Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy

Platelets are an essential blood component that facilitates the clot of your body. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is obtained from your blood by spinning it and producing other items, such as platelet-poor plasma and platelet lysate. PRP therapy is becoming increasingly popular in sports science and dermatology. The growth factors present in PRP enable quick healing in specific areas of your body. When injected into damaged tissues, it stimulates your body to produce new, healthy cells, promoting healing. 

Read on to learn about PRP, its purpose, its benefits, and how doctors administer these injections. 

What is PRP?

PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, is a revolutionary innovation in medicine that aids in faster healing. Plasma is a component that contains special factors or proteins that help blood clot and support cell growth. PRP is produced by isolating plasma from blood and concentrating it.  

How is PRP Prepared?

Platelets are blood cells that support healing by helping your body form clots. This aids in halting excessive bleeding and promotes cell growth.  

To prepare a PRP injection:

• Your doctor will draw a sample of your blood.
• The sample will be sealed inside a container and placed on a centrifuge machine.
• This device or machine will spin at such a high speed that the blood sample separates into different components, one of which is platelet-rich plasma. The separation process takes around 15 minutes.
• The doctor will extract this plasma rich in growth factors for administration as injectables.  

What is The Purpose of PRP Therapy?

Research has been actively conducted to use PRP in various medical applications. Examples of these include: 

Improve Skin Texture 

• PRP is considered to boost collagen and elastin fiber production, which improves skin texture.
• Dermatologists use PRP to treat skin-related concerns like fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin.  

Hair Loss

• PRP is injected into the scalp to treat hair loss.
• PRP stimulates the hair follicles to promote new hair growth and prevent hair loss. 
• It has recently been used to treat male pattern hair loss due to its efficacy. 

Tendon Injuries 

• Tendons are thick bands of tissues that connect muscles to bones. They are known to heal slowly during injury. 
• Doctors use PRP to accelerate tendon injury healing in conditions like tennis elbow and Achilles tendonitis, which may cause intense pain.  

Acute Injuries 

• PRP currently finds applications in treating sports-related injuries since it offers quick healing for athletes who want to return to sports quickly. 

Osteoarthritis

• PRP injectables are considered to be more effective than hyaluronic acid therapy (conventional treatment) to help patients with osteoarthritis. 

Promote Jawbone Growth

• Periodontal disease, a common progressive disease of the gums, may compromise bone health.
• Dentists use PRP to promote the growth of new bone in deficient areas of your jawbone. 

However, it is essential to remember that much research remains to prove the efficacy of PRP.  

How Do You Prepare for PRP Therapy?

Your doctor will advise you to follow certain guidelines before getting PRP therapy. This helps improve the success rate of the therapy and prevent any untoward complications in the procedure. These include:

• Avoid using vitamin or herb supplements two weeks before the injections.
• Avoid using NSAIDs at least ten days before the procedure.
• Avoid receiving corticosteroid injections near the injection site two weeks before the injectable, and avoid systemic corticosteroids at least a month before the procedure. 
• Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol at least a week before the procedure.
• Stay hydrated before the procedure by drinking at least 8 to 10 glasses of water.  

What to Expect During The PRP Therapy?

On the day of the procedure, inform your doctor about any allergies, especially latex allergies, to prevent complications during or after the procedure. PRP therapy is an outpatient procedure, which means you do not require hospitalization.  

The procedure is as follows:

• The area to be treated will be cleaned using disinfectant. 
• You will be given a local anesthetic to numb the injection site to ease any pain or discomfort.
• As mentioned above, the doctor will directly inject the PRP prepared from your blood sample a few days before the procedure.
• You may experience a mild stinging sensation due to the needle prick, which will subside gradually. 
• The entire procedure may take 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the surface area injected.
• You can leave the clinical setup after being observed for at least half an hour. 

What to Expect After The PRP Therapy?

The area being injected may be numb for 2 to 4 hours due to the effect of anesthesia. Remember to follow the below instructions for optimal healing and quick recovery: 

• Avoid excess sun exposure
• Avoid strenuous exercise or activities for at least 1 or 2 days 
• Avoid putting pressure or rubbing the injection site
• Avoid applying ice to the injected site for at least 4 hours after the procedure 
• Avoid makeup for at least 24 hours after the injection
• Continue to avoid:
• NSAIDs for 4 to 8 weeks 
• Corticosteroids for ten days 
• Herbal and vitamin supplements for ten days 
• Smoking and alcohol for at least a week
• Hydrate yourself well and eat a nutritious diet  

You may require multiple injections based on the purpose of using PRP therapy till the desired results are achieved.  

What Are the Benefits Of PRP Therapy?

PRP therapy is gaining traction due to the following benefits: 

• Offers a non-invasive solution through injectables
• Does not require hospitalization
• The procedure is quick
• There are minimal to no side effects since the plasma is obtained from the patient's blood
• There is no downtime required
• It is practical and offers long-lasting results 
• Improves skin texture and aids in toning the skin, preventing premature aging 
• Alleviates pain and promotes wound healing quickly  

Takeaway 

PRP is a promising therapy for those who experience tissue damage, hair loss, sagging skin with poor texture, joint pain, or a compromised jawbone. However, there is still some controversy regarding the use of PRP since it is not FDA-approved. There has not been any conclusive evidence of its effectiveness or standardization of treatment. Consult your doctor or dermatologist to determine if PRP therapy is right for your specific health, hair, or skin-related issues.