Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

Has melasma or blotchy, uneven colour stayed put despite creams and careful sunscreen? PRP for pigmentation is a treatment made from your own blood: platelets are concentrated from a small sample and placed into the darker patches, where their growth factors help even out your tone over a short course.

Best for melasma and stubborn, patchy pigmentation that creams have not shifted.

Platelet Rich Plasma at a glance

  • Aesthetic-trained doctors
  • Female doctors available
  • Genuine, sealed products
  • 12 clinics, 7 cities
Sessions
2–4 sessions, about a month apart
Appointment
45–60 minutes
Downtime
Small bumps or bruises, 1–2 days
Results show
Gradually across the course
Results last
Kept up with sunscreen and top-ups
Comfort
Quick pricks; numbing applied

What can PRP do for patchy skin tone?

Melasma on the cheeks or foreheadLighter, softer patches over a course.
Blotchy, uneven colourA calmer, more even-looking tone.
Pigment that creams haven’t shiftedA fresh boost when creams have stalled.
Dull, sun-tired skinBrighter-looking skin as it renews.

How does PRP help pigmentation?

Your doctor draws 2 to 4 tablespoons of blood and spins it until a platelet-rich layer separates. This plasma is placed into the patches with tiny injections, or spread over fine microneedling channels so it soaks in evenly.

Platelets release growth factors, and one of them, TGF-β1, has been shown to slow melanin production. A review of 10 studies with 395 adults found melasma scores fell after PRP, and PRP given with microneedling was rated highest by patients.

Who shouldn’t have PRP for pigmentation?

PRP is not advised while pregnant or breastfeeding, with a blood or platelet disorder, blood cancer, hepatitis C or HIV, if you take blood thinners, or with skin cancer or infection where the patches are.

PRP for pigmentation, step by step

  1. Free consultation: your doctor confirms the patches are melasma and looks for triggers.
  2. Blood sample: a routine draw from your arm, then spun in a sterile centrifuge.
  3. Treatment: numbing cream, then PRP into each patch; 45–60 minutes in all.
  4. Course: usually 2–4 sessions, about a month apart.
  5. Daily protection: sunscreen and any cream your doctor prescribes, between sessions.

What to expect for melasma, and recovery

Patches fade steadily over the course, and the effect can keep building for weeks after your last session. Sun, heat and hormones can darken patches again, so daily sunscreen protects your result.

Small bumps, redness or bruises at the injection points settle within 24–48 hours, and most people return to work the same or next day.

Aftercare

  • No make-up for 12–24 hours
  • No heat, steam or workouts for 48 hours
  • Don’t massage the injected patches
  • Broad-spectrum SPF 30+, every day

Why choose Cutera Aesthetics

  • Doctor-led: your PRP treatment is assessed, planned and performed by our qualified doctors.
  • Free consultation: an honest assessment and a clear plan before you commit to anything.
  • A plan made for you: your treatment is tailored to your goals, your skin and your health.
  • 12 clinics in 7 cities: Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Hyderabad and Sialkot. Find your nearest clinic.
Sources
  1. American Academy of Dermatology. Melasma: diagnosis and treatment. Triggers, sun protection, and PRP as an add-on procedure for melasma.
  2. Zhao L, Hu M, Xiao Q, et al. Efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma in melasma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Dermatology and Therapy, 2021; 11(5): 1587–97.
  3. Leung JH, Leung HWC, Wang SY, et al. Efficacy and safety of different treatments for melasma: network meta-analysis of updated data. Diseases, 2025; 13(10): 316.
  4. American Academy of Dermatology. Is platelet-rich plasma the secret to younger-looking skin?. How PRP is prepared, sterile blood handling and who should not have it.

Better together

Treatments often combined with Platelet Rich Plasma.

Infini RF Microneedling for PigmentationFades pigmentation and refines texture with RF.Glycolic Chemical PeelFades dark spots.Glutathione DripsEvens skin tone from within.

PRP: your questions answered

How much does PRP for pigmentation cost in Pakistan?

It depends on how widespread your patches are, how many sessions you need and whether microneedling is added. You get an exact quote, covering every session, at your free consultation, before any treatment starts.

Is PRP for pigmentation worth it?

Yes, if creams and sunscreen alone have stalled: in studies, melasma scores fell after PRP, and it is made from your own blood. It suits melasma more than freckles or sun spots, which often clear faster with picosecond laser.

Does PRP for pigmentation hurt?

Only slightly. After numbing cream, you feel quick pricks with a short sting as the plasma goes in. The blood draw is just like a routine test.

How long does PRP take to lighten pigmentation?

Patches lighten steadily through the course, and the change carries on after it. Dermatologists say melasma treatment generally takes three to twelve months, so a steady plan pays off.

How long do PRP results last for melasma?

Studies followed patients for a few months, so long-term data are still to come. Melasma is a long-term condition, so daily sun protection and top-up sessions when needed keep your skin even.

Is PRP safe for pigmentation? What are the side effects?

Reviews report only mild, short-lived effects such as redness, swelling, small bruises and occasional temporary darkening, with no serious problems. Safety depends on sterile blood handling, so it should only be done by a doctor.

PRP or microneedling for pigmentation: which is better?

They work well together. Microneedling for pigmentation carries a brightening serum into the skin, while PRP adds your own growth factors. In one review, PRP given through microneedling was rated highest by patients.

Will PRP make my whole face lighter?

No. PRP aims to fade darker patches so they blend with the rest of your face. It does not change your natural skin colour, and we will never promise that it does.

Can PRP be combined with other melasma treatments?

Yes, often. Studies combined PRP with prescribed tablets or creams, and dermatologists also add peels, such as a glycolic peel, for stubborn patches. Your doctor decides which combination is safe for you.

Is this the same as face PRP?

The preparation is identical, but the aim differs. Here the plasma goes into the pigmented patches, while face PRP treats dullness and fine lines across the whole face.

Can I have PRP if my melasma began in pregnancy?

Wait until you have finished breastfeeding. Pregnancy melasma can fade by itself after the birth, so your doctor may first see what settles, then treat what is left.

Can I have PRP for pigmentation before my wedding?

Yes, with time. Start four months before, since pigment fades over months. Plan the final session two weeks ahead so any bruising has gone, and protect your skin during outdoor functions.

Ready when you are

Book your free Platelet Rich Plasma consultation

A doctor checks your skin and goals first. No obligation.

  • Mon–Sat, 11:30 AM – 9 PM
  • 4.8 on Google (8,309 reviews)
  • 12 clinics in 7 cities
Dr Mubarka BushraDr. Arooj MustafaDr Syeda Filzah AliDr Ayesha AsgharMeet our 50 doctors
WhatsApp usCall

We usually reply within 15 minutes.

Explore other concerns

Find a clinic near you

Open Mon–Sat, 11:30 AM – 9 PM

4.8

from 8,309 Google reviews

12 clinics in 7 cities

Karachi3 clinics4.8
Lahore3 clinics4.8
Islamabad2 clinics4.9
RawalpindiSaddar4.9
FaisalabadKohinoor City4.9
HyderabadAuto Bahn Road4.9
SialkotSialkot Cantt4.9
WhatsApp usReplies within 15 minutesCall
WhatsApp