The Bio-PRF Centrifuge for Facial Aesthetics 

Last updated on December 4th, 2023

Dermapen® has teamed up with Inderma® and Bio-PRF and are ecstatic to announce the Bio-PRF Horizontal Centrifuge for Facial Aesthetics — the first commercially available horizontal centrifuge specifically designed for the production of platelet-rich fibrin. Horizontal centrifugation has many advantages, especially when paired with facial aesthetic procedures such as microneedling. With up to 4x more platelets and leukocytes, a better horizontal separation layer between PRF-clot and red blood cells, and a more even distribution of regenerative cells throughout the PRF-clot, this improved method of centrifugation is a no-brainer. 

Bio-PRF is a 100% natural and autologous 3D fibrin scaffold derived from peripheral blood- meaning that the patient’s own blood is used in the centrifugation process forcing it to assemble into a network of protein that holds together and supports the living tissue that will be used in procedure to jumpstart the process of wound healing and tissue regeneration. Since microneedling creates micro injuries in the skin, the use of a patient’s self produced PRF can be used to help tissue with regenerative growth factors and cells that stimulate, repair, and rejuvenate damaged tissue areas within the body. 

A series of lab experiments demonstrated that the horizontal centrifugation process produces significantly greater concentrations of platelets and leukocytes when compared to the currently available fixed-angle centrifugation devices. When using a fixed angle centrifuge, platelets, white blood cells, and red blood cells accumulate on the back walls on the tubes. This leads to improper cell separation and reduction in platelet and leukocyte concentration. Meanwhile, horizontal centrifugation separates the cells much more effectively throughout the entire tube, leading to better layer separation and evenly distributed cells throughout the PRF clot. 

History and development of centrifugation for facial aesthetics

Starting in the 1990’s, work from Dr. Robert Marx led to the popular working name of PRP with a goal of collecting the largest and highest concentrations of platelets / growth factors to be later utilized for regenerative purposes. The PRP protocol at the time required extensive centrifugation time (30+ minutes) and the use of anticoagulants were absolutely necessary in order to prevent clotting due to the lengthy centrifugation times. 

Later, in the 2000-2010’s, pioneering work led by Dr. Joseph Choukroun and Dr David Dogan led to the development of platelet rich fibrin (PRF). The aim of PRF was to develop a second generation platelet concentration with anticoagulant removal. Since the anticoagulants were removed, a much quicker working time was needed and the practitioner was required to begin centrifugation extremely shortly after the blood draw to prevent clotting. High G force centrifugation protocols were utilized in order to separate blood layers in an attempt to separate blood layers prior to clotting. These advancements continued to push centrifugation and PRF processes to the next level.

The continual development of centrifuge and PRF technology from the 2010’s until now has led us to where we are today with the introduction of the horizontal centrifuge. Recently, a series of studies has shown that horizontal centrifugation of PRF is capable of producing significantly greater concentrations of platelets and leukocytes when compared to fixed-angle centrifugation devices commonly used to produce LPRF or APRF. PRF combined with microneedling and serum is the latest and greatest when it comes to skin rejuvenation services — results are unmatched. 

What is platelet rich fibrin and how did it evolve to be used in facial aesthetics?

Platelet concentrates have been utilized in medicine for over 3 decades, owing their tremendous momentum to their ability to rapidly secrete growth factors from autologous sources capable of stimulating tissue regeneration in a number of medical fields including facial aesthetics. Quite some time ago it was proposed to concentrate platelets utilizing centrifugation devices- autologous growth factors derived from blood could be collected from a platelet rich plasma layer, and later utilized in surgical sites to promote local wound healing. Today it has been proven that platelet concentrates act as a potent mitogen capable of speeding the revascularization of tissues (angiogenesis), act as a potent recruitment agent of various cells including stem cells (chemotaxis), and induce the prompt multiplication of various cell types found in the human body (proliferation).

Horizontal Centrifugation vs. Fixed Angle Centrifugation: Horizontal Advantages 

Implementing a horizontal bucket centrifugation system, like the Bio-PRF Centrifuge for facial aesthetics, comes with a laundry list of advantages, starting with one of the main benefits- higher quality and stability of the produced gel layer. Horizontal centrifugation reduces the overall surface area the gel must cover, cutting down on centrifugation time by ⅔ ; resulting in reliable, high quality gel seals in a fraction of the time. When centrifugation occurs horizontally it also becomes possible to fully separate cells and blood layers based on their density without angled spinning forcing cells to accumulate or damage on the back walls of centrifuge tubes. Thus, allowing higher numbers and concentrations of platelets, leukocytes, and monocytes when compared to other protocols. *Note that storage and transportation of tubes can cause the layer to shift or break. If gel seal breaks, separated blood will rejoin. Re-centrifugation is not recommended.* PRF is the new and improved version of PRP with no chemical additives (anticoagulants) and is up to 3x more effective than its previous PRP formulations making it more natural AND more beneficial for patients. 

Fixed angle centrifugation, on the other hand, has a handful of disadvantages such as limited vessel capacity in spin cycles, as well cells being consistently distributed onto the back wall of tubes at high G forces- both due to tube angling. In turn, this distribution exposes cells to higher compressive forces against the wall of the tube, forcing them to travel up or down the tube’s incline based on cell density differences. Since red blood cells are larger and heavier than platelets and leukocytes, they will typically travel downwards whereas lighter platelets travel towards the top of the tube where PRF is collected, resulting in less separation and usable material. 

Glossary: 

Horizontal Centrifuge:  is a device that uses centrifugal force to subject a specimen to a specified constant force, angled horizontally instead of the traditional 45 degree angle to separate various components of a fluid to be used in medical and aesthetic practices. 

*Centrifugal Force: is an inertial force (also called a “fictitious” or “pseudo” force) that appears to act on all objects when viewed in a rotating frame of reference.

Platelets: small colorless cell fragments in our blood that form clots to stop or prevent bleeding, initiating the wound healing response. Platelets are made in our bone marrow, the sponge-like tissue inside our bones. 

Leukocytes: (also called white blood cells) are a cellular component of the blood that lacks hemoglobin, has a nucleus and is capable of movement, promoting natural healing. 

Red Blood Cells: reddish cell of the blood that contains hemoglobin and carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues.

Autologous:  blood given by an individual to be used on the same individual in medical and aesthetic procedures. Autologous transfusion designates the reinfusion of blood or blood components to the same individual from whom they were taken.

Mitogen: A mitogen is a small bioactive protein or peptide that induces a cell to begin cell division, or enhances the rate of division (mitosis).

Monocytes: a large phagocytic white blood cell with a simple oval nucleus and clear, grayish cytoplasm. These cells find and destroy germs (viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa) and eliminate infected cells, calling on other white blood cells to help treat injury and prevent infection