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PLATELET RICH PLASMA (PRP)
PLATELET RICH PLASMA (PRP) in Kitchener, Waterloo & Cambridge
The PRP process often has a recommended treatment plan that includes 3 sessions. Hair growth is typically observed within three months and improvement to the skin can be seen within a few weeks. The treatments themselves typically take 30-45 minutes with the consultation process requiring an additional 30-45 min.
Facial Care
PRP PRE & POST CAREPre Treatment Care (Facial)
If taking blood thinners, please check with your physician if this treatment is permitted
Avoid fish oil, Aspirin, Advil & Green Tea - for 1 week
Hold blood pressure Medications on day of treatment until after the treatment
Smoking prolongs wound healing, avoid smoking 2 days prior to treatment and 2 days post treatment
Avoid alcohol the day before your treatment
Avoid sun exposure for 24 hours before treatment
Day of Treatment
Avoid make-up for 24 hours
Avoid Skin Care products
Do not exercise for 48 hours
Avoid excessive heat or cold
Drink 1.5 Litres of water 2 hours prior to treatment
Post Treatment Care (Facial)
Avoid scrubbing or wiping your face for the first 6 hours
Avoid pain relievers (blood thinners)
Avoid Alcohol, smoking & caffeine for 24 hours
Avoid saunas and hot tubs for 48 hours
Avoid the sun and drying treatments for 48 hours
Ensure your face remains clean
Avoid make-up for 24 hours
Do not exercise for 48 hours
Lay on your back for sleep
Increase water intake for the 1st week
Book your two week follow up appointment
Hair Care
PRP PRE & POST CAREPre Treatment Care (Hair)
If taking blood thinners, please check with your physician if this treatment is permitted
Avoid fish oil, Aspirin, Advil & Green Tea - for 1 week
Hold blood pressure meds on day of treatment until after the treatment
Smoking prolongs wound healing, avoid smoking 2 days prior to treatment and 2 days post treatment
Avoid alcohol the day before your treatment
Avoid sun exposure 24 hours before treatment
Day of Treatment
Wash hair with Shampoo
Do NOT use Conditioner
Do NOT use hair styling products
Do NOT exercise for 48 hours
Drink 1.5 Litres of water 2 hours prior to treatment
Post Treatment Care (Hair)
Avoid scrubbing or wiping your hair for the first 48 hours
Avoid pain relievers (blood thinners)
Avoid Alcohol, smoking & caffeine for 24 hours
Avoid saunas and hot tubs for 48 hours
Avoid the sun and drying treatments for 48 hours
Do not exercise for 48 hours
Avoid hair dye and treatments for 2 weeks
Increase water intake for the 1st week
Do NOT use blood thinning agents, vitamin E, Vitamin A, Ginko, Garlic, Flax, Cod, Liver Oil or Essential Fatty Acids for ONE week.
Book your two week follow up appointment
Contact the Office Immediately if you notice any of the following signs or symptoms:
Drainage from your injection site
Increased warmth at the treated area
Fever of 101.5 or greater
Severe pain that does not improve with pain relievers
PRP Aftercare FAQs
PRP Pre and Post Care FAQs
Answers to the most common questions Kitchener and Cambridge clients ask before and after platelet-rich plasma treatments at Elev8, covering preparation, recovery, timelines, and when to contact our team.
PRP pre and post care refers to the simple preparation and recovery steps that help platelet-rich plasma treatments work as intended. Following the general concept behind platelet-rich plasma, these steps support how your body uses your own platelets to encourage healing and growth after treatment.
Skipping these steps will not ruin a session, but it can slow healing or reduce comfort. Our nurse-led team, introduced on our about page, walks every client through this before booking a PRP appointment.
Most clients find these adjustments easy to fit into a normal week, since none of them require major lifestyle changes or missed workdays.
Think of this simply as giving your body the best possible starting point, not as a strict medical restriction.
Preparation mainly means avoiding a short list of substances and habits that can interfere with platelet function. This includes fish oil, aspirin, ibuprofen, and green tea for about a week before your session.
It also helps to avoid alcohol the day before treatment and skip smoking for two days beforehand. These small adjustments give your platelets the best chance to do their job.
Most clients find these adjustments easy to fit into a normal week, since none of them require major lifestyle changes or missed workdays.
Once your appointment is booked, our front desk can send a quick reminder covering these same preparation points.
In the week leading up to treatment, avoid fish oil, aspirin, ibuprofen, and green tea, since these can thin the blood and affect platelet concentration. If you take blood pressure medication, plan to hold it on the morning of treatment until after your session.
Smoking should also be paused starting two days before your appointment, since it slows wound healing at any stage of the process.
If you are unsure whether a supplement or medication falls into this category, it is always fine to ask our team before your visit.
None of these steps are meant to feel intimidating; they are just practical habits that support a smoother visit.
If you are on prescribed blood thinners, check with your physician first before adjusting anything, since some medications should never be stopped without medical guidance. Our clinic cannot advise you on stopping a prescribed medication.
Once your physician confirms it is safe, our team of nurse practitioners and RNs can walk you through timing around your specific treatment date for either facial or hair PRP.
We are happy to talk through your specific medication list during a quick call if you want extra reassurance before your appointment date.
Your safety always comes first, so we would rather double check with your physician than guess.
Alcohol should be avoided the day before your PRP appointment, since it can affect clotting and hydration. It should also be avoided for at least 24 hours after treatment for the same reasons.
Staying well hydrated with water instead supports healing and is one of the easiest ways to prepare for a comfortable recovery.
Choosing water over alcohol in the days around your appointment is a small habit that noticeably supports how comfortable your recovery feels.
A short pause from alcohol is a small trade-off for a more comfortable and effective treatment day.
Right after facial PRP, avoid scrubbing or wiping your face for the first six hours and skip makeup for a full 24 hours. Alcohol, smoking, and caffeine should also be avoided during that first day.
Saunas, hot tubs, sun exposure, and drying treatments should be paused for 48 hours, and it helps to sleep on your back to protect the treated area.
These steps are meant to protect the treatment itself, not to suggest anything unusual happened during your session.
Bringing a light scarf or hat can help if you feel self-conscious about visible redness for the first day.
After PRP for hair, avoid scrubbing or wiping the scalp for 48 hours and skip exercise for the same window. Alcohol, smoking, and caffeine should also be avoided for the first 24 hours.
Hair dye and other chemical hair treatments should wait two full weeks, giving the scalp time to fully recover before introducing new products.
Scalp sensitivity in the first day or two is common and usually fades on its own without any special treatment needed.
A few clients prefer a hat for the first day or two, which is completely fine while the scalp settles.
Makeup should be avoided for 24 hours after facial PRP to reduce the risk of irritation at the treated area. This gives your skin time to begin its initial healing response undisturbed.
Once the 24-hour window passes, most clients can return to their normal skincare and makeup routine unless told otherwise during their appointment.
Most clients return to their regular makeup routine the very next day without any lingering concerns.
Many clients simply plan a wash-day routine around their appointment so the transition feels effortless.
You can wash your hair the day before or morning of treatment, but conditioner and styling products should be skipped that day. After treatment, avoid scrubbing the scalp for 48 hours.
Hair dye and other chemical treatments need a full two weeks before they are safe to use again on the treated scalp.
A dry shampoo can be a helpful backup if you need a quick refresh during the two-week window.
A short transition period is normal, and most clients are back to their usual products within a couple of weeks at most.
Exercise should be paused for 48 hours after both facial and hair PRP treatments. This limits sweating and increased blood flow to the treated area while it begins to heal.
Light daily activity is generally fine, but anything that raises your heart rate significantly should wait until the 48-hour window has passed.
If your schedule makes 48 hours difficult, let our team know so we can plan your appointment day accordingly.
Most clients adjust to the temporary product pause quickly once they see how their skin or scalp responds.
Mild redness, tenderness, or warmth at the treated area is a normal part of the healing response after PRP. This typically settles within the first day or two after treatment.
Increasing your water intake during the first week is one of the simplest ways to support comfort while your body responds to treatment.
Keeping a water bottle nearby during the first week is a simple reminder to stay ahead of hydration.
We would rather hear from you early than have a concern go unaddressed overnight.
Contact the office right away if you notice drainage from the injection site, increased warmth at the treated area, or a fever of 101.5°F or higher. These signs are uncommon but worth addressing promptly.
Severe pain that does not improve with standard pain relievers is another reason to reach out. Our contact page has direct phone and email details for both locations.
Our staff would rather you call with a question than wait and wonder, especially in the first week after treatment.
Booking your next appointment before you leave also helps you plan around work or travel commitments.
Most PRP treatment plans involve a recommended series of three sessions, whether the goal is hair restoration or facial rejuvenation. This is discussed during your consultation based on your specific goals.
Each session, including consultation time, generally takes 30 to 45 minutes, with an additional 30 to 45 minutes for the initial consultation itself.
Consultation time is included so you can ask questions and confirm the plan feels right before moving forward.
Everyone heals at a slightly different pace, so these ranges are a general guide rather than an exact promise.
Facial improvements are often noticeable within a few weeks of treatment as skin quality gradually improves. Hair growth typically takes longer, with visible changes generally observed around three months.
Results vary by individual, and our PRP gallery shows real examples of the kind of change clients have experienced over a full treatment series.
Everyone heals at a slightly different pace, so these ranges are a general guide rather than an exact promise.
Photos at your consultation can help track subtle changes between sessions if that is helpful to you.
The core principles are similar for both, including avoiding blood thinners, alcohol, and smoking beforehand. However, the specific instructions differ slightly once treatment is complete.
Facial aftercare focuses on avoiding makeup and drying products, while hair aftercare focuses on avoiding hair dye, conditioner, and styling products for a longer window afterward.
Facial and hair protocols share the same underlying goal: giving your body the best possible conditions to respond to treatment.
Some clients notice facial improvements a little sooner, while hair regrowth naturally takes more patience.
Yes, many clients pair their PRP recovery period with broader wellness support, such as our IV therapy options, to help with overall recovery and hydration. These services are offered separately and are not required alongside PRP.
Some clients also explore our integrative health approach if they want a broader look at how nutrition and lifestyle support healing after any aesthetic treatment.
Combining services is entirely optional, and our team will never pressure you into add-ons you are not interested in.
If you have questions about how another service fits your goals, our team is happy to talk it through first.
A two-week follow-up appointment is generally recommended after both facial and hair PRP treatments. This gives your provider a chance to check on healing and discuss your treatment series.
Booking this follow-up before you leave your first appointment helps ensure a spot is available when you need it.
Marking this appointment on your calendar right away is the simplest way to make sure it does not get missed.
Setting a calendar reminder two weeks out is an easy way to stay on track with your treatment plan.
Skincare products should be avoided immediately after facial PRP, and styling products should be avoided the day of hair PRP treatment as well. This reduces the chance of irritation at a sensitive time.
Once the initial recovery window passes, most clients can gradually return to their usual skincare and hair care routine.
Most clients adjust to the temporary product pause quickly once they see how their skin or scalp responds.
Feel free to ask at checkout which location works best for your next scheduled visit.
This page outlines the general pre and post care steps used for PRP clients at both our Kitchener and Cambridge locations. Our team also reviews these steps in person before and after your appointment.
For general questions about the clinic beyond PRP, our main FAQs page and our wellness blog cover a wider range of topics.
Both locations follow the same aftercare approach, so you will get consistent guidance no matter which clinic you visit.
You can reach our team by phone or email using the details on our contact page, or start from our home page to explore the full range of services offered in Kitchener and Cambridge. Our staff are happy to answer aftercare questions between appointments.
If your question relates to a specific symptom described in the contact-the-office section above, please call rather than email so it can be addressed quickly.
We would rather answer a quick question than have you guess, so please do not hesitate to reach out.
Our goal is always to make this process feel straightforward, not stressful, from booking through recovery.