What It Is and Why I Chose a Different Approach
Article 7 of 12
PRP is one of the most searched-for regenerative treatments in aesthetics. If you have been researching options for skin quality or hair thinning, you have almost certainly come across it. This article explains what PRP is, how it works, and why I made a deliberate clinical decision not to offer it at Dr Alluris Aesthetics, along with what I offer instead and why I consider those options the stronger choice for most clients.
What PRP Is and How It Works
Platelet-Rich Plasma is a regenerative treatment derived from your own blood. A small sample is taken, placed in a centrifuge to separate the platelets and plasma from the red blood cells, and the resulting platelet-rich fraction is then injected into the treatment area. Because it is derived from your own blood, it is called an autologous treatment.
The concentrated platelets contain growth factors that signal the body to produce collagen, repair tissue, and stimulate cellular renewal. Injected into the skin, they can improve texture, tone, and hydration. Injected into the scalp, they can support follicle activity in mild to moderate hair thinning. PRP has a genuine evidence base and has been used in both medical and aesthetic contexts for many years. It is a credible treatment. It is simply not the one I have chosen to offer, and there are clear clinical reasons for that.
Why I Do Not Offer PRP at Dr Alluris Aesthetics
The clinical case for PRP has been substantially overtaken by newer regenerative options. PRP requires drawing blood, centrifuging it, and reinjecting it in the same appointment. That process adds meaningful cost, session complexity, and preparation time, and critically, the results are inherently variable. The concentration of growth factors in a PRP preparation depends on the individual's own platelet count and blood composition, which differs from person to person and even session to session. You cannot fully standardise it.
The exosomes and polynucleotides I use deliver a consistent, precisely dosed, and highly concentrated regenerative effect that does not depend on the variability of a client's own blood. For the concerns I treat most commonly, including skin quality, cellular renewal, and scalp health for hair thinning, the treatments I offer produce comparable or stronger results with greater predictability and less procedural complexity.
PRP had its moment as the most advanced option available. The evidence has moved on, and so have the tools.
Exosome Therapy: A More Concentrated Regenerative Signal
The exosomes I use at Dr Alluris Aesthetics are not derived from human blood or human stem cells. They are laboratory-produced preparations sourced from non-human origins, manufactured under controlled conditions to deliver a standardised and highly concentrated payload of growth factors, peptides, and biological signalling molecules. This matters clinically because it means every treatment delivers a consistent and reproducible dose, something that an autologous preparation like PRP cannot guarantee.
When applied to the skin or scalp, exosomes instruct your cells to repair, regenerate, and produce collagen and elastin more actively. The effect is broad and biologically meaningful, improving skin texture, hydration, radiance, and cellular health over a course of sessions. On the scalp, the growth factor delivery can support follicle reactivation and improve the tissue environment around thinning follicles in a way that is well supported by emerging clinical evidence.
Exosomes also combine exceptionally well with microneedling. The micro-channels created during a Dermapen session allow the exosome preparation to penetrate to the dermal layer where it has the most meaningful biological effect, making the combination treatment more powerful than either approach alone.
Polynucleotide Injections: Structural Tissue Repair From Within
Polynucleotides are highly purified DNA fragments, derived from salmon or trout sperm, that work at a structural level within the tissue. Where exosomes deliver signalling molecules that instruct cells to behave differently, polynucleotides provide the biological scaffolding that supports deeper cellular repair and collagen production directly. They also reduce localised inflammation and improve the extracellular matrix, which is the structural framework that keeps skin firm, hydrated, and resilient.
Polynucleotides are particularly effective for delicate areas such as the under-eye region and neck, for skin that has lost structural integrity over time, and for supporting long-term collagen health as part of a broader treatment plan. I use CE-marked formulations including Plinest, chosen for their consistent evidence base and safety profile across a wide range of skin types.
How These Compare to PRP for Common Concerns
- Overall skin quality and radiance — exosomes deliver a more concentrated and consistent growth factor effect than PRP, without the variability of autologous processing
- Fine lines and skin texture — polynucleotides for structural collagen support, exosomes for cellular renewal, or both in sequence for a more complete result
- Hair thinning and scalp health — exosome therapy combined with scalp microneedling addresses the follicle environment with a standardised, high-potency preparation that PRP cannot reliably match in terms of consistency
- Acne scarring and textural irregularities — exosomes with Dermapen microneedling provide a strong combination for scar remodelling and skin renewal
- Long-term tissue support — polynucleotides or PLLA for deeper structural restoration beyond what PRP can achieve
Being Honest About What These Treatments Cannot Do
Regenerative treatments, whether PRP, exosomes, or polynucleotides, work by improving and supporting existing tissue. They are not a replacement for a hair transplant in cases of significant hair loss, and they will not replicate the structural volumising effect of a dermal filler or PLLA where volume has been genuinely lost. At consultation I will always tell you clearly what is realistic for your specific situation, and if something outside my current offering is the more appropriate route, I will say so directly.
A Simple Next Step
If you were researching PRP and want to understand whether exosome therapy or polynucleotide treatment is a better fit for your concerns, a consultation is the most straightforward way to find out. I will assess your skin or scalp, explain which approach makes clinical sense for your situation, and give you an honest picture of what to expect from a course of treatment.
WhatsApp Dr Adam directly on 07721 390017, or book online at drallurisaesthetics.co.uk or via the online booking page.
Consultations are available at SkinTouch, 77 Church Road, Crystal Palace SE19 2TA and at 58 South Molton Street, Mayfair W1K 5SL.
Results vary between individuals. No treatment outcomes can be guaranteed. All treatments are subject to a clinical consultation to assess suitability.
