The Complete Guide to Regenerative Treatments: Which One Is Right for You?

When it comes to anti-aging and skin rejuvenation, more patients are seeking treatments that work with their body’s natural healing processes rather than against them. At Carolina Facial Plastics in Charlotte, NC, we’ve seen tremendous interest in regenerative treatments—therapies that harness your body’s own resources or cutting-edge bioengineered compounds to restore, rejuvenate, and refresh your appearance.

But with so many regenerative options available, from traditional PRP to advanced exosome therapy, how do you know which treatment is right for your specific goals? Our double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Jonathan Kulbersh, and our experienced team specialize in facial aesthetics, and we’re here to break down everything you need to know about regenerative treatments.

What Makes Regenerative Treatments Different?

Regenerative medicine represents a fundamental shift in how we approach aesthetic enhancement. Instead of simply adding volume with fillers or temporarily relaxing muscles with neuromodulators, regenerative treatments actually stimulate your skin’s natural ability to heal, rebuild collagen, and restore its youthful function.

These treatments work by delivering growth factors, proteins, and cellular signals that trigger your body’s repair mechanisms. The result? Gradual, natural-looking improvements that develop over time and can last months or even over a year with proper maintenance.

The Regenerative Treatment Options: Breaking Down Your Choices

PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma): The Gold Standard

PRP has been the cornerstone of regenerative aesthetics for years. This treatment uses your own blood, which is processed to concentrate the platelets—the cells responsible for healing and tissue repair.

How PRP Works:

• A small blood sample is collected (similar to routine lab work)
• The blood is spun in a centrifuge to separate and concentrate platelets
• The platelet-rich plasma is injected into target areas or applied during microneedling

Best For:

• Under-eye hollows and dark circles
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Acne scars and skin texture issues
• Hair loss and thinning
• Overall skin rejuvenation

What to Expect: PRP treatments typically require a series of 3-4 sessions spaced 4-6 weeks apart. You may experience mild bruising, redness or swelling for 1-2 days, but most patients return to regular activities the same day.

Selphyller PRP/PRF and Selphyller PRFM: The Next Generation

Think of Selphyller as PRP 2.0. This advanced system also uses your own blood but processes it differently to create platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) rather than just plasma. The key difference? Selphyller includes a fibrin matrix that acts like a slow-release system for growth factors.

The Selphyller Advantage:

• Growth factors are released more gradually and steadily
• Longer-lasting results, especially in delicate areas
• Enhanced healing response due to the fibrin scaffold
• Particularly effective for under-eye treatments

Best For:

• Under-eye rejuvenation where longer-lasting results are crucial
• Patients seeking fewer maintenance sessions
• Areas where sustained improvement is important

What Sets It Apart: Because Selphyller’s growth factors are released over weeks rather than days, many patients see more sustained improvement and may require fewer maintenance sessions compared to traditional PRP.

Ariessence PDGF+: The Lab-Engineered Alternative

Not everyone is a candidate for blood-based treatments, and some patients simply prefer alternatives. Ariessence PDGF+ offers the benefits of growth factor therapy without requiring a blood draw.

How Ariessence Works: This synthetic, lab-engineered formula is designed to mimic natural platelet-derived growth factors (PDGF). It’s manufactured under strict pharmaceutical standards and delivers consistent results.

Best For:

• Patients who aren’t good candidates for PRP
• Those who prefer not to have blood drawn
• Quick treatments without the processing time
• Post-procedure healing enhancement
• Patients seeking consistent, standardized results

The Benefits:

• No blood draw required
• Ready-to-use formulation
• Consistent concentration of growth factors
• Excellent for improving skin tone and texture
• Can be combined with other treatments easily

Exosome Therapy: The Cutting-Edge Option

Exosome therapy represents the newest frontier in regenerative aesthetics. These tiny vesicles, derived from stem cells, contain over 1,000 signaling proteins that promote tissue repair and regeneration at the cellular level.

What Makes Exosomes Special: Unlike other regenerative treatments that primarily deliver growth factors, exosomes work as cellular messengers. They communicate directly with your cells, providing instructions for repair, regeneration, and rejuvenation.

The Science Behind Exosomes:

• Contain proteins, peptides, and growth factors
• Work at the cellular communication level
• Trigger multiple healing pathways simultaneously
• Promote both immediate and long-term improvements

Best For:

• Comprehensive skin rejuvenation
• Post-laser or post-procedure healing
• Hair loss treatment
• Patients seeking the most advanced regenerative option
• Those who want minimal downtime with maximum results

Treatment Experience: Exosome therapy can be applied topically or injected, depending on your treatment goals. There’s virtually no downtime, and many patients notice improvements in skin hydration and texture within days.

Choosing the Right Treatment: A Decision Guide

For Under-Eye Concerns:

Ariessence PDGF+ is often our top recommendation for under-eye hollows and dark circles. The slow-release growth factors help thicken delicate under-eye skin without adding bulk, and results tend to last longer than traditional PRP.

For Hair Loss:

A combination of PRP and exosome therapy or PDGF and exosome therapy is excellent for hair restoration. PRP and PDGF stimulate follicles using your own platelets, while exosomes use advanced growth factors to signal cellular repair. The choice often depends on the severity of hair loss and your treatment timeline.

For Overall Skin Rejuvenation:

Exosome therapy offers the most comprehensive approach to skin renewal, working on multiple levels simultaneously. However, PRP remains an excellent choice for patients who prefer using their own biological materials.

For Post-Treatment Healing:

Ariessence PDGF+ and exosomes are both exceptional for enhancing recovery after laser treatments, microneedling, or other procedures.

For Acne Scars and Texture:

PRP combined with microneedling has a proven track record for improving skin texture and reducing acne scarring. Exosomes can also be highly effective, especially when combined with other treatments.

Combining Treatments for Enhanced Results

One of the most exciting aspects of regenerative medicine is how well these treatments work together—and with other aesthetic procedures. Popular combinations include:

Microneedling + PRP: The gold standard for improving skin texture and boosting collagen production.

Exosomes + Laser Treatments: Exosomes enhance skin renewal and accelerate healing after laser procedures.

What to Expect: Timeline and Results

Immediate Effects (1-3 days):

• Possible mild redness, bruising, or swelling
• Some treatments show immediate skin hydration improvements

Short-term Results (1-2 weeks):

• Skin texture begins improving
• Post-procedure healing accelerates
• Initial signs of rejuvenation appear

Long-term Benefits (4-12 weeks):

• Collagen production increases
• Skin tone and texture significantly improve
• Hair growth becomes noticeable (for hair treatments)
• Full regenerative effects develop

Maintenance: Most regenerative treatments provide results lasting 6 months to over a year. Maintenance sessions every 6-12 months help sustain ongoing collagen production and keep results looking fresh.

Safety and Candidacy

Regenerative treatments are among the safest aesthetic options available because they either use your own biological materials or lab-engineered versions of natural compounds. Serious side effects are extremely rare when treatments are administered by qualified providers.

Good Candidates Include:

• Healthy adults seeking natural-looking results
• Patients wanting to improve skin quality without surgery
• Those looking for gradual, long-lasting improvements
• Individuals who prefer treatments that work with their body’s natural processes

For more information on regenerative aesthetic treatments, read this paper on the evolution of the field.

The Carolina Facial Plastics Difference

At Carolina Facial Plastics, our exclusive focus on facial aesthetics means we have unparalleled expertise in regenerative treatments. Dr. Kulbersh’s Beverly Hills training in facial plastic surgery, combined with his deep understanding of facial anatomy and skin biology, allows us to pair natural therapies with advanced techniques for effective and undetectable results.

Our providers have over 25 years of combined experience and have trained directly under Dr. Kulbersh. We’re proud to be voted “Best Med Spa” in the 2025 Bob Awards, reflecting our commitment to exceptional patient care and outstanding results.

Ready to Discover Your Perfect Regenerative Treatment?

Don’t wait to activate your body’s natural ability to heal and rejuvenate. Contact Carolina Facial Plastics today at 704-323-5090 to schedule your consultation or book online. Let us help you discover the natural power of regenerative treatments to refresh and restore your appearance—safely and effectively.