Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment, Uses, Procedure, and Recovery

In recent years, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment has drawn much attention due to its unexpected capacity for regeneration and healing. This novel approach uses one's platelets to treat a range of illnesses.

PRP treatment is widely practiced in sports medicine for joint-related tendon and ligament injuries, especially in athletes who need to endure wear and tear. It has also shown great promise in hair restoration, aiding in hair loss in both men and women.

In addition, PRP treatment is becoming increasingly popular in aesthetic medicine for skin rejuvenation and to speed up one's recovery after cosmetic surgery. In this article, we will learn about PRP treatment, what it is, how it functions, and the conditions are effectively taken care of by PRP, so stay tuned for more.

Related article: 3-Month PRP for Hair Loss: Before and After with pictures

What is platelet-rich plasma treatment?

PRP treatment, or platelet-rich plasma therapy, uses the patient's blood to stimulate the natural healing and regeneration of tissues within the body. The procedure involves taking a small amount of blood and processing it through a centrifuge, separating the platelets from other components.

These are highly concentrated platelets rich in growth factors, which will be reinjected into the body at the site of injury or damage. Growth factors in PRP heal tissues, reduce inflammation, enhance the natural healing process of the body, and hasten recovery. PRP is thus less invasive and leverages the body's own power to help recover or rejuvenate.

PRP treatment procedure explained step-by-step

PRP treatment is minimally invasive and uses a patient's platelet-rich plasma to stimulate the healing and recovery process in an injured tissue. The following is a step-by-step description of how this operation works.

1. Blood Draw

This medical procedure starts with the healthcare professional drawing a small amount of blood from the patient. Don't care! The amount generally ranges from 10 to 20 milliliters, depending on the area to be treated.

2. Blood Processing

Immediately after blood is drawn, it is put into a centrifuge. The centrifuge is a device designed to spin the blood at extremely high speeds to separate its different components. This separates the red blood cells, the white blood cells, and the plasma. Plasma is then enhanced with a higher concentration of platelets that contain growth factors crucial in healing and tissue regeneration.

3. PRP Preparation

Carefully aspirate platelet-rich plasma following the centrifugation process. Plasma contains many growth factors that activate cellular repair mechanisms, further helping in tissue regeneration. PRP is ready for injection.

4. PRP Injection

The concentrated PRP will then be injected by the healthcare provider directly into the body area under treatment. This might be a tendon, ligament, joint, or other injured tissue. Many times, an ultrasound or other type of imaging will guide the injection to ensure accuracy.

5. Post-Treatment Care

Following a PRP injection, some minor swelling, pain, or discomfort at the treated site may be seen. This typically resolves within days and is considered normal. Rest, ice, or over-the-counter analgesics are some of the varied instructions that the provider may give to help improve post-procedure symptoms.

6. Recovery and Follow-Up

This treatment also requires some time for recovery afterward, and patients are often counseled to avoid strenuous activity for days or weeks, depending on the area being treated. It can take several weeks to months to realize the full benefits of PRP treatment, as these growth factors act inside the body progressively to stimulate the healing process and regeneration of tissues. Follow-up visits may be scheduled to monitor the progress and determine whether further treatments are necessary.

Is PRP injection FDA-approved?

The FDA has not approved all of their uses for PRP injections, such as osteoarthritis, tendon injuries, and hair loss. Although the FDA allows the use of PRP in clinical settings, this is primarily to ensure the safety of the devices used in collecting and processing blood.

PRP is prepared from the patient's blood; hence, it is, in general, considered a "minimally processed" product and does not need FDA approval for use on individual patients, as it is not considered a drug. While various medical fields are approved for PRP treatment, many of these uses are considered investigational, and additional clinical studies are required to support the efficacy of PRP therapy for several of these treatments. Most of the time, it is administered "off-label" under the care of a physician. And here is a detailed explanation of the uses of PRP.

PRP for sports injuries

PRP injections have become common in a wide variety of injuries, especially tendon, ligament, and joint-related injuries. PRP has been commonly used to treat diseases such as tendonitis, rotator cuff injuries, tennis elbow, and knee osteoarthritis. A 2015 study found that PRP injections were more effective than hyaluronic acid injections, a conventional treatment, in treating osteoarthritis.

In sports injuries, injections of PRP can accelerate the healing process by facilitating blood flow and cellular regeneration at the injury site. In turn, this results in generally quicker healing times for athletes and their return to physical activity.

PRP therapy may also facilitate chronic injuries of patients who have responded inadequately to other forms of treatment, such as physical therapy or injections of corticosteroids.

Even though the FDA does not approve PRP for all types of sports injuries, many of the athletes who participated in PRP treatment reported marked improvements in pain relief, joint functions, and mobility.

Clinical research has documented evidence that PRP may be especially effective in treating soft tissue injuries and preventing some invasive surgeries. However, at this time, long-term benefits and effectiveness remain under observation and research in sports medicine.

PRP for wound healing

Nowadays, PRP treatment has increasingly been used to enhance wound healing. Specifically, PRP has treated chronic or non-healing wounds.

The treatment usually consists of drawing a small amount of the patient's blood, further concentrating the platelets, and injecting or applying the PRP onto the wound site. Platelets are rich in growth factors that stimulate tissue regeneration and improve cell growth, accelerating the healing process.

Searches via PubMed and other medical literature reflect that PRP can hasten the healing process of chronic or complex wounds resulting from burns or surgical incisions.

The platelets within PRP stimulate tissue regeneration and collagen production, enhancing this overall process of healing. However, the success of PRP depends on the type of wound and the patient's clinical condition.

The exact mechanism through which PRP enhances wound healing is yet to be ascertained. It is also yet to conduct clinical trials to establish conditions of application and types of wounds for which the treatment shall be most effective.

PRP treatment for breast

Vampire breast lift (VBL) enhances the breast without surgery. Providers infuse platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to improve skin texture and make the breasts full. There are minimal possible side effects, such as bruising, swelling, and tenderness.

PRP treatment for hair