Both start the same way: a small blood draw, a spin in a centrifuge, and your own concentrated healing factors applied to freshly microneedled skin.
The difference comes down to what happens inside that centrifuge. PRP and PRF are different preparations, and sources describe them as behaving differently.
Here is how they are described as differing, which concerns each is discussed for, and what to ask a provider. Evidence is still developing, and device labeling and provider protocols vary.
The Short Answer
- PRP is platelet rich plasma. It requires an anticoagulant and is spun fast.
- PRF is platelet rich fibrin. No anticoagulant, spun slower, so it forms a fibrin mesh.
- PRP releases its growth factors quickly. PRF releases them gradually over days.
- PRF also captures white blood cells and stem cells that fast spinning leaves behind.
- Some providers prefer PRF with microneedling, and PRP is used in other settings. Evidence comparing them is still developing.
What Microneedling Does on Its Own
Start here, because the blood component is an enhancement rather than the treatment itself.
Microneedling creates many small controlled injuries in the skin using very fine needles. The body responds to that injury by producing collagen and elastin to repair it. Providers describe a series of sessions as being used for texture, fine lines, pores and some acne scars, though results vary and are not guaranteed.
Those small channels are also thought to make the skin more permeable for a short time after treatment. That window is the reason some providers pair microneedling with PRP or PRF.
It is also a reason to be careful about what gets applied. Ordinary serums containing fragrance, acids or vitamin C are not designed to enter the skin through open channels and can cause irritation. Ask your provider which products will be used and why.
How PRP and PRF Are Actually Made
Both begin with a routine blood draw from your arm, usually a small amount, no different from a standard blood test.
For PRP, the blood goes into a tube containing an anticoagulant to prevent clotting, then spins at high speed. The high speed separation produces a liquid plasma concentrated in platelets, which carry growth factors. Because it stays liquid, it can be injected easily or spread across the skin.
For PRF, the blood goes into a tube with no anticoagulant and spins more slowly. Without an anticoagulant, natural clotting begins, and fibrin, the protein scaffold your body uses in wound healing, forms a soft mesh. That mesh traps platelets, growth factors, white blood cells and a population of stem cells within it.
The slower spin is described as retaining some of the white blood cells and other cells that a faster spin leaves behind, so PRF is described as containing a broader mix of cells. Whether that makes a meaningful difference to results is not settled.
Head to Head
| Factor | PRF | PRP |
|---|---|---|
| Anticoagulant | None | Required |
| Spin speed | Slower | Faster |
| Consistency | Soft fibrin gel | Liquid |
| Growth factor release | Described as gradual | Described as faster |
| Cells retained | Platelets, white blood cells, stem cells | Mainly platelets |
| Best paired use | Often discussed with microneedling | Often discussed for scalp treatment and other settings |
| Additives | Made from your own blood without an anticoagulant | Made from your own blood with an anticoagulant |
Which One Should You Choose?
Many providers pair microneedling with PRF, and sources describe a sustained release as fitting the timeline of collagen remodeling. The evidence is still developing, so ask your provider why they use the approach they do.
PRP has the longer research history of the two and is also used outside aesthetics, including for scalp treatment. Our post on whether PRP hair restoration actually works takes a closer look at that use.
An honest caveat: the research comparing PRF and PRP head to head in aesthetics is still developing, and much of the enthusiasm for PRF is based on its biological rationale plus clinical experience rather than a deep body of large trials. Anyone presenting PRF as proven superior is ahead of the evidence.
What It Treats Best
PRF microneedling is not a general purpose fix, and knowing what providers use it for makes the decision easier.
Providers discuss it for overall skin quality: dullness, uneven texture, enlarged pores and early fine lines. Results vary and are not guaranteed.
Some providers discuss microneedling for certain depressed acne scars. Improvement, where it happens, is gradual and takes a series, and the evidence for adding PRF is limited.
Some providers use PRF in other areas, such as under the eyes, but Hideaway's PRF microneedling page does not describe that, and the evidence is limited. Ask your provider what they would do in your case and why.
PRF microneedling is not described as a way to tighten meaningful laxity or correct pigmentation. For melasma or sun damage, the answer lies in a different category of treatment entirely. The American Academy of Dermatology's overview of wrinkle treatments is a helpful grounding on what each category realistically achieves.
What the Appointment Involves
Appointment length varies, so ask when you book. Numbing cream is commonly used first and takes time to work, and your provider can tell you what to expect.
A small blood sample is drawn and processed, and the microneedling device is used on the treatment area. Many people describe a strong vibrating sensation rather than sharp pain, but experiences vary. Your provider explains how the PRF will be used.
Because the material comes from your own blood, it avoids introducing a synthetic substance, but any procedure that breaks the skin carries risks such as irritation and infection. Ask your provider about the risks that apply to you.
Redness similar to a sunburn is commonly described after microneedling, and how long it lasts varies. Tightness and mild flaking can follow. Hideaway's PRF page describes redness and a warm, tight feeling for a day or two, and your provider can tell you what to expect.
One more piece of context, because it shapes the questions worth asking. The FDA's page on microneedling devices says it has authorized specific devices for specific uses, and that microneedling devices are not approved for delivering blood products such as PRP into the skin, and that the risks of combining devices with other products are not known. That is not a verdict on any one treatment. Device labeling and provider protocols vary, so ask your provider which device and approach they use and why. A licensed provider decides what is appropriate for you.
Aftercare and Results Timeline
Your provider will give you aftercare instructions, and you should follow those. Many sources describe using only the products your provider gives you at first, avoiding makeup for a short time, avoiding heat and sweat for a couple of days, and protecting your skin from the sun. For a stage by stage view of the first week, see our microneedling healing stages timeline.
Some people notice a glow within about a week as swelling settles. Providers describe changes in texture, firmness and scarring as building over weeks to months, but results vary and are not guaranteed.
If you want to track change, ask your provider about taking clear photos in consistent lighting. Comparing to an image can be more reliable than memory.
Questions to Ask Your Provider
Because PRF and PRP are prepared and used in different ways, it helps to ask your own provider about their approach before treatment:
- Which device do you use, and what is its labeling for the area being treated?
- Do you use PRF, PRP or neither, and why?
- How is the blood prepared, and who performs each step?
- What are the risks that apply to me, and what aftercare do you want me to follow?
- How will we decide whether a series makes sense, and how will we judge results?
Device labeling and provider protocols vary. A licensed provider who has reviewed your history decides what is appropriate for you, and no one can promise a specific result. Write down the answers, and ask for the product and device information in writing if you would like to review it at home. If a provider cannot or will not answer a question about the device or the protocol, that is useful information in itself, and it is reasonable to book a second consultation elsewhere before deciding. Take your time with the decision, because a consultation is not a commitment to treatment, and a good provider will welcome your questions.
Sources describe a series of treatments rather than a single session for many concerns, and the number and spacing vary by source and by device. Our guide to how many microneedling sessions you need sets out what published sources say about series length and spacing.
If you want to know whether your skin is a sensible candidate, our PRF microneedling consultations in Peculiar start with an assessment of what you want to change. We also offer radiofrequency microneedling, and your provider can explain how the two differ. Patients travel to us from Raymore, Belton and Harrisonville, and you are welcome to ask questions first.