Free patient education tool

PRP Aftercare Instructions (Printable Handout)

After PRP, expect some pain, bruising and swelling that go away within a few days, keep the area clean, and protect it from the sun. The AAD says there is little to no downtime. This page builds a printable PRP aftercare instructions handout for facial and scalp treatments, and puts emergency vision warning signs first in the call-us list.

Prepared by Prospyr · Reviewed October 3, 2026 · Free, no sign-up, runs in your browser

Template — review and edit with your medical director before giving to patients.

Jump to the handout preview

Your practice

Printed at the bottom of the handout. Clear it to leave it off.

The first 24 hours

Check a line to print it. Edit any wording. Tags show where each line comes from.

  • Source 1
  • Source 3
  • Source 2
  • Fill in

The first week

Check a line to print it. Edit any wording. Tags show where each line comes from.

  • Source 1
  • Source 1
  • Source 2
  • Source 1

What to avoid

Check a line to print it. Edit any wording. Tags show where each line comes from.

  • Source 3
  • Source 2
  • Fill in

Call us if

Check a line to print it. Edit any wording. Tags show where each line comes from.

  • Source 4
  • Source 3
  • Source 1
  • Your wording

Notes and footer

15 lines selected

Your practice name

After your PRP treatment

Some pain, bruising and swelling are common after platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Keep the area clean and watch for the warning signs below.

The first 24 hours

  • Some pain, bruising and swelling can follow PRP. These tend to go away within a few days.
  • Keep the treated area clean and do not touch it with unwashed hands.
  • If PRP was applied with microneedling, expect redness and a sunburn-like feel, and wait 24 hours before makeup.
  • Care steps we gave you for your treatment area: ______________________

The first week

  • Most people have little to no downtime.
  • Bruising, swelling and tenderness settle within a few days.
  • Protect the area from the sun. Daily sun protection also helps maintain results.
  • Results build over a few weeks to months, and most patients who get results have three or more treatments.

What to avoid

  • Touching the treated area with unwashed hands.
  • Direct sun on the treated skin.
  • Products and medicines we asked you to pause: ______________________

Call us if

  • Get emergency care right away for sudden vision loss or sudden severe pain in or around an eye.
  • Signs of infection: spreading redness, warmth, increasing swelling or pus.
  • Pain or swelling that is getting worse instead of better after a few days.
  • Any other symptom that worries you.

In an emergency, call 911.

Guidance based on: AAD: Platelet-rich plasma; AAD: Microneedling (reviewed 7/17/2023); Jaiswal and Jawade, Cureus 2024; Ebrahimzade et al., J Cosmet Dermatol 2026.

Template from prospyrmed.com/tools/prp-aftercare

Template — review and edit with your medical director before giving to patients. General patient information only. It does not replace your provider's instructions or medical advice.

PRP aftercare instructions: how long bruising and swelling last

The table shows what published sources say to expect, and where each line comes from. The editor above uses the same lines. Your own protocol, device and product come first.

WhenWhat to expectSource
Right afterSome pain, bruising and swelling. If PRP was used with microneedling, redness and a sunburn-like feel.AAD
First 24 hoursKeep the area clean. If microneedling was used, wait 24 hours before makeup.AAD; Cureus review
Days 1 to 3Pain, bruising and swelling tend to go away within a few days. Little to no downtime.AAD
Weeks to monthsIf you get results, full effects appear within a few weeks to months. Most patients who get results have 3 or more treatments.AAD
Up to 18 monthsResults can last as long as 18 months.AAD

Why vision warnings come first on a PRP handout

A 2026 systematic review in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology identified seven articles reporting 10 cases of unilateral vision loss after PRP injections. Nine cases followed PRP for facial rejuvenation, mostly in the glabella and forehead, and in nine the vision loss was immediate and painful. The authors call it rare and say prevention through safe injection technique is essential.

A handout cannot prevent this, but it can make sure the patient and anyone with them know to seek emergency care instead of waiting for the next day. That is why the call-us list leads with it.

PRP for hair, face and joints is not the same

This template is written for facial and scalp PRP. The AAD says PRP is being tested for hair loss and may speed wound healing, and that evidence for facial skin is limited. Orthopedic PRP has different sites and aftercare, and this template does not cover it.

The AAD also says the biggest risk comes from how blood is handled. It has to stay sterile, and the facility should follow the same process used by transfusion centers so that your own blood goes back to you. That belongs in your protocol and consent form, not a patient handout.

How to edit and print your PRP handout

  1. Add your practice name and phone number. Both print at the top and bottom of the handout.
  2. Read each line. Uncheck what does not match your protocol, rewrite what needs your wording, and fill in the blanks marked "Fill in".
  3. Add your own lines for products, follow-up dates or anything specific to your devices.
  4. Show it to your medical director. Then print it, save it as a PDF, or copy it as plain text for your patient portal or a text message.

Your text stays in your browser. Only the practice name and phone are saved in the page address, so you can bookmark or share the link with your team.

Once the handout is final, it works best when it goes out automatically. Prospyr's digital intake and charting keep each patient's instructions with their visit, and the med spa software page shows how the rest of the practice fits around them. For related handouts, see the microneedling aftercare template and the Prospyr charting.

What this template leaves out

  • Orthopedic and joint PRP. The care is different.
  • Blood draw, centrifuge and sterile handling. Those belong in your clinical protocol.
  • Medicines to avoid before or after treatment. The sources we read do not set any, so the template leaves a blank for you.

It is a template to review and edit with your medical director before giving it to patients. It is not medical advice, and it does not replace your provider's instructions for a specific patient.

Frequently asked questions

What are the aftercare instructions for PRP?

Keep the area clean, expect some pain, bruising and swelling that go away within a few days, and protect the skin from the sun. The AAD says there is little to no downtime. If PRP was used with microneedling, wait 24 hours before makeup.

How long does bruising last after PRP?

The AAD says pain, bruising and swelling after PRP tend to go away within a few days. Bruising or swelling that is getting worse rather than better is a reason to call.

Can I wash my face after PRP?

The sources we read give no rule on washing after PRP, so your protocol decides. The template says to keep the area clean and to avoid touching it with unwashed hands, which is the guidance in the microneedling review.

What are the warning signs after PRP?

Sudden vision loss or sudden severe pain in or around an eye after an injection needs emergency care. A systematic review found most reported cases of PRP-related vision loss were immediate and painful. Signs of infection also need a call.

How many PRP treatments do I need?

The AAD says most patients who get results have three or more treatments, and that researchers still have unanswered questions about the best number and spacing. Your provider decides the plan.

Is PRP aftercare different when it is used with microneedling?

Somewhat. With microneedling, expect redness and a sunburn-like feel and wait 24 hours before makeup, per the AAD. Edit the template to match your protocol, or start from the microneedling aftercare template.

Sources and scope

Template — review and edit with your medical director before giving to patients. General patient education for PRP; it does not replace a provider's instructions. Sources reviewed October 2026.

Report a correction

More free tools

Patient educationPlastic Surgery Recovery TimelinePick a procedure and surgery date for a printable week-by-week recovery timeline, each milestone cited to ASPS and other sources.Patient educationPlastic Surgery Cost CalculatorASPS average surgeon fees plus anesthesia, facility and other costs you enter, with a financing payment estimate and a shareable printout.Patient educationMicroneedling Aftercare InstructionsEdit and print a microneedling aftercare handout with your practice name, sourced to AAD and FDA documents.

Run your practice on one system

Get StartedLearn More