If you have been researching regenerativeaesthetics, you have probably seen terms like PRP, PRF, PRFM,EzGel, and BioGel used almost interchangeably. The problem isthat they are not the same thing, and they do not behave the same way intissue. That matters, especially when patients are trying to understand whethera treatment is meant for volume, skin rejuvenation, or both.
At The Retreat Wellness + Aesthetics, webelieve patients deserve real explanations, not trend-driven marketing. That isexactly why we created this podcast episode: to break down the differencesbetween PRP, PRF, PRFM, EzGel, and PRP BioGel, and explain why we made thedecision to move away from PRF gel/EzGel and switch to PRP-basedBioGel.
What is the difference between PRP, PRF, and PRFM?
Before you can understand why one gel mayperform better than another, you have to understand the difference between theblood products themselves.
PRP, orplatelet-rich plasma, is one of the earliest blood-based regenerativetreatments used in aesthetics. It is created by drawing blood into a tube withan anticoagulant and separator, then spinning it to isolate the platelet-richplasma. PRP is a liquid product that gives a more immediate release ofgrowth factors after injection.
PRF, orplatelet-rich fibrin, is a newer generation blood product. It is preparedwithout anticoagulants or gel separators and spun differently, allowing somefibrin and white blood cells to remain. Once injected, PRF forms a fibrinscaffold in tissue, which helps hold platelets in place and creates a slower,more sustained release of growth factors.
PRFM, orplatelet-rich fibrin matrix, is more engineered. It starts with PRP, then usesagents such as calcium or thrombin outside the body to create a scaffold beforeinjection. This can make placement more controlled, but it is still consideredmore of a regenerative treatment than a true volumizer.
Which treatments are for regeneration and which are forvolume?
This is where a lot of confusion happens.
PRP, PRF, and PRFM are not truevolumizers. They are mainly used to support skinrejuvenation, collagen stimulation, and tissue regeneration.If someone tells a patient that plain liquid PRF is going to create meaningfullong-term volume under the eyes or in another hollow area, that is misleading.For true volume, you need a gel product.
That distinction is simple but important:
● Liquid PRP / PRF / PRFM = regenerative support
● Gel products = soft volume, with some regenerative benefit depending on the formula
What is EzGel?
EzGel, often called PRF gel, ismade by heating part of the blood-derived albumin fraction to create a gel,then combining it with liquid PRF. On the surface, it sounds ideal. It soundslike you are getting both volume and the stronger regenerative benefits of PRF.
But that is not necessarily what happensclinically.
Why we switched from EzGel to PRP BioGel
At The Retreat, we stopped using PRFgel/EzGel and switched to PRP-based BioGel because once PRF is mixedinto a gel, it does not behave the same way it does as a liquid injectable. Inother words, the very thing that makes PRF special may be lost once it istrapped inside a gel.
There are three main reasons behind thatdecision.
1. PRF behaves more like PRP once it is mixed into a gel
What makes liquid PRF unique is itsability to form a fibrin scaffold inside human tissue after injection.That scaffold helps create a slower release of growth factors.
But once PRF is blended into an albumingel, it no longer has the same environment it needs to fully behave that way.It loses the tissue conditions and space required for that normal fibrinnetwork behavior. In practical terms, that means the PRF portion of the gel isnot giving the same unique benefit people often assume they are paying for.
2. PRP creates a smoother, more uniform gel
PRP is a more uniform liquid and does notcontain the same fibrin content that can make PRF more prone to clotting oruneven texture once blended into a gel.
That matters, especially in delicateareas like the under eyes, where smooth laydown is everything. Asmoother gel creates a more predictable product and may reduce the risk oflumps, bumps, and uneven placement.
3. The white blood cells in PRF may break down the gel faster
This was one of the biggest clinicaltakeaways from the episode.
PRF contains more white blood cells thanPRP. Those white blood cells can be beneficial in a liquid regenerativetreatment, but in a gel they may become a disadvantage. They release enzymesand inflammatory mediators that can accelerate breakdown of the protein-basedgel structure. That means faster degradation and shorter-lastingvolume.
Clinically, that is exactly what we wereseeing. With EzGel, patients often still got regenerative benefits, but thevolume could fade quickly. With PRP BioGel, the volume held better andlasted longer, which is exactly what we want from a gel treatment.
Is PRF still better than PRP?
It depends on the goal.
If you are talking about a liquidregenerative treatment, PRF is generally more advanced than PRP because ofits sustained release and fibrin scaffold behavior. But that does notautomatically make it the better choice in every format. Once you turn it intoa gel, the rules change.
A product can be better in one clinicaluse and worse in another. That is why chasing trends without understanding thescience leads to poor treatment decisions.
When should each product be used?
If the goal is skin quality, collagenstimulation, crepey skin improvement, or tissue rejuvenation, a liquidPRF treatment makes more sense than a gel.
If the goal is soft volume andstructure without using HA filler, a PRP-based BioGel is the betterchoice.
If the goal is both volume andregeneration, patients need to understand that there is no singleblood-based product that perfectly does both at the highest level. In thosecases, the best option may be to alternate treatments: one for volume,one for regeneration.
The bottom line
PRF is an excellent regenerative liquidtreatment. But once it is placed into a gel format, its unique advantages mayno longer translate the way many people think. At that point, PRP often becomesthe better base for a gel because it is smoother, more predictable, and maylast longer from a volumizing standpoint.
At The Retreat, we do not choosetreatments based on what is trending. We choose them based on what makes themost scientific and clinical sense for the result we are trying to create.
Want the full breakdown? Check out this episode of The Retreat Radio forthe deeper conversation on PRP vs PRF vs PRFM, the truth about EzGel vs PRPBioGel, and how we make these decisions in real clinical practice.
