Templates · Free template · Aftercare
PRP Aftercare Instructions
A printable handout for clients after platelet-rich plasma treatment of the face or scalp: what the blood-draw site and treated area will do, what to avoid, and the signs that mean call the clinic.
How to use this sheet
This is a draft to adapt, not a finished protocol. Timings such as how long to avoid exercise, heat, or active skincare differ between devices, products, and practitioners, so check every line against what you actually tell clients, fill in the blanks at the bottom, and have your medical director or clinical lead review it before you use it.
Print it, save it as a PDF, or send it digitally. Tick the aftercare box on the client's chart so there is a record that the instructions were given.
The anti-inflammatory line
Many PRP protocols ask clients to avoid NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and aspirin for a period before and after treatment, because they are thought to blunt the platelet response. The length of that window varies between protocols, so the sheet leaves a blank for yours. Clients who take aspirin or other medication on a doctor's advice should not stop it without speaking to that doctor, and the sheet says so.
Why a written sheet matters
Clients forget most of what they are told in the room, especially straight after an injection or a peel. A written sheet answers the 9 p.m. question of whether something is normal, tells them exactly when it is not, and shows that you gave the instructions.
PRP Aftercare Instructions
Your treatment
- Injection
- Microneedling with PRP
- Scalp
What is normal
- Bruising or tenderness where the blood was drawn, for a few days.
- Redness, swelling, and tenderness in the treated area, usually settling over one to three days.
- Small bumps or pinpoint marks at injection sites, and possible bruising, especially around the eyes.
- After microneedling with PRP, redness like a mild sunburn and some flaking as the skin renews.
- A dull ache or tightness in the scalp after scalp treatment.
The first 24 to 48 hours
- Leave the treated area alone. Do not rub, massage, or press on it unless we told you to.
- Avoid strenuous exercise, saunas, steam rooms, and hot tubs.
- Avoid alcohol, which can increase bruising and swelling.
- Do not apply makeup, active skincare, or hair products to the area until the time written below.
- Use a cool compress wrapped in a cloth for swelling, for a few minutes at a time.
- For pain, use the pain reliever we recommended. Do not take ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin unless a doctor has told you to.
The next week
- Wear a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher on treated facial skin, and avoid direct sun and tanning.
- Restart your usual skincare when we tell you to. Hold retinoids and acids until then.
- No other facial treatments, waxing, or hair colouring on the area until we have cleared them.
- Results build gradually over weeks and across a series of sessions, so keep your next appointment.
Call us if
- Redness, swelling, or pain is getting worse after 48 hours instead of better.
- You see pus, spreading redness, or the area becomes increasingly hot.
- You have a fever or feel unwell.
- The blood-draw site becomes very swollen, red, or painful.
- You get a cold sore after treatment near the mouth.
Your clinic
Your practitioner fills this in before you leave.
- Instructions explained verbally
- Client received a copy
Template from zdrovia.ca/templates/prp-aftercare-instructions/ · Send it automatically after each visit, free, at zdrovia.ca · Adapt to your clinic's protocol and have it reviewed by your medical director or clinical lead before use.
Send the right aftercare to every client automatically
In Zdrovia you write an aftercare sheet once under Patient Instructions and attach it to the service as its post-visit instruction. Every booking for that service delivers it to the client through their portal or by message, and you can embed it on your own website. Free for solo practitioners, with data stored in Canada.
See how Zdrovia is set up for med spas.
Frequently asked questions
How long does swelling last after PRP?
Commonly one to three days, longer for some areas and techniques. Write the range for the treatments you offer on the sheet.
Why avoid ibuprofen after PRP?
Many protocols avoid NSAIDs around PRP because they are thought to interfere with the platelet response. The window varies, so fill in your own dates, and tell clients not to stop medication a doctor prescribed without asking that doctor.
Can this sheet cover both facial and scalp PRP?
Yes. It covers the shared aftercare and has a line for when to wash the hair. Add anything specific to your scalp protocol.
Related
This sheet is general patient education, not medical advice for any individual. Timings and products differ between treatments, devices, and practitioners, and your clinician's instructions for a specific client always take priority. Have your medical director or clinical lead review and adapt it before you give it to clients.