PRP Side Effects and Risks - What Actually Happens After Treatment
Before spending hundreds on PRP treatment, you want to know what you're getting into. What are the real side effects? How bad is recovery? What risks should you actually worry about?
Here's an honest breakdown of what to expect after PRP treatment, based on clinical data and real patient experiences. No sugarcoating, no scare tactics—just facts to help you prepare.
Common Side Effects That Are Actually Normal
These happen to most people and aren't cause for concern:
Pain and Discomfort During treatment: 4-6/10 pain for most people. Like multiple small pinches. Scalp and under-eyes hurt more than cheeks. After treatment: Soreness for 24-48 hours. Like mild sunburn or post-workout ache.
Swelling Peaks 24-48 hours post-treatment. Under-eyes swell most dramatically. Face can look puffy for 2-3 days. Hands and joints may swell for up to a week.
Bruising 30-40% get some bruising. Under-eyes and lips bruise most easily. Typically fades within 7-10 days. Arnica helps but won't prevent entirely.
Redness Universal immediately after. Looks like moderate sunburn. Usually resolves within 24-72 hours. Longer with microneedling combination.
What Real Recovery Looks Like
Day 0 (treatment day): Red, slightly swollen, tender. Can cover with makeup after 4-6 hours.
Day 1: Peak swelling, especially mornings. Possible bruising appears. Mild discomfort.
Day 2-3: Swelling reducing. Bruises fully formed. Can return to normal activities.
Day 4-7: Most swelling gone. Bruises yellowing. Skin might feel dry or flaky.
Week 2: Completely back to normal. No visible signs of treatment.
Less Common But Still Normal Effects
These affect 10-20% of patients:
Headache More common with scalp treatment. Usually mild, responds to paracetamol. Lasts 24-48 hours.
Temporary Hair Shedding With hair treatments, some experience increased shedding weeks 2-4. This is old hair making way for new growth. Alarming but actually positive sign.
Skin Texture Changes Temporary roughness or small bumps. Skin adjusting to increased cellular activity. Resolves within 1-2 weeks.
Mild Fever Slight temperature elevation (up to 37.8°C) in first 24 hours. Body's inflammatory response. Not infection.
Rare But Possible Complications
These occur in less than 1% when properly performed:
Infection Extremely rare with sterile technique. Signs: increasing pain after day 3, spreading redness, fever over 38.5°C, pus or discharge. Requires immediate medical attention.
Nerve Irritation Temporary numbness or tingling. More common around eyes and lips. Typically resolves within 2-4 weeks.
Lumps or Nodules Small firm areas from uneven distribution. Massage usually resolves. Very rarely need intervention.
Allergic Reaction Nearly impossible since it's your own blood. Reaction usually to numbing cream or cleaning solutions.
Who Has Higher Risk
Certain factors increase side effect likelihood:
Blood thinners or NSAIDs = more bruising
Very fair skin = longer redness
History of cold sores = possible outbreak (preventable with antivirals)
Autoimmune conditions = unpredictable healing
Smokers = slower recovery, higher complication risk
What Patients Say About Recovery
Sarah, 35 (facial PRP): "Looked like I'd been crying for two days. Concealer covered bruises by day 3. Totally normal by end of week. Way easier than laser recovery."
James, 42 (hair PRP): "Scalp was tender for few days. No visible issues since hair covered everything. Worst part was not washing hair for 48 hours."
Emma, 29 (under-eye PRP): "Swelled up like crazy first morning—properly scary. But it went down fast. Bruised yellow for a week. Still worth it for results."
Minimizing Side Effects
Before treatment:
Stop blood thinners if medically approved
Avoid alcohol 48 hours prior
Start arnica supplements 3 days before
Hydrate well
Eat before treatment to prevent fainting
After treatment:
Ice first 24 hours (10 minutes on/off)
Sleep elevated to reduce swelling
Avoid strenuous exercise 48 hours
No alcohol 24 hours
Gentle skincare only
When to Actually Worry
Contact your provider if:
Pain worsens after day 3
Swelling increases after 72 hours
Fever over 38.5°C
Any signs of infection
Severe headache with vision changes
Allergic reaction symptoms
Comparing to Other Treatments
PRP recovery is generally easier than:
Laser resurfacing (2 weeks downtime)
Deep chemical peels (7-10 days peeling)
Surgical procedures (weeks of recovery)
But harder than:
Botox (virtually no downtime)
Light chemical peels (1-2 days max)
Some energy devices (immediate return to normal)
Long-Term Side Effects
Good news: there are essentially none. Unlike fillers that can migrate or Botox that can cause muscle atrophy, PRP doesn't leave anything foreign in your body. Once healed, there are no ongoing risks.
Thousands of patients have been tracked for years post-treatment with no delayed complications reported in medical literature.
The Reality Check
Most people find PRP recovery very manageable. Plan for 2-3 days of looking "not your best" and a week before special events. Serious complications are genuinely rare with qualified providers.
The biggest "risk" is disappointment if you're a poor responder. About 20% of people don't see significant improvement despite proper treatment. This isn't a complication but feels like wasted investment.
Making an Informed Decision
PRP has an excellent safety profile—better than most aesthetic treatments. Side effects are predictable and temporary. Serious risks are minimal with proper technique.
If you can handle looking puffy for a few days and possible bruising for a week, physical recovery is straightforward. Choose an experienced provider using proper sterile technique and risks become negligible.
For specific questions about PRP risks related to your medical history, message our clinical team on WhatsApp. We'll discuss your individual risk factors honestly and help you decide if PRP is appropriate for you.
