PRP with hyaluronic acid (Cellular Matrix) in Tokyo: Dr. Rena Hirata answers seven questions from overseas patients
Omotesando Rejuva Medical Clinic offers Cellular Matrix PRP therapy, which combines platelet-rich plasma derived from your own blood with non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid. One PRP preparation session provides approximately 4–5 mL of concentrated PRP and HA and costs ¥242,000, with each additional preparation priced at ¥174,000. All prices include tax. Depending on your concerns and the volume of Cellular Matrix PRP prepared, one tube can treat two to four facial areas, such as the under-eye area, nasolabial folds, and cheeks. The treatment is provided under a Class III regenerative medicine provision plan submitted to Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (plan number: PC3200161). Clinic director Dr. Rena Hirata, who offers consultations in English, answers some of the questions international patients ask most frequently.
What is PRP, and why do you combine it with hyaluronic acid?
PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. We draw a small amount of your blood and centrifuge it to concentrate the platelets, which release growth factors involved in tissue repair. Injected into the skin, PRP is used to support collagen formation and skin remodeling. At our clinic we use a Regen Lab system that concentrates platelets more than eight times, with a platelet recovery rate above 80%.
Cellular Matrix adds non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid to the PRP in a closed preparation system. Hyaluronic acid is naturally present in the skin and binds water. Non-crosslinked means the molecules have not been chemically joined into a network, so it behaves differently from the crosslinked fillers used for contouring: it does not add lasting volume. Its role is to support hydration and to provide an environment in which the growth factors are held at the injection site. We introduced Cellular Matrix because it fits our approach of working with the skin's own regenerative potential rather than adding volume from outside.
How is Cellular Matrix different from PRP alone?
The difference is the hyaluronic acid. PRP alone brings growth factors; Cellular Matrix brings growth factors and a water-binding component together. A 2021 randomized study of 93 participants compared three cheek-treatment sessions of PRP, hyaluronic acid, or the combination, and the combination group showed greater improvement in patient-rated facial appearance and measured skin elasticity than either treatment alone.
I want to be careful about what that means. The study is encouraging, but it does not show that the combination works better than every PRP preparation, that it multiplies collagen production, or that it always lasts longer. PRP products vary between manufacturers, so results from one system should not be assumed for another. I explain the differences in more detail in my article on our clinic's website.
Who is this treatment for, and who should consider something else?
Cellular Matrix suits patients whose main concerns are skin quality: dryness, fine lines, reduced firmness, and a tired look that is not explained by a single deep line or hollow. It is also an option for patients who prefer a treatment made from their own blood.
If your concern is a significant hollow or structural volume loss, PRP with hyaluronic acid is not the right tool, and I will say so at the consultation. In those cases a crosslinked filler, or a different approach altogether, may serve you better. Non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid can still cause temporary fullness or swelling after injection, so please do not mistake the immediate appearance for the final result.
What does it cost, and how many sessions do I need?
One PRP preparation session provides approximately 4–5 mL of concentrated PRP and HA and costs ¥242,000, with each additional preparation priced at ¥174,000. All prices include tax. Treatment for the scalp is ¥174,000 per session, and treatment for the gynecological area is ¥242,000 per session. The initial consultation fee is ¥3,300, including tax.
I recommend a course of two to three sessions. Collagen is produced gradually over the weeks after each session, so the result develops over one to three months rather than on the day. If you are visiting Tokyo only once, we will discuss at the consultation what a single session can and cannot achieve.
What happens on the day, and what are the downtime and risks?
The visit takes about 60 minutes: a consultation, a blood draw, preparation of the Cellular Matrix, and the injections. Anesthetic cream is applied beforehand.
Mild swelling and redness are common for a few days and usually settle within one week; some patients feel puffiness for two to three weeks. Bruising, when it occurs, is absorbed within one to two weeks. Because the treatment uses your own blood, allergic reactions are very unlikely, but infection remains a rare possibility. Using your own blood does not make the procedure risk-free. Please tell us about your medical history, medications, and allergies.
Is this treatment regulated in Japan?
Yes. PRP falls under Japan's Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine, and a clinic may only provide it under a treatment plan filed with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Our clinic provides PRP under a Class III plan, number PC3200161, and we publish the number on our website. If a clinic offers PRP without displaying a plan number, ask for it before booking.
The Cellular Matrix preparation kit itself has not been approved under Japan's Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act. We import it through an authorized Japanese distributor at the physician's discretion, and we disclose this on our PRP page, as we do for ACRS. Serious adverse events arising from an unapproved product are not covered by Japan's Relief System for Sufferers from Adverse Drug Reactions.
Can I do the whole visit in English?
Yes, although not all of our staff are fluent in English; they do their best to communicate in English. I offer consultations in English, as do two of our other doctors, Dr. Sakio and Dr. Onchi, so no interpreter is needed. English-speaking patients pay the same prices as Japanese-speaking patients. Reservations in English are accepted via LINE or through the contact form on our English website, and we accept credit cards, WeChat Pay, and Alipay. The clinic is approximately a six-minute walk from Exit A4 of Omotesando Station.
Written by Rena Hirata, M.D. of Omotesando Rejuva Medical Clinic and reviewed by the clinic before publication. Prices and other details are as of 11 Oct 2026 and are taken from the clinic's official price list; please confirm with the clinic before booking.
The clinic did not pay for this article.