Platelet Rich Plasma PRP Therapy
Non-surgical Platelet-rich Plasma for Joint Injuries.
PRP is Platelet-rich-Plasma
Platelet-rich Plasma (aka PRP) consists of two components. These are the liquid portion of the blood – 1) plasma and 2) platelets. Platelets are a component of the blood responsible for healing throughout the body. Platelets contain the much-needed growth factors which regenerate cell damage during the healing process.
Platelet-rich plasma therapy is a method of injecting growth factors into areas of the body to aid and support the regeneration process. It helps accelerate and improve tissue repair in patients. The medical practitioner typically takes 30cc to 66cc of the patient’s own blood, then places it into a centrifuge system to concentrate platelets and growth factors. The goal of the procedure is to get a concentration of platelets of around 1 million to 1.5 million platelets per microliter. This has been found to offer the best regenerative outcomes using PRP.
PRP includes 7 growth factors for regeneration and 1 angiogenic factor for vascularization. Your body already has all of these factors built in to rejuvenate tissues whenever they are damaged or diminished through normal wear and tear. However, scientists and doctors have found that better results can occur when we take these healing factors from the blood, concentrate them, and re-inject them into the body.
The table below provides a complete list of the key growth factors contained within a platelet-rich plasma formulation.
Table 1 - PRP Rejuvenating Components
| PRP GROWTH FACTORS | CELLULAR EFFECTS |
|---|---|
| PDGF - Platelet Dreived Growth Factor | macrophage activation, angiogenesis, fibroblast chmotaxis, collagen synthesis, enhances proliferation of bone cells. |
| IGF-1 - Insulin Like Growth Factor 1 | chemotactic for myoblast and fibroblasts and stimulates protein synthisis, mediator of growth and repair of skeletal muscle, enhances bone formation by proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts. |
| TGF-B - Transforming Growth Factor B | enhances proliferative activity of fobroblasts, stimulates biosynthesis of type I collagen and fibronectin, induces deposition of bone matrix, inhibits osteoclast formation and bone resorption, regulation in balance between fibrosis and myocyte regeneration. |
| PDEGF - Platelet Derived Endothelial Growth Factor | promotes wound healing by stimulating the proliferation of keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts. |
| PDAF Platelet Derived Angiogenic Factor | Induces vascularization by stimulating vascular endothelial cells. |
| EGF - Endothelial Growth Factor | cellular proliferation, differentiation of epithelial cells. |
| VEGF - Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor | angiogenesis, migration and mitosis of endothelial cells, creation of blood vessel lumen, vasodilation indirectly through the release of nitrous oxide. |
| HGF - Hepotocyte Growth Factor | stimulates hepocyte proliferation and liver tissue regeneration, angiogenesis, mitogen for endothelial cells, antifibrotic. |
Platelet-rich Plasma Procedures
Because platelet-rich plasma is a natural healing enhancer through the concentration of growth factors, there are a number of applications for it. Many physicians and medical practitioners will use PRP to augment other procedures such as cosmetic surgery or will use it alone to help with natural tissue repair.
Some common applications include:
- Stimulated regrowth of hair loss
- Treating wounds
- Lower back pain
- Managing chronic pain
- ED (PSHOT)
- Osteoarthritis
- Tendonitis
- Knee problems
- Facial rejuvenation with micro-needling (Vampire Face Lift)
Mechanism of PRP
Once the preparation of platelet-rich plasma is completed, it will be injected into the damaged tissue area or to aid in healing for cosmetic purposes. In some cases, the practitioner will use an ultrasound to guide the injection into the specific injection location. This is done only if necessary as PRP growth factors will naturally migrate to the area of inflamation or trauma.
Once the platelet-rich plasma growth factors are injected, the cascade of regenerative mechanisms will go to work for about 7-10 days. Generally, the number of platelets and growth factors in the area will determine to some extent the tissue healing rate. Since there are many factors in play, this is not an exact science. A lot will also depend on the overall metabolic health of the patient.
PRP Versus Stem Cell Therapy
Platelet-rich plasma is not stem cell therapy. Although stem cell therapy is very similar in many respects, it is not a stem cell transplant.
How Much Does PRP Therapy Cost?
Typical platelet-rich plasma therapy by board-certified doctors will range between $750 to just over $1,000 US dollars, depending on the complexity of the procedure. In some procedures, additional equipment or forms of additional scaffolding support may be required and may impact the procedure.
Our regenerative state-of-the-art Platelet-rich Plasma therapies are performed by board-certified doctors.
The purpose of Platelet-rich plasma, a near stem cell level protocol, is to concentrate the body’s own healing growth factors into a platelet-rich plasma. The PRP is then re-injected into the patient to help support soft tissue damage, accelerate healing, and even is now being used for ED.
PRP Therapy uses the patient’s own blood, so rejection and cross-contamination is not a concern with proper technique.
PRP is gaining popularity because of its low risk and potential for stimulating healing in difficult to heal areas of the body such as joints and tendons.
Platelet-Rich Plasma uses go far beyond soft tissue injury. It is now used for chronic conditions like erectile dysfunction for nerve and vascular support, stimulation of hair regrowth when combined with micro-needling and minoxidil treatment. Many also use it for its aesthetic benefits with facial rejuvenation procedures from laser or microneedle therapy – often referred to as the Vampire Facelift.
Combine a practical rejuvenation therapy with PRP, laser treatment, fillers and Botox for combined minimally invasive procedures resulting in little or zero down-time