The Blurb
Located in the newly regenerated Nine Elms, a mere hop and a skip from Battersea Power Station, Our Skin Clinic is a cooperative outfit offering a range of aesthetic and wellness treatments. The menu boasts everything from Swedish massage to injectables to Cryogenic 3D fat freezing. They pride themselves on their advanced range of ‘skin and aesthetic treatments designed to enhance… natural beauty and promote overall wellness.’
I visit the clinic in late March for a PRP facial with Alex Sena, Our Skin’s Clinical Lead and Medical Aesthetic Practitioner. Like many of their practitioners, Alex is already an NHS high flyer and, with a special interest in the rejuvenating powers of plasma, he is the clinic’s resident PRP expert.
The Consultation
Alex takes me into the treatment room, which is reassuringly clinical. Unlike many of the city’s popular skincare destinations, the focus is less ‘woo-woo’ and more ‘science and medicine’. There are no mini buddhas, new-wave literature or dreamcatchers, just wipe-clean surfaces, informative leaflets and anatomical prints. It’s more ‘private dentist’ than ‘wellness clinic’, which is comforting, given the invasive nature of the treatment I’m about to receive.
Alex takes a look at my skin, which isn’t in the best condition – sleep deprivation and the effects of a long cold winter have taken their toll – it feels dry, loose and dull. On top of that, I have sun damage which has left me with sun spots and a loss of collagen around the eyes.
Alex talks me through some of the risks associated with PRP. He explains how the treatment works and some of the steps he’ll take before we begin to get the best results. He’ll start with a chemical peel which will help to remove the dead skin cells on the surface then he’ll perform a derma blading treatment which will increase the absorption of the plasma. “Plasma? What’s plasma” I hear you ask. Well here’s the clever bit: Plasma is the liquid portion of blood which carries everything that your cells need to survive – white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. The idea is that when injected, the concentrated platelets (platelet-rich plasma), which contain growth factors, will stimulate and accelerate the body’s natural healing process. Plumper, healthier skin, here we come!
The Process
The PRP process begins with the obtaining of the plasma – my plasma – which involves a sharp scratch to the arm and the drawing of a few vials of blood. If you’re okay with needles, it feels extremely routine. Alex then begins the centrifugal process, which separates the PRP from the rest of the blood. Then, he applies a thick layer of numbing cream. It’s a strange feeling. I slowly lose all sensation in my face until it feels like I’m wearing a mask. The numbing cream has taken full effect when Alex returns with the plasma. It’s a thick yellow liquid in a vial that looks a bit like sunflower oil. He tells me he is pleased with the amount we have retrieved and is confident that the treatment will work well on me.
My face is beginning to feel like somebody else’s when Alex starts to inject the plasma into the area beneath my eyes. It’s not totally painless, but I’m assured that it’ll be worth the slight discomfort. To sweeten the deal, he has also added a little booster in the form of polynucleotides (or salmon sperm to you and me), which is said to promote cellular activity and skin rejuvenation.
Next, it’s time for the microneedle, a small pen-like device that makes a noise like a tattoo gun. Fortunately, this doesn’t hurt at all, because he’s using it all over my face and adding the plasma we collected earlier as he goes. We conclude the treatment with a ten-minute infrared session designed to reduce any redness and to help repair the damage to the skin’s surface.
The Results
I experience some redness immediately after, and the full effects of the treatment are not supposed to be apparent until a whole month later. But it’s worth noting that unlike so many flash-in-the-pan quick fixes (hello, Botox), the effects of PRP can last for up to 18 months. One week on, I’m already noticing positive results. The dark circles under my eyes are reduced, the texture and overall elasticity of my skin is improved, and the discolouration and redness in my cheeks are beginning to retreat. I’m excited to see the full results and am so grateful to Alex for making me feel comfortable enough to give PRP a try.
The Details
For more info and a full list of available treatments and prices, visit www.ourskinclinic.com
19 Cellini St, Nine Elms, London SW8 2FQ
