Factor 4 plasma therapy for skin rejuvenation: why it works, after-care & more

You might have heard about platelet-rich plasma therapy, or PRP therapy, and been impressed. After all, it uses your blood – yes, your blood – to treat a variety of skin issues.

Its abilities to reduce the signs of ageing are remarkable, as are its qualities as a treatment for facial rejuvenation.

Well, here’s some striking news. As ground-breaking as it might have seemed, PRP treatment is now old hat. That’s because of the advent of Factor 4. Factor 4 produces plasma that has four times more growth factors than any other branded blood-rich injection product. This concentration of growth factors is what makes it superior as a treatment for anti-ageing and skin tightening.

The Factor 4 system concentrates the growth factors in your blood. When reintroduced into your system, these growth factors stimulate collagen production, boosting your skin’s firmness and elasticity.

Our blog will explain the science behind Factor 4, and where it differs from conventional platelet-rich plasma treatment. Further, should you decide to undergo a course of Factor 4 therapy, we will detail how you should prepare for your sessions and provide an after-care guide.

Four times the growth factors than other blood-injection treatments

Knowing how blood is structured helps to understand how the Factor 4 autologous anti-ageing serum is derived (autologous means harvested from the body’s own substances). So let’s start with a quick look at the structure of blood.

Blood contains a fluid, known as plasma, and red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Platelets make up 6 per cent of the total. They are small, disc-shaped cells that contain granules. In turn, the granules contain clotting and growth factors.

The Factor 4 process begins with a clinician taking your blood, just as in a regular blood test. The drawn blood, contained in special tubes (more on these below) is incubated for six hours or more. The incubation produces a serum that is rich in growth factors and also contains anti-inflammatory bodies.

In the next step, the blood is spun in a machine called a centrifuge, which separates the serum from the rest of the blood matter. Finally, the serum is extracted and stored in readiness for your course of plasma treatment.

What makes the Factor 4 tubes so special? The tubes are what make the Factor 4 system superior to a conventional platelet-rich plasma system. The Factor 4 tubes have technologically advanced surfaces that spur the vigorous and rapid production of growth factors. The result is a serum with four times more growth factors than any other branded blood-injection product.

What you can expect from your Factor 4 skin treatment?

Factor 4 treats an impressive list of skin issues. They include:

Saggy facial skin and laugh lines (known as nasolabial folds)
Crow’s feet, wrinkles under the eyes, crepey skin under the eyes and dark eye circles
Sun-damaged skin, skin pigmentation, deep wrinkles and age spots
Crepey neck skin and other forms of sagging skin
Chest wrinkles and décolletage wrinkles
Saggy skin on arms & hands and knee wrinkles
Scars and stretch marks

From skin rejuvenation to age spots removal, Factor 4 delivers noticeable results within three weeks of the first treatment – and great results after the fourth plasma treatment.

Feel free to check out Klinic Solutions our Factor 4 equipment providers for more information.

How many Factor 4 plasma treatments will you need?

True Skin recommends four Factor 4 treatments and yearly ‘top-ups’ to get the best results. The initial treatments should be spaced two to four weeks apart.

What you should tell your clinician about your health?

Please tell your clinician as soon as possible if you have an infection, a low platelet count, are taking blood thinners (such as Warfarin or aspirin), are pregnant or breastfeeding, using anti-inflammatory medications, or are allergic to a local anaesthetic agent.

How to prepare for the extraction of your blood?

If you choose to undergo a course of Factor 4 treatment, we will need to take your blood. This is nothing to fear – the process is the same as in a regular blood test. As we must collect your blood by 8:30 am so we can process it that day, your appointment will be early in the day.

In readiness of having your blood taken, reduce or avoid alcohol consumption the night before as this can dehydrate you and increase the risk of bruising. Drink two to four glasses of water before your appointment to ensure you are well hydrated.

A clinician will collect between 30mls and 40mls from a vein. This is less than a 10th of the volume taken during a blood donation.

You may be assured the Factor 4 serum, being part of a truly autologous system, is not diluted with any liquids. Keeping your serum pure ensures it is free of additives or extra enzymes your body has to process. It is completely natural and extremely rich in growth factors, allowing the new layering of collagen.

How should you prepare for a Factor4 treatment session?

You should eat and drink healthily before a Factor4 treatment session. Avoid fatty, rich foods, caffeine and alcohol. Arrive early so a clinician can apply an anaesthetic cream (free at True Skin Cosmetic & Laser Clinic) to the treatment area and allow it to work. To ensure the effectiveness of the anaesthetic, any make-up should be removed.

What you may expect during your Factor 4 plasma therapy session?

We will take one of two approaches to your Factor 4 plasma therapy, depending on your skin issue.

If the first approach is chosen, a True Skin clinician will apply the Factor 4 serum directly to your skin. We will then make two to three micro-needling (skin needling) passes until it has absorbed most of the serum. The rest we will massage into the treatment area.

If, however, you have skin problems such as skin scarring, fine lines or deep wrinkles, our doctor or registered nurse may opt to give you a plasma injection. If this is the case, the Factor 4 serum will be injected directly into the dermis. Then, as before, we will make skin-needling passes and massage the serum into the skin.

What should you expect after a Factor4 plasma treatment session?

You may observe skin redness for up to 24 hours. Very rarely, the redness may last for two days. As with any clinical procedure to the face, you may also notice mild bruising or swelling around the eyes and lips.

What is the recommended after-care following a Factor4 skin repair session?

Factor 4 is an autologous blood treatment – it uses your blood – so there is no risk of an allergic reaction. And because the Factor 4 serum also contains natural anti-inflammatory proteins, downtime is minimal. Consequently, the after-care guidelines are short and simple!

After your treatment session, drink a litre of water to ensure your skin is well hydrated. Do not apply make-up or use any other skin applications, nor wash the treatment area, for at least 12 hours.

You may expect some localised discomfort for a day or two after a treatment session. Should the pain persist, contact your clinician. He or she will recommend a suitable painkiller.

When can you return to activities after a Factor4 treatment?

Until you notice the treatment area has settled, limit your physical activity to avoid sweating or increasing the risks of swelling or bruising.

What does Factor4 plasma treatment cost?

Please contact us on 0415 620 008

Should you decide to go ahead with this ground-breaking treatment for anti-ageing, facial rejuvenation, age spots removal and more, we will require a deposit on the morning of your blood collection.

Your complete guide to Factor 4 plasma therapy