Does PRP for the Face Actually Work? Evidence, Sessions and Cost in Gangnam

Quick answer: PRP for the face has evidence for a small improvement in skin texture and in how satisfied patients feel, but in a randomized trial with blinded assessment, fine lines and elasticity were no different from saline. It suits people bothered more by texture than wrinkles. At REPIC Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, the PRP Cell Booster for the face starts at 690,000 KRW (November 2026, VAT not included).

I'm Dr. Jay (Yongheon Ha), a doctor at REPIC Clinic in Gangnam. Because PRP is "made from your own blood," expectations tend to run high. So I'd rather talk about the evidence before the price. The good parts and the weak parts, both as they are.

What is the PRP Cell Booster?

We take your blood, spin it in a centrifuge, and use the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on your facial skin. Platelets contain growth factors such as PDGF, TGF and VEGF, which are described as possibly supporting tissue repair. Nothing is brought in from outside. It all comes from your own blood, which is a big part of why people ask for it.

One thing to know up front: there's no standard method for preparing or administering PRP. Each study makes its plasma differently, so a good result in one paper can't simply be carried over to another clinic's treatment. At REPIC Clinic, we draw blood, centrifuge it the same day, and treat right away.

Is there evidence that facial PRP works?

For skin texture and patient satisfaction, there's evidence of a small improvement. For fine lines and elasticity, the evidence is weak. That's where several systematic reviews have landed. The size of the improvement is usually reported as under 50%. Not large.

What about wrinkles specifically? A randomized trial published in JAMA Dermatology in 2018 addressed exactly that. The assessors didn't know which side had received PRP, and fine lines and elasticity came out no different from the saline side. Patients felt more satisfied, but when the evaluation was blinded, the wrinkles hadn't changed. I tell people this result at consultation, word for word.

Honestly, it's hard for me to recommend facial PRP as a wrinkle treatment. A treatment that tidies up skin texture a little: that's as far as the evidence goes.

Who is facial PRP for, and who isn't it for?

I recommend it for people whose main concern is texture and who are aiming for a modest change. I look first at whether the concern is on the texture side or the wrinkle-and-sagging side. "My skin got worse" can mean either, and they're different problems. PRP only answers the first.

It makes sense if your skin feels rough and dull and you want smoother texture, if you specifically want a treatment that uses only what comes from your own blood, or if you've decided in advance that a small improvement is fine. If you're planning microneedling for acne scars, adding PRP is worth discussing.

I don't recommend it for:

• People whose main goal is fewer fine lines or firmer skin. I can't tell you to spend money on outcomes that showed no difference under blinded assessment.
• People bothered by hollow cheeks or a sagging jawline. Volume treatments come first there; see how to choose a collagen booster.
• People expecting a visible change from one session. That doesn't fit data showing improvements usually under 50%.
• People with active cancer or an acute infection. We don't treat in those cases.

That's also why I sometimes suggest something other than PRP at the consultation. If what you want and what the treatment can do don't match, you're better off not having it.

How many sessions, and how far apart?

A common schedule is 3 sessions 3–4 weeks apart, then maintenance every 6 months. That schedule is expert opinion, though. It hasn't been validated in comparative trials. How long the effect lasts isn't known either.

So we set the number of sessions after the exam. Rather than locking in a multi-session package from the start, I think it fits the size of the evidence better to see how your texture changes after the first session and then decide together whether to continue. If you're visiting from abroad, share your departure date at the consultation and we'll fit the dates around it.

What are the side effects?

The most common reactions are redness, swelling and bruising. In one trial they appeared in 14 to 18 of 19 people. Assume almost everyone gets them and plan accordingly; it's an injection-based treatment, so the redness and bruising need time to fade. Serious adverse events are rarely reported.

There's a rare risk you should know about. Cases of vision loss have been reported after PRP was injected between the eyebrows or into the forehead. Your own blood or not, an injection carries vascular risk, which is why where and how it goes in matters so much.

Tell us about any medication in advance. Before-and-after care instructions are given on the day of treatment.

How much is PRP for the face in Gangnam? (November 2026)

At REPIC Clinic Gangnam, the PRP Cell Booster for the face starts at 690,000 KRW for the basic option, as of November 2026, VAT not included. Korean and international patients pay the same.

Each step up adds other treatments on top of the PRP. Which option fits depends on your skin, and for people new to PRP I suggest starting with Basic. See how your skin responds first; there's time to add more later. Details are on the PRP Cell Booster page, and all prices are on our price list.

How we do it at REPIC

With PRP, we spend more time deciding whether to do it than doing it. First we sort out whether the concern is texture, lost volume or sagging, and check skin thickness; this is also where we assess your skin with Meta-Vu and Mark-Vu imaging. If PRP fits, we choose the option, draw blood, centrifuge it the same day, and the doctor treats you personally. We then check progress and decide together whether to continue. If we think it isn't the right treatment, we'll say so.

Related reading

• PRP for hair loss: density evidence, schedule and cost
• How to choose a collagen booster: Sculptra, Radiesse, Juvelook Volume
• Skin boosters in Korea, explained

Consultations and booking at REPIC Clinic Gangnam: book online

This article is general information and does not replace a medical consultation. Results vary from person to person.