Conventional PRP releases most of its growth factors within hours. The Selphyl system converts your plasma into a platelet-rich fibrin matrix, a scaffold that holds platelets at the treatment site and releases growth factors over a period of days. Same blood draw. A far longer signal.
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How It Works
Every platelet treatment starts the same way: a small blood draw, a spin in a centrifuge, and a concentrated platelet layer. What happens after that spin is what separates one system from another, and it is the part most clinics never explain.
Conventional PRP stops at the plasma. The platelets are concentrated, but they sit suspended in liquid. Once that liquid reaches the skin, the platelets degranulate quickly. The majority of their growth factor payload is released in the first few hours, and a meaningful portion of the liquid simply runs off or absorbs before those platelets can do sustained work.
The Selphyl system adds one more step. After the first spin, through a separator gel that leaves red and white blood cells behind, the platelet-rich plasma is transferred through a closed system into a second tube containing a precise amount of calcium chloride. Calcium restarts the body's own clotting cascade, converting fibrinogen into fibrin. That fibrin polymerizes slowly into a three-dimensional, cross-linked matrix.
That matrix is the entire point. Instead of a liquid that disperses, you have a scaffold that binds platelets and growth factors and holds them at the treatment site, releasing them gradually as the matrix breaks down. Published work on PRFM describes growth factor release continuing for up to seven days, compared with a few hours for conventional liquid PRP.
For skin, that difference is duration of signal. Collagen remodeling is not an event that happens on treatment day. It is a process that runs for weeks afterward. A regenerative signal that lasts days instead of hours is delivering into far more of that window.
PRFM is an enhancement layered onto medical-grade microneedling. The depth and protocol of the base treatment still determine what results are possible.
Book a ConsultationPRFM is not a standalone treatment. It enhances medical-grade microneedling performed at dermal depth, where collagen remodeling actually happens. If you haven't reviewed how the core treatment works, start there. That foundation is what determines whether PRFM will make a meaningful difference for you.
RN-Performed Microneedling →
PRP vs. PRFM
Most Scottsdale clinics advertise "PRP microneedling." Very few will tell you which system prepared it, and that is the variable that changes the outcome.
A platelet treatment is only as good as what is actually in the tube: how many platelets survived preparation, whether inflammatory white cells came along with them, and how long those platelets keep signaling once they reach your skin. Those three answers are decided by the preparation system, not by the needle.
How long the growth factor signal lasts
Based on published characterization of platelet-rich fibrin matrix preparations. Individual response varies.
| Conventional PRP | Selphyl® PRFM | |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Single spin, plasma drawn off | Separator-gel spin, then closed transfer into calcium chloride |
| Final form | Liquid plasma | Cross-linked fibrin matrix, a scaffold |
| Growth factor release | Largely spent within hours | Released gradually as the matrix breaks down, up to seven days reported |
| Platelets at the treatment site | Liquid disperses and absorbs | Matrix holds platelets where they were placed |
| Red and white blood cells | Varies by system, frequently present | Separator gel leaves red and white cells behind |
| Inflammatory load | White cells can add inflammatory signal | Leukocyte-poor by design |
| Handling | Often open transfer, operator-dependent | Closed transfer system, consistent preparation every time |
| What's added | Varies by protocol | Sodium citrate and calcium chloride, nothing synthetic, nothing donor-derived |
Fibrin forms a three-dimensional scaffold around the platelets. It keeps them at the treatment site and meters out growth factors over days rather than releasing everything at once.
The separator gel leaves red and white blood cells behind. White cells drive inflammation, useful in some orthopedic settings, unhelpful when the goal is calm, even-toned skin and a short recovery.
Preparation happens inside a sealed transfer system rather than by hand-pipetting into an open dish. Less contamination risk, and far less variation between one appointment and the next.
The Selphyl® System is an FDA 510(k)-cleared device for preparing platelet-rich plasma and platelet-rich fibrin matrix from a patient's own blood at the point of care. We name the system we use because you should be able to look it up.
Why Add PRFM
The question isn't PRFM vs. microneedling. It's whether microneedling alone is enough to achieve your goal.
Standard medical microneedling creates controlled micro-injuries in the skin's deeper layers, triggering the production of new collagen and elastin in the weeks that follow. For patients with mild to moderate skin concerns, that mechanism alone produces real, meaningful results.
PRFM adds a second layer. Microneedling opens thousands of micro-channels; the fibrin matrix is worked into those channels and stays there, releasing growth factors into the exact window when your skin is rebuilding. For patients with more significant concerns, deep acne scarring, persistent laxity, or skin that has been slow to respond to prior treatment, that sustained signal produces stronger results over the same number of sessions.
The clinical logic is simple: if standard microneedling is likely to get you there, you don't need PRFM. If it isn't enough on its own, PRFM builds on the same foundation and improves the outcome.
| Standard Microneedling | Microneedling + Selphyl® PRFM | |
|---|---|---|
| Collagen stimulation | Yes, dermal depth | Yes, dermal depth, amplified |
| Healing signal | Your body's natural response | Sustained growth factor release from a fibrin matrix |
| How long the signal lasts | The body's own timeline | Reported release continuing for up to seven days |
| Blood draw required | No | Yes, a single small draw from your own arm |
| Best for | Texture, tone, fine lines | Scarring, laxity, more complex concerns |
| Recovery | 24 to 48 hrs typically | 24 to 48 hrs; leukocyte-poor preparation keeps inflammation low |
Both PRFM and exosomes improve how your skin responds to microneedling. Which one is right for you depends on your skin and your goals. There's no single answer that works for everyone.
PRFM is entirely your own biology. Nothing is donor-derived, nothing is lab-manufactured, and nothing synthetic is introduced. Historically the trade-off for that was potency and duration. A liquid PRP simply couldn't sustain a signal the way a manufactured biologic could. The fibrin matrix is what closes most of that gap, which is why PRFM now competes directly with exosomes rather than sitting a tier below them.
Exosomes carry a broader set of healing signals, growth factors, anti-inflammatory proteins, and cellular communication molecules, and don't require a blood draw. They remain the better choice for patients on blood thinners, those with platelet concerns, and patients whose own regenerative capacity is limited, since exosome potency doesn't depend on your biology at all.
If your platelet health is good and you'd rather your results come from your own blood, PRFM is a strong choice, and a more cost-effective one. If you can't use blood-derived products or want the broadest possible regenerative signal, exosomes are the appropriate alternative. During the consultation, we'll determine which option best fits your skin and goals.
| Microneedling + Selphyl® PRFM | Microneedling + Exosomes | |
|---|---|---|
| Regenerative source | Your own blood, nothing donor-derived | Cell-derived, consistent potency |
| Blood draw required | Yes | No |
| Duration of signal | Sustained by the fibrin matrix, up to seven days reported | Sustained cellular signaling |
| Scope of healing signals | Platelet growth factors, released gradually | Growth factors + anti-inflammatory proteins + cellular signals |
| Best for | Collagen building and structural correction, using your own biology | Broader regeneration, or patients who can't use blood products |
| Depends on your platelet health | Yes | No |
Who Should Get It
PRFM microneedling is most often selected for:
Whether PRFM is right for you depends on your platelet health, current medications, and overall skin condition, all assessed during your consultation. Patients on blood thinners, with certain platelet conditions, or with active infection may be better served by exosome or PDRN treatment. If PRFM isn't the right choice, we'll tell you.
Find Out If PRFM Is Right for Your Skin
Book a ConsultationHow It Works
Total appointment time: approximately 75 to 90 minutes. Most patients experience mild redness for 24 to 48 hours and return to normal activities the following day.
A single small draw at the start of your appointment, collected directly into the Selphyl separator tube. Roughly the volume of a routine lab test.
The tube spins for approximately six minutes. A separator gel traps red and white blood cells below it, leaving a clean platelet-rich plasma layer above. This is what makes the preparation leukocyte-poor.
The plasma is transferred through a sealed system into a second tube containing calcium chloride. Calcium initiates the clotting cascade, fibrinogen converts to fibrin, and the fibrin matrix forms, no open handling, no hand-pipetting.
This is the step conventional PRP skips, and it is what changes how long the treatment keeps working.
Topical numbing cream is applied and left on for 20 to 30 minutes while your PRFM is prepared. Most patients report minimal discomfort during the treatment.
Your RN performs the treatment at medical-grade depth using the MDPen device. Depth is customized to your specific skin concern, not set to a standard level.
Your health history and goals are carefully reviewed with our clinical team to identify the treatments that make sense for you.
PRFM is worked into the skin during and immediately after microneedling, entering the micro-channels while they're still open so the matrix settles into the dermal layers rather than sitting on the surface.
Included after every treatment to support recovery and reduce visible redness.
PRFM microneedling works by extending your skin's natural repair process. Most patients notice:
Mild redness and the initial healing response
The fibrin matrix continues releasing growth factors as it breaks down
Skin texture begins to improve as collagen production increases
Visible improvement in acne scars, skin tone, and overall quality
Results build progressively with each session as collagen remodeling continues.
Book a ConsultationBeyond Microneedling
The same tube of your blood can be applied several different ways. Microneedling is the most common. It isn't the only one.
Because PRFM is autologous and forms a matrix that stays where it's placed, it can be worked into the skin topically after microneedling or injected directly into a target area. The applications below are all built on the same preparation. Which ones make sense for you is a clinical decision made at your consultation.
Crepey lower-lid skin, fine lines, dullness, and early hollowing. The under-eye is the area patients are most hesitant to fill, PRFM is a regenerative option that works on skin quality rather than adding volume with a synthetic gel.
PRFM injected into the scalp delivers a prolonged release of platelet growth factors to the follicle environment, supporting dermal papilla cell survival and blood supply. Typically performed as a series, and most useful in early to moderate thinning where follicles are miniaturizing rather than gone.
Atrophic acne scars, plus surgical and traumatic scars. Structural correction is where the sustained growth factor signal matters most, since remodeling scar tissue is a weeks-long process rather than a surface change.
The areas that age visibly but are treated least. Thin, sun-exposed skin with crepiness and lost density responds well to a regenerative approach, and these zones are commonly treated in the same appointment as the face.
Rather than applied topically, PRFM can be injected into the deep dermis to target nasolabial folds, superficial lines, and volume-depleted areas of the midface. Published histology on injected PRFM has shown activated fibroblasts and new collagen deposition beginning around day seven and continuing for weeks.
We offer this. Controlled heating converts the same fibrin matrix into a smooth, injectable gel that acts as a natural volumizer while still delivering regenerative signal, an autologous option for patients who want volume without hyaluronic acid filler.
Want volume as well as skin quality? Selphyller plasma gel takes the same PRFM one step further.
Selphyller Plasma Gel →Availability and suitability of each application is confirmed at your consultation. Not every patient is a candidate for every use, and we'll tell you plainly when a different treatment is the better answer.
Ask About These at Your ConsultationInvestment
Most patients researching PRP microneedling cost are really asking whether the additional investment is worth it compared to standard microneedling.
PRFM microneedling involves more clinical steps than standard microneedling, the blood draw, the separation spin, the closed transfer, and the matrix conversion, plus the cost of the Selphyl kit itself. That's reflected in the price. At Avinity Health, your investment covers the full protocol: RN-performed medical-grade microneedling, physician-guided enhancement selection, Selphyl PRFM preparation, and post-treatment light therapy included as standard.
It's worth comparing on the right basis. A less expensive "PRP" treatment prepared in an open system, with white cells left in and a signal that's largely spent by the time you get home, is not the same product at a lower price. It's a different product. Ask any clinic which system they use and how long their preparation keeps releasing.
We'll walk you through the full cost of your treatment plan at your consultation. Pricing is discussed openly before anything begins.
Patients from Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Gainey Ranch, Kierland, and McCormick Ranch come to Avinity Health specifically for physician-guided microneedling.
Discuss Investment at Consultation
Book a Consultation
This is how enhancement decisions are made clinically.
| Your primary goal | Best enhancement |
|---|---|
| Acne scar correction | PRFM or Exosomes |
| Longest-lasting regenerative signal from your own blood | Selphyl PRFM (Best option) |
| Maximum regenerative response | Exosomes |
| Faster healing / recovery speed | PRFM or Exosomes |
| Sensitive, reactive, or inflamed skin | PDRN (Best option) |
| Cannot use blood products | Exosomes or PDRN |
| Post-inflammatory skin / repair focus | PDRN (Best option) |
| Nothing donor-derived or lab-manufactured | Selphyl PRFM (Best option) |
| General skin quality improvement | PRFM or PDRN |
| Strongest option, no blood draw needed | Exosomes |
PRFM microneedling is an enhanced version of the core treatment, not a separate procedure. A typical microneedling series involves three to six sessions spaced three to four weeks apart. When PRFM is added, the healing signal between sessions is stronger and lasts longer, which often means visible improvement arrives earlier in the series.
Your treatment plan, including whether PRFM is the right enhancement for your goals, is determined at your consultation. It's recommended based on your skin, not offered as an automatic upgrade.
Book a ConsultationPRP microneedling is available at many Scottsdale clinics. What determines the outcome is provider qualification, treatment depth, and what system actually prepared the platelets. Aestheticians in Arizona are limited by scope-of-practice rules to superficial microneedling depths, which means anything applied over that kind of treatment never reaches the layer of skin where collagen remodeling actually occurs.
At Avinity Health, microneedling is performed by a registered nurse at true medical depth, and the platelet preparation is Selphyl PRFM, not a generic single-spin PRP. A physician oversees enhancement decisions. If PRFM isn't the right call for you, you'll know before treatment begins.
PRP is liquid plasma with concentrated platelets. PRFM takes that plasma one step further: adding calcium chloride converts fibrinogen into fibrin, which forms a three-dimensional matrix around the platelets. That matrix holds platelets at the treatment site and releases growth factors gradually. Published work reports release continuing for up to seven days, compared with a few hours for liquid PRP.
For aesthetic treatment, the sustained release and leukocyte-poor preparation are meaningful advantages. The platelets stay where they were placed instead of dispersing, and the inflammatory white cells are separated out. It's the same blood draw and the same appointment length, the difference is in how the sample is prepared.
Yes. We draw a small blood sample at the start of your appointment and prepare the PRFM on-site in a closed system. The only additions are sodium citrate and calcium chloride. Nothing synthetic, donor-derived, or lab-manufactured is involved.
A small sample, roughly what a routine lab test requires. It's collected directly into the Selphyl tube and spun for about six minutes while your numbing cream is working.
PRFM comes entirely from your own blood and releases growth factors gradually from a fibrin matrix. Exosomes are cell-derived, carry a broader set of regenerative signals, and don't depend on your platelet health. We'll assess which is more appropriate at your consultation.
Beyond microneedling, the same preparation is used for under-eye rejuvenation, hair restoration, acne scar and surgical scar revision, neck, décolleté and hand rejuvenation, and injectable facial treatment. Heated further, it becomes Selphyller plasma gel, an autologous bio-filler we offer for soft volume restoration. Suitability is determined at your consultation.
Most patients complete three to six sessions spaced three to four weeks apart. Adding PRFM often means results develop more noticeably across that series.
Your provider will tell you at the consultation and recommend the most appropriate alternative, whether that's standard microneedling, exosomes, or PDRN.
Service Areas
Avinity Health is located at 11000 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 100, minutes from Gainey Ranch, Paradise Valley, Kierland, and McCormick Ranch. Patients across North Scottsdale come to Avinity Health for microneedling that combines medical-grade depth with Selphyl PRFM, performed by RNs and guided by physician oversight at every step.
Whether you're searching for PRP microneedling near Gainey Ranch, acne scar treatment near Paradise Valley, or collagen-stimulating treatment in Kierland, the approach at Avinity Health is the same: a complimentary consultation to understand your skin and your goals, a treatment plan built around what your skin actually needs, and results that come from your own biology doing the repair, not from something applied on top.
Our Location
11000 N. Scottsdale Road
Suite 100, Scottsdale, AZ
Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sat 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sun Closed
Call Us
480-264-6175
SELPHYL® and Selphyller® are registered trademarks of Selphyl, Inc. Avinity Health is an independent provider using the Selphyl system and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Selphyl, Inc. Individual results vary. This page is for general education and is not medical advice. Treatment suitability is determined during an in-person consultation.
