Both start with a small draw of your own blood. Both are genuinely regenerative. The difference is how the blood is spun, what survives that spin, and how quickly the growth factors are released once they're in your skin. Neither is the better one. They're good at different jobs.
The short answer: PRF is spun slowly with no additives, so it keeps more of your blood's biology and forms a fibrin matrix that releases growth factors gradually over seven to ten days. PRP is spun faster into a clean, concentrated liquid that delivers its growth factors immediately. Slow and sustained: PRF. Concentrated and immediate: PRP. We carry both because the right answer depends on the area being treated.
PRF stands for platelet-rich fibrin. We use the Arthrex system, which spins at a slower, gentler speed. That gentler spin preserves more of what's in your blood: platelets, but also white blood cells, stem cells, and the fibrinogen that clots naturally into a fibrin matrix. Because no anticoagulants or additives are used, what goes back in is entirely your own biology. The matrix holds the healing signals in place rather than letting them disperse, then releases them over roughly seven to ten days.
PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. We use Salient's Cellenis, a Health Canada-licensed system used in more than a million procedures worldwide. The faster spin separates plasma from red blood cells cleanly, producing a consistent liquid concentrate that's ready to deliver straight away. Instead of a slow release, PRP signals the body to repair all at once, and the response compounds over the weeks that follow.
There's a third option worth knowing about: Cellenis with NaturaGel combines your PRP with a gel matrix made from your own platelet-poor plasma, giving immediate volume alongside the regeneration. It's an autologous alternative to hyaluronic acid filler, not a different category of the same debate.
| Arthrex PRF | Cellenis PRP | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Platelet-rich fibrin, a soft matrix | Platelet-rich plasma, a liquid concentrate |
| The spin | Slower and gentler, no anticoagulants or additives | Faster, for a clean, consistent concentrate |
| What it keeps | Platelets plus more white blood cells, stem cells and fibrin | A high, reliable concentration of platelets and growth factors |
| Release | Gradual, over 7–10 days | Immediate, then compounding over weeks |
| Particularly good at | Under-eye crepe and darkness, acne scars, delicate areas | Full-face and neck rejuvenation, hair restoration, pairing with microneedling |
| Per session | $750 | $600 |
Both use your own blood, so there's no rejection risk. Expect a glow in the first week, noticeable change between weeks four and twelve, and a peak around three to six months. A series of three gives the best result with either system. Everything is confirmed at a consultation first (virtual consults are $40 + HST, credited toward your treatment).