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Microneedling With PRP for the Face: What We Know

PRP is plasma from your own blood, concentrated in platelets and prepared by a professional. Studies on adding it to facial microneedling are preliminary and mixed. It is a procedure done by professionals, and this page gives no promises and no home method.

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What PRP is

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is described as an autologous serum with high concentrations of platelets and growth factors (1). "Autologous" means it comes from the person being treated. A professional draws a small amount of blood and prepares the plasma, and the clinic then applies it as part of a procedure.

This page is about facial use only. It gives no prices and no promises, and it does not cover preparing PRP at home.

What PRP would add, in theory

The idea is that the plasma brings growth factors to skin that has just been microneedled. Whether it adds anything is the question the studies try to answer, and they do not agree.

What the studies say

14controlled studies, 472 patients, in a 2021 meta-analysis of acne scars (2)
13articles in a 2019 systematic review, with studies too different to pool (3)
24volunteers in a split-face comparison of microneedling alone, with PRP, and with a peel (4)
  • The 2021 meta-analysis (4 randomized and 10 split-face non-randomized studies) found higher odds of clinical improvement above 50% with the combination than with microneedling alone, higher patient satisfaction, and no significant difference in severe redness or swelling (2).
  • The 2019 systematic review found that the evidence for PRP with microneedling is less supportive than for PRP with fractional laser, and that studies varied too much to compare statistically (3).
  • In the 24-volunteer study, adding PRP or a 15% peel to a roller did better than the roller alone, and the peel combination did better than the PRP combination (4).

Most of this evidence is about acne scars. The same sources do not give a clear answer for facial rejuvenation. The studies are small and use different methods.

Risks and who should check first

PRP adds a blood draw to a microneedling visit. All the usual microneedling cautions apply: infection, pigment changes, pregnancy, blood thinners and skin that is irritated or infected. A 2021 review adds darker skin and metal allergies as risk factors (6). The FDA lists the common and less common effects of microneedling devices (5).

The FDA also says it has not cleared any microneedling device for use with another product, platelet-rich plasma among them (5).

What to ask the clinic

  • Who prepares the PRP, and what training do they have?
  • What preparation system do you use, and is it single-use?
  • Is it used for the purpose its label states? If not, why?
  • Who does the microneedling, and with which device?
  • What does the written quote include?
  • What happens if I have a reaction?

Common questions

Is microneedling with PRP better than microneedling alone?

The evidence is preliminary and mixed. A 2021 meta-analysis of 14 controlled studies in acne scars favored the combination, while a 2019 systematic review found the evidence for PRP with microneedling less supportive (2) (3). There is no universal winner.

Can I do PRP at home?

We do not cover or recommend that. PRP is prepared from a person's own blood by a professional. This page is about what a clinic may offer, not a home method.

Does the FDA say anything about combining PRP with microneedling?

The FDA says it has not cleared any microneedling device for use with another product, and it names creams, ointments, other drugs, cosmetics and platelet-rich plasma as examples. That means it has not reviewed the safety or effectiveness of combining them (5).

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Sources

  1. Review of platelet-rich plasma in dermatology, 2019 (PMID 31584784)
  2. Meta-analysis of 14 controlled studies, 2021 (PMID 35237616)
  3. Systematic review of 13 articles, 2019 (PMID 30742878)
  4. Split-face comparison in 24 volunteers, 2018 (PMID 29226630)
  5. FDA consumer update on microneedling devices (content current as of 10/15/2025; checked October 15, 2026)
  6. Safety systematic review of 85 articles, 2021 (PMID 34448760)