PRP treatment: its therapeutic properties
PRP treatment is an injectable procedure in which the patient's platelet-rich plasma is injected into an area of the body in need of rapid healing, with the aim of accelerating regeneration and stimulating the growth of the body's own cells. The method is quite innovative, but has already shown positive results in the treatment of sports injuries (tissue tears). It is also widely used in cosmetology and trichology.
The essence of the method is not to deal with external agents, as is the case with medications, but rather to make your own body produce the sufficient number of cells for tissue repair.
In aesthetics, this method is used as part of rejuvenation programs or as monotherapy to restore elasticity to aging skin. Experience with the use of enriched blood products shows that PRP not only successfully lifts sagging contours, but is also effective in alopecia as a natural hair growth stimulator.
What is PRP treatment?
The PRP procedure consists of several steps:
Collection of the patient's blood
It is taken from the cubital vein and can vary from 20 to 100 ml, depending on the area to be treated and the duration of the treatment.
Preparation of enriched plasma
This is done in two steps by centrifugation: first, the heavy particles (lymphocytes and erythrocytes) are removed from the blood, then the plasma is concentrated so that the number of platelets per milliliter of blood is five to amounts six times greater than the patient's natural value. The drug is diluted with heparin or citrate, which prevents platelet aggregation (adherence).
Injection of the drug into the injured area (depending on the purpose of treatment, the enriched plasma can be injected into the joint, under the skin or intradermally)
Platelets are essentially fragments of a megakaryocyte (the precursor cell of all form elements). Platelets contain on their surface a large amount of so-called growth factors - proteins that stimulate cell synthesis. This is your success in hemostasis (stopping bleeding).
As soon as the concentrated platelets return to the body, they begin to actively stimulate the growth of new cells. Fibroblasts and muscle fibers are sensitive to growth factors. Increasing its quantity increases the strength and elasticity of the skin, allows repairing damaged parts of muscles, fascia, joint structures and strengthens the hair bulb in the bed.
As the growth factor helps to strengthen and grow blood vessels, PRP therapy improves blood flow to tissues, which leads to better metabolism, including bloating, and helps to restore rich color and health to discolored skin and fight acne and furunculosis.
In plastic surgery, this method is used in the postoperative period for healing surgical wounds, resorption of scars and in combination with antiseptics to prevent inflammatory processes.
When can we use PRP treatment?
The necessity of PRP treatment is decided by a doctor individually for each patient. Since the procedure involves an injection, it is important to be prepared to rule out conditions that may be a contraindication and to weigh the benefits and potential risks. Referral for PRP treatment can only be made by a qualified specialist.
Possible applications of PRP treatment
- In sports injuries (sprains/strains of ligaments, muscles, cartilage injuries)
- In the post-operative phase (for rapid healing of sutures and scars, to reduce the risk of infection)
- Burns (promotes rapid epithelialization of the skin, i.e. its regeneration)
- For difficult healing ulcers, weeping eczema
- Prosthodontics for edentulous jaws - for quick implantation of implants, in complex treatment of gum diseases
- In case of damage to eyelids and cornea (subconjunctival injection).
The positive effects of PRP therapy
Human blood products have been used since the first half of the 20th century, when two to 10 ml (depending on the therapy) of fresh autologous blood from the ulna was injected intramuscularly to stimulate the immune system and shorten the recovery time after extensive treatment surgeries or severe and lengthy surgeries to shorten illnesses. This treatment was called "autologous blood therapy."
Platelet-rich plasma has almost completely replaced autologous blood therapy. The procedure has a number of advantages that make it unique:
- The drug contains the body's own proteins, so rejection reactions do not occur: Allergies to the drug as with foreign biologics (e.g., vaccines) or other immune reactions do not occur.
- It is readily available and equally effective, so therapy can be prolonged if necessary or repeated after a period of time.
- It is the most natural method, because unlike medications, plasma does not interfere with metabolic processes from the outside, but only stimulates the normal work of the body by strengthening and accelerating stimulating processes already constantly taking place in the body
As a result of PRP treatments, the patient will notice the following:
- Pain relief (in case of injuries, after operations)
- Fast healing of implants (dental, cardiac, orthopedic)
- Rapid tightening and scarring of ulcers, scar healing
- Reduction of scars, including post acne
- Smoothing of skin: improvement of color, smoothing of expression lines
- Strong anti-inflammatory effect: disappearance of acne, reduction of blackheads
- Hair growth in areas with alopecia (baldness)
- Improvement of local skin immunity
Contraindications of PRP treatment
Despite the good tolerance and mildness of the procedure, there are a number of limiting factors that make the treatment with PRP a potentially dangerous manipulation, so the doctor will prescribe a series of tests before starting the therapy
- Platelet count in the peripheral blood
- Diagnosis of acute or disseminated infection
- Exclusion of anemia
- Exclude coagulopathies (imbalances between the coagulation and anticoagulation systems) and other blood disorders
Contraindications to PRP treatment include:
- Low platelet count
- Sepsis or acute infection
- Low hemoglobin or low red blood cell count (anemia)
- Hemophilia or thrombophilia and other diseases that reduce or increase blood clotting
- Systemic connective tissue diseases (e.g., lupus)
- Cancers (especially blood tumors)
- Benign tumor processes capable of degeneration
- Heparin intolerance (in rare cases, heparin can cause allergies)
What does a PRP treatment cost?
The cost of PRP treatment depends on many factors.
- The qualification of the treating physician and the evaluation of the clinic
- Price list of the chosen clinic/practice
- Cost of the preparatory visit to the doctor (consultation) - this can be done in a cosmetic clinic or on the recommendation of the doctor responsible for the treatment in your region
- Cost of tests that can be done in the same place as the treatment or in the health center in advance
- Duration and number of courses
- Course objectives (post-surgical rehabilitation, joint or anti-age therapy, etc.)
- Area of treatment
- In case of occurrence of side effects (allergy to anticoaugulant), additional anti-allergic treatment can be prescribed, which will affect the cost.
PRP treatments are not harmful to the body and do not cause allergic reactions, because the patient's own blood is used. This method naturally stimulates the body's ability to heal itself and reduces or eliminates pain without surgical intervention or treatment B. Hormones, chemicals or drugs. Local injections of growth factors can find the exact location where inflammation or tissue damage has developed. They activate new cell formation and stimulate repair processes in the tissue.
For information
PRP injections can be administered into the shoulder, knee, ankle, hip or finger joints. Helps relieve pain from inflammation of the Achilles tendon, tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, etc. Growth factor injection is sometimes a good solution in dealing with chronic pain when all medications have been tried and nothing helps.
This procedure can also be done for preventative purposes. For example, if a patient has surgery on a joint to fix another problem and the doctor finds that the joint cartilage is damaged, he or she may recommend a PRP injection. Damage to the cartilage is also detected on X-rays and MRI scans during advanced diagnosis of joint pain.
The procedure takes about 20 minutes. It is a very simple procedure: 20 ml of blood is taken from a patient's vein and placed in a special centrifuge. In seven minutes, centrifugal forces separate the plasma, a yellowish liquid containing a large number of platelets that secrete various growth factors. The plasma is drawn up into a syringe and immediately injected into the joint. All of this is done in oneSession, without the patient having to wait a long time for blood preparation.
Is any prior preparation required for PRP treatment?
No special preconditioning is required. The procedure should not be performed in case of acute illness, inflammatory processes, malaise or fever
It is important to know that PRP injection does not replace anesthesia: it can be performed only when all acute pain is eliminated
Before the procedure, it is advisable to plan your time well. It is not recommended to inject immediately after if, for example, heavy exertion is expected such as jogging, cycling, etc
One week after the injection, it is recommended to lead a cautious lifestyle and refrain from sports activities that put stress on the affected joints.
When can results be expected?
Many patients have felt relief and positive changes after just a few days, as swelling and pain have subsided. However, this depends mainly on the extent and size of the joint damage. In each case, the sensation is different, as the deformity may be in the initial stage, moderate or very pronounced. The condition usually improves within about a month.
