session-by-session journey in our PRP hair restoration guide.

Does PRP work? What the evidence shows by indication

PRP has real but uneven evidence. Meta-analyses show it improves hair density in pattern hair loss and improves acne scars when added to laser or microneedling. For facial ageing, a 2025 systematic review found significant improvement in 80% of studies on skin thickness but in none of the studies on hydration.

Facial ageing: strongest for thickness and elasticity

Qin and colleagues reviewed 20 studies involving 514 patients that used PRP or platelet-rich fibrin on its own for facial ageing. The proportion of studies reporting a significant improvement varied sharply by what was measured, as the chart shows. All studies that measured patient satisfaction reported significant improvement, and no serious adverse events were reported.

Acne scars: best as an add-on

Atrophic (depressed) scars make up the large majority of acne scars. In a 2022 meta-analysis of 11 randomised trials, adding PRP to fractional CO2 laser improved clinical outcomes (odds ratio 2.56) and patient satisfaction (odds ratio 3.38) compared with laser alone. A separate 2020 meta-analysis by Long and colleagues, covering 311 participants, found that microneedling or subcision combined with PRP produced significantly better scar scores than the same procedure without PRP.

Hair loss: effective, but the trials are uneven

The 2024 meta-analysis by Kieling and colleagues pooled randomised trials and found a mean gain of 27.55 hairs/cm² with PRP compared with placebo, but it also rated the studies as highly heterogeneous and of low quality, with evidence of publication bias. The British Association of Dermatologists takes a similarly cautious line: its patient leaflet notes PRP is not offered on the NHS and that limited research suggests some benefit that is “unpredictable”. That balance is exactly why a doctor-led assessment matters before starting a course.

Who is a good candidate for PRP, and who is not?

PRP suits healthy adults who want gradual, natural improvement in skin quality, acne scarring or early hair thinning and prefer a treatment made from their own blood. It is not suitable with a bleeding or platelet disorder, active infection in the area, during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or with some cancers and blood-thinning medicines without medical review.

Expectations matter as much as medical history. PRP is a good choice for someone who values a subtle, cumulative change and is happy to commit to a short course. It is a poor choice for someone who needs a visible difference for an event next week, or who is hoping for a lift or volume that PRP cannot provide.

What happens during a PRP appointment?

A PRP appointment usually takes about an hour: consultation and photographs, a blood draw, around ten minutes in the centrifuge, numbing, then microneedling or injection. Most people return to normal activities the next day, with mild redness or tenderness settling within 24 to 48 hours.

1. Consultation and baseline photographs

   Your medical history, medicines and goals are reviewed, the area is examined, and standardised photographs are taken so progress can be judged fairly later.

2. Blood draw

   A small sample of blood is taken from the arm, just like a routine blood test, into sealed tubes designed for PRP.

3. Centrifuge and preparation

   The tubes are spun to separate the plasma. The practitioner collects the platelet-rich layer appropriate for your treatment.

4. Cleansing and numbing

   The skin is cleansed and a topical anaesthetic is applied. For the scalp, cooling or local anaesthetic techniques help comfort.

5. Delivery

   PRP is worked into the skin with microneedling, placed with fine intradermal injections, or injected in a grid across the scalp, depending on the indication.

6. Aftercare and review

   You leave with written aftercare, a plan for the next session and a review date to compare against your baseline photographs.

How many sessions? Study protocols differ, but most courses use a short series. The best-supported acne scar protocol in the 2019 review by Hesseler and colleagues used PRP with fractional laser in two or three sessions one month apart. For hair, the 2018 protocol review suggested monthly sessions for three months followed by maintenance. Facial skin courses commonly follow a similar rhythm of about three sessions, then top-ups every six to twelve months if you are happy with the result.

Is PRP safe? Recovery, side effects and downtime

PRP is generally well tolerated. Because it comes from your own blood, allergy to the plasma is not expected. Common effects are redness, swelling, tenderness and small bruises for one to three days. Rare risks include infection and, with any injection, bleeding or nerve irritation, which are minimised by sterile technique.

• Expected and short-lived: redness, warmth, swelling, tenderness and pinpoint bleeding at needle sites.
• Occasional: bruising, particularly under the eyes; small bumps or dryness after facial treatment; a dull headache after scalp injections.
• Uncommon: infection, cold sore reactivation after facial needling in people prone to them, or a temporary increase in hair shedding.
• Reported as absent in reviews: the 2025 facial PRP review found no serious adverse events across its 20 included studies.

Two practical points reduce risk. First, avoid unnecessary blood-thinning painkillers such as aspirin or ibuprofen for a few days beforehand unless a doctor has prescribed them for a medical reason, in which case do not stop them without advice. Second, keep treated skin clean and out of the sun while it settles, and use broad-spectrum SPF every day.

How much does PRP treatment cost in London?

Typical London prices for PRP are £300 to £650 per session. Facial or under-eye PRP usually sits at the lower end, hair and combined acne scar protocols at the higher end. A course of three sessions commonly costs £800 to £1,500 for the face and up to about £2,200 for hair or scars.

What drives the price? The preparation kit (sealed single-use systems cost more), the time involved, whether PRP is combined with laser or microneedling, the seniority of the practitioner, and whether the clinic includes review appointments and photography. A very low price per session can mean an open, low-concentration preparation or a course that has to be repeated to achieve anything.

For context, the NHS does not normally fund cosmetic PRP. The British Association of Dermatologists notes that PRP for hair loss is not offered under the NHS but can be sought privately. If you are comparing several skin treatments, our guide to non-invasive facial rejuvenation costs puts the numbers side by side.

PRP vs polynucleotides, skin boosters, exosomes and laser

PRP is best for regenerative skin quality, acne scar recovery and early hair thinning. Polynucleotides and skin boosters target hydration and thin skin with a manufactured product, laser resurfacing remodels texture and scars more strongly with more downtime, and exosome-based treatments are newer with a smaller evidence base.

These treatments are often complementary rather than competing. A common plan for acne scarring is fractional laser with PRP to speed recovery. For thin under-eye skin, polynucleotides may be chosen first, with PRP as an alternative for people who prefer an autologous option. For overall glow and hydration, skin boosters can be layered with a PRP course. The right order depends on your skin, timeline and budget.

How to choose a PRP clinic in London: regulation and red flags

Choose a clinic where a registered healthcare professional assesses you face to face, explains the preparation system, and works under medical governance. Check the practitioner on the GMC or NMC register, ask whether the clinic is CQC-registered, and be wary of pressure selling, vague answers about the kit or promises of guaranteed results.

UK regulation of non-surgical cosmetic treatments is changing. In September 2023 the Department of Health and Social Care opened a consultation on licensing non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England. It proposed a tiered system in which PRP therapy for cosmetic purposes sits in the amber, medium-risk category. In its August 2025 response, the Government confirmed that the highest-risk procedures will be restricted to suitably qualified, regulated healthcare professionals working for CQC-registered providers, with a licensing scheme for other procedures still being developed.

• Check registration. Doctors appear on the General Medical Council register and nurses on the Nursing and Midwifery Council register. Both are free to search online.
• Ask about governance. A CQC-registered clinic is inspected against national standards for safety and care. The Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) also keeps a register of practitioners who meet its training standards.
• Expect a proper consent conversation. GMC guidance for doctors offering cosmetic interventions says the doctor performing the procedure should seek consent personally and give patients time to reflect.
• Look for honest limits. A good clinic will tell you if PRP is unlikely to meet your goal and suggest an alternative, including doing nothing.
• Red flags: same-day pressure to buy a large package, before-and-after photos with different lighting, no medical history taken, or no written aftercare and contact route.

Why choose Levirgo for PRP treatment in Knightsbridge?

Levirgo Aesthetics Clinic is a doctor-led clinic at 6 Beauchamp Place, Knightsbridge, SW3 1NG, a short walk from Harrods and Knightsbridge Underground station on the Piccadilly line. PRP is offered as the Vampire Facial and Exo PRP, with honest candidacy advice and a plan built around your concern.

Our approach to PRP is shaped by the evidence above. That means matching the delivery method to the indication, explaining the preparation used and why, taking consistent photographs so improvement is judged fairly, and saying clearly when another treatment would serve you better. Because we also run a private GP service, relevant medical questions, such as medicines that affect bleeding, can be handled in the same place.

• Doctor-led assessment before any PRP course is recommended.
• Treatment in a regulated, sterile environment with single-use preparation.
• Delivery matched to the concern: microneedling for skin, fine injection for the under-eye area, combined protocols for scars, scalp injection for hair.
• Written aftercare and a scheduled review against baseline photographs.
• Unhurried consultations with no obligation to proceed.

Many patients visit from neighbouring areas. The clinic is a few minutes from Chelsea and Belgravia, one stop from South Kensington on the Piccadilly line, and within easy reach of Kensington. You can book online or contact the team with questions before you commit. Browse all skin treatments to see how PRP fits alongside other options.