Platelet-rich plasma is made up of two components: plasma, or the liquid part of blood, and platelets, a type of blood cell that play an important role in healing throughout the body. Platelets are known for their ability to clot, but they also contain growth factors that can trigger cell reproduction and stimulate tissue regeneration or healing in the treated area. Platelet-rich plasma is simply blood that contains more platelets than normal.
To create platelet-rich plasma, doctors take a sample of a patient's blood and put it in a device called a centrifuge, which spins the sample quickly & , separating the other blood components from the platelets and concentrating them in the plasma.
What is a PRP injection?
After preparing platelet-rich plasma from a patient's blood sample, this solution is injected into a target area, e.g. B. an injured knee or tendon. In some cases, your doctor may use ultrasound to guide the injection. The idea is to increase the levels of certain bioproteins or hormones called growth factors in a specific area to speed up the healing process.
The mechanism of PRP injections is not fully understood. Studies show that a higher concentration of growth factors in platelet-rich plasma can stimulate or speed up the healing process, reduce wound healing time, reduce pain and even stimulate hair growth.
What is the purpose of PRP treatment?
PRP injections are used for a variety of conditions*, from musculoskeletal pain and injuries to cosmetic procedures.
Tendon, Ligament, Muscle and Joint Injuries
PRP injections can help treat a variety of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. For example, chronic tendon injuries like tennis elbow or jumper's knee often take a long time to heal, so adding PRP injections to your treatment plan can speed up the healing process, reduce pain, and allow you to resume activities more quickly.
Postoperative Healing
Doctors first used PRP to accelerate healing after jaw or plastic surgery.Now, post-operative injections of PRP have evolved to aid in the healing of muscles, tendons, and ligaments, since procedures on these tissues have a notoriously long recovery time.
Osteoarthritis
Early research suggests that PRP injections may help manage pain and stiffness in osteoarthritis by modulating the joint environment and reducing inflammation, but the number of studies is growing.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections Questions & Answers
Our team of experts at the Johns Hopkins Musculoskeletal Center offers platelet rich plasma injections to relieve pain, improve mobility and reduce fatigue.
Hair Loss
PRP injections can be effective in treating male pattern baldness by both preventing hair loss and encouraging new hair growth.PRP can also help stimulate hair growth after a hair transplant.
Skin Rejuvenation
PRP injections are sometimes used as an anti-aging treatment, but there is little evidence that PRP reduces wrinkles and other signs of aging.
