PDGF skin rejuvenation
PDGF stands for platelet-derived growth factors, the proteins your body uses to tell cells to repair and rebuild. In aesthetic medicine they are purified and injected where thin, crepey or hollow skin needs them, most often under the eyes, so the tissue itself thickens and firms over the following weeks instead of being propped up with filler.
PDGF at a glance
A PDGF treatment at Epic IV takes 45 to 60 minutes in the clinic, with topical numbing applied beforehand. Afterwards there may be mild swelling or bruising that settles within days, and most patients go straight back to normal activity. The result is gradual: collagen rebuilds over weeks, so you look more rested within a few weeks and renewed within a few months.
| Treatment time | 45 to 60 minutes, in the clinic |
|---|---|
| Numbing | Topical numbing applied beforehand |
| Downtime | Minimal. Mild swelling or bruising may occur and resolves within days |
| Results | Gradual. More rested within weeks, renewed within months |
What PDGF treats
Under-eye hollowness
The under-eye area is the most delicate skin on the face. Filler adds volume there temporarily and can look puffy or blue in thin skin. PDGF rebuilds the tissue itself, restoring thickness and firmness from within, which is why it is our first choice under the eyes.
Dark shadows
Some under-eye darkness is a shadow cast by a hollow, and some is thin skin showing the vessels beneath. Thickening the skin improves both.
Crepey, thinning skin
On the lower eyelid, the cheek, the neck or the backs of the hands, PDGF gives the repair process more to work with, and the skin thickens over the weeks that follow.
Loss of firmness
Skin that has lost its spring responds as new collagen forms. For sagging that needs structural support, see the skin tightening page, which sorts treatments by area.
Why PDGF instead of filler under the eyes
No synthetic material is injected, so nothing foreign sits in the skin. There is no migration risk, because growth factors signal repair rather than occupying space. There is no Tyndall effect, the blue or grey tint that filler can give under thin skin. And there is no overfilled look: the change is your own tissue thickening, so it is subtle and it looks like you. The trade-off is time. Filler is instant; PDGF takes weeks to show and months to finish, and the result is what you have built rather than what has been placed.
PDGF versus EZ Gel
Both treatments rebuild the under-eye without synthetic filler, and we offer both. PDGF uses purified platelet-derived growth factors, injected where the skin needs them. EZ Gel is made from a small sample of your own blood, processed into a gel that carries your own platelets, fibrin and growth factors. Which suits you depends on your skin, your goal and your preference for a product versus your own blood; the consultation sorts it out, and the two are not combined in the same session.
PDGF with microneedling
For texture and crepey skin across the face rather than a single area, PDGF is applied during microneedling so the growth factors reach the channels the needles open. That pairing has its own place on the microneedling page.
Who performs your treatment
PDGF at Epic IV is injected by our registered nurses, after a clinician has assessed the area and agreed the plan with you. The clinic's medical director is Dr. Christine Rongey, MD.
What to expect
Consultation
A clinician examines the under-eye or the area you want treated, asks about your history and any previous filler, and plans the treatment. You get the price first.
Treatment
Topical numbing goes on, then the injections take place over a 45 to 60 minute visit.
Right after
Mild swelling, sometimes a bruise. Most patients resume normal activity immediately. Avoid rubbing the area and heavy exercise for the day.
Weeks 2 to 6
Swelling long gone; the skin starts to look more rested as collagen builds.
Months 2 to 4
The full result: thicker, firmer, brighter skin in the treated area.
Is PDGF right for you?
You are likely a good candidate if you:
- Have under-eye hollows, dark shadows or crepey skin and want lasting improvement rather than temporary volume
- Are done with frequent filler appointments, or react poorly to filler under the eyes
- Prefer a result that looks natural rather than done
- Can wait weeks for the change to show
Wait if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have an active infection in the area, or take a medication that affects clotting and have not cleared it with your doctor. Deep hollows with a lot of lost volume may still need some filler elsewhere in the face; the consultation will say.
What PDGF costs in Anaheim Hills
The price depends on the area treated and whether one treatment or a series is planned. You approve the exact figure at your free consultation. The $199 a month aesthetics membership does not currently discount PDGF.
PDGF questions, answered
Anything this page does not answer, a clinician will at your free consultation.
What is PDGF skin rejuvenation?
PDGF skin rejuvenation injects purified platelet-derived growth factors, the proteins your body uses to signal repair, into thin, crepey or hollow skin so the tissue thickens and firms over the following weeks. It is used most under the eyes as an alternative to filler.
How is PDGF different from PRP?
PRP, platelet-rich plasma, is made by spinning your own blood to concentrate the platelets, and its growth factor content varies from person to person and day to day. PDGF uses purified growth factors at a consistent concentration. Both aim to stimulate repair; PDGF removes the variability.
How long does PDGF take to work?
Collagen takes time to form, so the first change shows at around two to six weeks and the full result at two to four months. The treatment itself takes 45 to 60 minutes with minimal downtime.
How long do PDGF results last?
How long results last varies from person to person, and your clinician will tell you what to expect for your skin at your free consultation.
Does PDGF hurt?
Topical numbing is applied beforehand, so you feel pressure and brief pinches. Mild swelling or bruising afterwards usually settles within days.
How much does PDGF cost in Anaheim Hills?
The price depends on the area and whether a series is planned, and you approve the exact figure at your free consultation.
Do you see patients from Yorba Linda and Orange for PDGF?
Yes. The clinic is on Weir Canyon Road in Anaheim Hills, a short drive from Yorba Linda, Orange and Villa Park.
You might also consider
Patients come from Anaheim Hills, Yorba Linda, Orange and Villa Park: Patients from Yorba Linda, Patients from Orange and Villa Park.
Keep exploring
Other treatment categories
- Body contouring
- Botox and Dysport
- Chemical peels
- CO2 laser resurfacing
- Dermal fillers
- Dermaplaning
- EZ Gel under-eye treatment
- Hair restoration
Performed at the studio in Anaheim, for clients across Anaheim, Orange and Yorba Linda.
Rebuild rather than fill
A clinician will look at the area and tell you whether PDGF, EZ Gel or something else is the right first step, and what it will cost.
Epic IV Hydration & Med Spa, 731 S Weir Canyon Rd, Suite 139, Anaheim, CA 92808. Mon to Sat, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.