Understanding Platelet-Derived Growth Factors for Skin Rejuvenation
If you’re familiar with PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) and PRF (Platelet-Rich Fibrin), you already know that platelet-derived treatments are a powerful way to stimulate collagen, accelerate healing, and improve overall skin quality. But what if there was a more potent and consistent option?
Enter Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF)
PDGF is a skin rejuvenation treatment that enhances the body’s natural repair processes. Unlike PRP or PRF, which require a blood draw to extract growth factors, PDGF is a lab-engineered formula that delivers a significantly higher concentration of growth factors. When applied after a laser or microneedling treatment, or injected directly into the skin, PDGF accelerates healing, strengthens the skin, and enhances collagen production.
What is PDGF?
PDGF is a protein that naturally occurs in platelets and plays a key role in wound healing, cell regeneration, and collagen production. While it is relatively new in aesthetics, PDGF has been used in medicine for over 15 years to help treat wounds, repair damaged tissue, and speed up recovery. Now, it’s being introduced in skincare treatments to deliver faster, more consistent results compared to PRP or PRF.
Unlike PRP and PRF, which are extracted from your own blood and can vary in quality and effectiveness, PDGF is lab-engineered to be pure and highly potent. This ensures a consistent, controlled dose of growth factors, eliminating the need for a blood draw while delivering better results.
PRF vs PDGF: What’s the Difference?
Both PRF and PDGF work to strengthen the skin, stimulate collagen, and promote tissue regeneration. However, there are key differences in how they work:
PRF:
- Comes from the patient’s own blood
- Contains a mixture of fibrin, white blood cells, and platelets
- Releases growth factors slowly over time, providing sustained benefits
PDGF:
- A purified, lab-engineered formula
- Contains only growth factors without other blood components
- Works more quickly and delivers a higher concentration of growth factors
How is PDGF Used in Aesthetic Treatments?
It can be used in several ways to improve skin health and appearance. Some of the most common applications include:
- Under-Eye Rejuvenation: Many patients who believe they need undereye filler actually benefit more from strengthening the delicate undereye tissue. It helps improve skin quality when darkness and crepey skin are concerns.
- Post-Laser and Microneedling: Treatments like CoolPeel, DEKA, and Vivace create controlled damage to the skin, triggering a repair response. Applying it post-treatment provides the skin with the resources it needs to heal more effectively, improving results and reducing downtime.
- Collagen Stimulation: It actively encourages collagen and elastin production, which improves skin texture, firmness, and elasticity over time.
Why Choose PDGF?
With PRF, you can expect a 5x increase in growth factor production. With PDGF, the increase ranges from 1,000 to 300,000 times more. That level of potency means more efficient skin regeneration and better long-term results.
PDGF offers a more controlled and consistent approach to growth factor therapy, making it a great option for those looking for reliable, high-quality results without the need for a blood draw. Whether used for skin rejuvenation, post-procedure healing, or collagen stimulation, it is a powerful tool for achieving healthier, more youthful skin.
