Treatments · Treatment guide · Regenerative aesthetics
PRP in your clinic: records, protocol and aftercare
How a clinic runs platelet-rich plasma treatments: recording the blood draw and preparation, consent for two procedures in one, delivery by injection or microneedling, how a series is spaced, and the aftercare sheet clients need.
- Two procedures
- A blood draw, then injection or microneedling
- Typical course
- A series of sessions, a few weeks apart
- Downtime
- Redness, swelling and possible bruising for 1–3 days
- Results
- Gradual and variable; avoid guarantees
What to record
PRP is prepared from the client's own blood at the visit, so the preparation is part of the treatment and belongs on the record: the volume drawn, the collection kit and its lot, the centrifuge speed and time, whether the PRP was activated, the volume produced, and who prepared it. Two sessions with the same technique can differ if the preparation did, and the record is the only way to tell.
Then record the delivery: injected, microneedled, or both, the areas, the volume per area, the depth or technique, and any anaesthetic. Take baseline photos under the same lighting each time. Results build slowly, and matched photos are what let you and the client judge them.
Consent and contraindications
PRP consent covers two procedures. The venepuncture carries its own risks, including bruising, pain at the draw site, and fainting, and the treatment carries the risks of injection or microneedling: swelling, bruising, infection, and an uneven or limited response. Say plainly that results vary and usually build across a series. A consent that implies a guaranteed outcome protects nobody.
Record the screening answers alongside the signature, and who explained the treatment.
Screen for these before you treat
- Blood or platelet disorder, or taking blood thinners
- NSAID or aspirin use in the past week
- Active infection or skin condition in the treatment area
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Faints easily with blood draws
- History of cold sores, if treating near the mouth
PRP protocol: preparation and delivery
There is no single PRP protocol. Collection systems, centrifuge settings and delivery techniques differ, and the evidence varies by indication. What a clinic can control is consistency: the same preparation recorded the same way each session, so outcomes can be compared. Your collection system's instructions and your medical director's protocol set the details.
- Screen first. Blood thinners, platelet disorders and recent NSAID use change whether and when to treat.
- Follow the collection kit's instructions for draw volume and centrifuge settings, and record them every time.
- Delivery is by injection into the skin or scalp, by microneedling with PRP applied, or both. Record which, and the volume per area.
- Microneedling with PRP follows the depth and spacing guidance for microneedling; use the depth chart for the needle depth by concern.
Course of treatment
PRP is usually sold as a series, with sessions a few weeks apart and maintenance treatments after. Course length and spacing depend on the indication and the protocol, so set them in your protocol and say them out loud at the consultation. Clients who expect a result after one session are the ones who don't come back for the second.
- Record the session number and the interval since the last session on every visit.
- Repeat photos at the same points in the series, under the same lighting.
- Price the series as a package, so the course is the default rather than a decision made at every visit.
Aftercare you send
PRP aftercare has to cover the draw site as well as the treated area. The sheet tells clients what is normal (bruising at the draw site, swelling and redness for a day or few), what to avoid (strenuous exercise, heat, alcohol, rubbing the area), when they can wash the area or their hair, and how long to avoid anti-inflammatories, with a blank for your clinic's window. It also tells clients not to stop medication a doctor prescribed without asking that doctor.
Running this in Zdrovia
In Zdrovia, the preparation and delivery details go on a structured treatment note, and the collection kit is dispensed from inventory with its lot, so every session is traceable to the kit used. Sell the series as a package, attach the PRP aftercare sheet to the service, and every client receives it after their visit.
See how Zdrovia is set up for med spas and solo injectors.
Frequently asked questions
What should a PRP treatment record include?
The volume drawn, collection kit and lot, centrifuge settings, whether the PRP was activated, the volume produced, the delivery method, areas and volume per area, the client's response, and matched photos.
How many PRP sessions make a course?
PRP is usually delivered as a series of sessions a few weeks apart, followed by maintenance. The exact number and spacing depend on the indication and your protocol, so set them there and explain them at the consultation.
Why does PRP consent need to cover the blood draw?
Because the venepuncture is a procedure with its own risks, such as bruising and fainting, separate from the risks of the injection or microneedling.
Should clients avoid ibuprofen after PRP?
Many protocols ask clients to avoid NSAIDs for a period around treatment. The window varies, so put your clinic's dates on the aftercare sheet, and tell clients not to stop prescribed medication without asking their doctor.
Related
- Microneedling treatment guide
- Photo consent form template
- Treatment package agreement
- All treatment guides
This guide summarises published figures and common documentation practice for clinics. It is not clinical or legal advice. Dosing, depth, and device settings are decisions for the treating practitioner, the manufacturer's instructions, and your medical director's protocol, and scope of practice varies by province and profession. Confirm anything you rely on with your regulatory college.