After PRP injections came PRF treatment—and now there’s EZ Gel, an injectable that utilizes your own blood platelets as a gel, to add volume to the face and body, explains Dr. Karimi, who serves as medical director for the company. (As a quick aside, PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma; PRF stands for platelet-rich fibrin. They’re produced differently; PRF doesn’t have an anticoagulant added to it, and studies show that the production of growth factors is higher over a longer period of time after PRF than PRP, says Dr. Hausauer.)
In the case of EZ Gel, the PRF is heated. “This causes albumin, the most abundant protein in the blood, to unfold and quadruple in volume, acting as a scaffolding,” Dr. Karimi explains. It results in a viscosity that’s similar to that of a hyaluronic acid filler, which can also be adjusted to be thicker or thinner based on how much it’s heated, he notes. The EZ Gel is injected to add volume anywhere on the face or body, though the growth factors and exosomes in the platelets also have an impact on collagen production and skin quality.
While EZ Gel doesn’t last for years, the way many HA fillers can, Dr. Karimi says a recently completed study found that three series of injections, performed four weeks apart, yielded measurable volume results for eight months.
“This isn’t a one-and-done type treatment for people looking for big cheeks or a chin augmentation. It’s for those looking for a natural alternative to help maintain face volume,” he says, adding that it performs especially well when used for under-eye hollows and to make lips look more hydrated.
Our experts were somewhat split when it came to EZ Gel’s potential to become the next big thing. “Specific studies on EZ Gel itself as a proprietary technology are limited, but existing data supports the efficacy of PRF for skin rejuvenation,” says Dr. Chang. According to Dr. Jason Champagne, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California, while it’s not yet super widespread, practitioners are beginning to explore this as a natural alternative to synthetic fillers. “Given that it uses an autologous material, the patient’s own blood, EZ Gel has a more promising path toward FDA approval, especially if it can consistently demonstrate safety and efficacy in clinical trials,” he says. However, Dr. Cheung points out that because results are dependent on blood quality (which can be affected by things such as alcohol, nicotine, and aspirin), she prefers to use more predictable regenerative products and doesn’t foresee FDA approval coming anytime soon.
Patient reviews, at least on Reddit, are also a bit mixed. The overarching sentiment? Results are subtle, and multiple treatments are needed in order to achieve any kind of meaningful effect, which also doesn’t last very long. And many people also lament the ability to have EZ Gel dissolved in the event of a vascular occlusion or less-than-favorable end result.
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