Restore yourself
By Laura Briedis
Working as a liver transplant surgeon and emergency room trauma doctor for the past 20 years, Laurel Matthews, MD, JD, is used to seeing a lot of blood. But now she is using blood to unleash the power of platelet rich plasma to rejuvenate patients at her newly opened Dr. Laurel’s PRP Bar.
“Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is the next generation of medical innovation,” says Dr. Laurel, who also was a federal healthcare provider for American Indians and Alaska Natives out West.
“As part of the body’s natural healing ability, platelets in your blood migrate to the injured area and release growth factors that respond to injured tissue. We are taking the mechanisms that heal wounds to new applications. By taking a small amount of a patient’s own blood, unleashing its regenerative power and injecting it back, we can regrow hair, rejuvenate the face, diminish scars and stretch marks, cure urinary incontinence and improve sex performance.”
As medical director of the new facility, Dr. Laurel personally consults with each patient and does every procedure herself.
“I am offering the most innovative techniques in medical rejuvenation for patients looking for more natural methods and natural-looking results,” she comments. “We are using ourselves to restore ourselves.”
How does it work?
Utilizing a specialized blood collection tube, a small amount of blood similar to what is required for a basic lab test is drawn from the patient. The tube is then placed into a centrifuge, which spins the blood at a very high speed, causing the platelets to separate from the other components of the blood. Once the platelets are concentrated into the plasma, they can be injected into the patient releasing essential growth factors and proteins.
“We only have one patient at a time in the office, which guarantees on-time, personal service,” says Dr. Laurel, noting the procedure takes less than an hour.
Dr. Laurel came upon platelet rich plasma when she was searching for solutions for family members who suffer from hair loss. She was so impressed by the results that she opened her own practice and expanded to include other areas, such as facial rejuvenation.
Offering a non-surgical option to refresh your skin, the Vampire Facial uses micro-needling with the platelet rich plasma to eliminate fine lines and wrinkles. And for patients looking for a more dramatic boost, the Vampire Facelift can restore the shape and tone of the face.
“For this treatment, we use Juvederm fillers in the cheeks and lips to frame the face and then inject the platelet rich plasma on top for optimal rejuvenation,” explains Dr. Laurel.
“It is not limited to the face, as the same technique can be used to eliminate scars and stretch marks on the body,” she adds.
“Plus, it can fix inverted nipples and help restore breast cleavage as it promotes collagen and blood flow.”
Also on the service menu are injections that enhance sexual performance for both men and women. According to Dr. Laurel, the Priapus Shot (P-Shot) improves erectile dysfunction and Peyronie’s Disease by non-surgical methods. The O-Shot cures urinary incontinence and, she adds with a smile and a wink, that patients are particularly ‘excited’ that the O-Shot can be used to intensify orgasms.
While the PRP method has been around for decades—used by professional athletes and Hollywood A-listers—it is relatively new in Northeast Ohio.
“Instead of plastic surgery, we restore you to a more natural you and allow you to age gracefully,” says Dr. Laurel. “I’m excited to bring this new service to town.”
For a free consultation, call 216-245-6682. Dr. Laurel’s PRP Bar is located at 3439 West Brainard Road, Suite 107, in Woodmere. Office hours are by appointment only. For more information, visit DrLaurelsPRPBar.com.