How Does PRP Therapy Work?

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) has gained popularity all over the world. This therapy uses your blood to promote healing and tissue regeneration, leveraging the body’s natural healing processes to address various medical conditions.

At Swiss Medica, we also offer this form of regenerative medicine. In this article, we’ll provide a detailed answer to questions, ‘does PRP therapy work?’ and ‘how does platelet-rich plasma work?’. We’ll also mention the benefits and risks of this treatment.

What is PRP Therapy?

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a concentration of platelets (blood cells also known as thrombocytes) in plasma (liquid part of blood, consisting mostly of water and protein). Platelets circulate in blood and bind together to form clots and prevent bleeding. The main functions of platelets are to help tissue heal and support hemostasis in the vessel and innate immunity. 

PRP therapy involves extracting a small amount of a patient’s blood and processing it in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets, creating what is known as platelet-rich plasma. The PRP is then injected back into an injured part of the body, for example, a torn tendon. There, it promotes the healing process, reduces pain and inflammation, and promotes better recovery.

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How Does PRP Therapy Work?

Here’s a step-by-step guide to answer the question, ‘how does platelet-rich plasma therapy work?’:

1. Blood Collection: A simple blood draw is performed to collect the patient’s blood.
2. Centrifugation: The collected blood is placed in a centrifuge, which spins at high speed to separate the blood components.
3. PRP Extraction: The platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is then extracted from the separated components and prepared for injection, using a TriCell kit. This perfectly closed system (with 3 chambers in one tube) is used for separation and concentration of PRP within one kit and removes the risk of blood contamination.
4. Injection: Once the PRP is ready, it is injected into the area of injury. For example, if it’s a muscle injury, the doctor would inject plasma into several locations in that muscle. Before that, the doctor numbs the targeted area with lidocaine solution. Usually PRP injections take about 30 minutes, but the time may vary depending on a targeted area. Doctors may also use ultrasound imaging to guide the injection. 
5. Healing Process: Once the high concentration of platelets in the PRP is in the area that’s being treated, they break down and release a potent mixture of growth factors and cytokines to the targeted area. These compounds help cells repair and renew, reduce inflammation, and contribute to the healing process.
6. Post-injection: The doctor may recommend having some rest, but most patients may continue their daily activities after PRP injection.

Applications of PRP Therapy

Exploring the therapeutic potential of stem cells is key to answering the question, ‘how does platelet-rich plasma work?’. PRP therapy is used to treat a variety of conditions, including:

• Tendon and Ligament Injuries: PRP therapy is effective in treating chronic tendon injuries, such as tennis elbow or Achilles tendonitis. Also, PRP supports recovery of sprained or torn ligaments that affect the wrist, the knee and ankle.
• Muscle Injuries: Athletes commonly use PRP therapy to speed up the recovery from acute and chronic muscle injuries like tears, strains, and overuse (or repetitive stress) injuries, improving tissue repair and bringing back strength.
• Postsurgical Repair: PRP injections can be used after surgery to promote repair of injured tendons and ligaments.
• Osteoarthritis: PRP can be injected directly into the joint space. This intra-articular injection delivers growth factors directly to the site of damage, promoting the repair of cartilage and other joint tissues. This leads to a reduction in inflammation, stopping the degeneration process in the joints, and promoting the regeneration of cartilage. Also, PRP may reduce pain related to conditions such as bursitis. PRP injections in the knee may help people with osteoarthritis, reducing pain, enhancing joint function and mobility. 
• Age-related Skin Changes and Hair Loss: PRP therapy helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles. PRP may promote collagen production and improve skin texture and tone. Studies show that PRP injected into the scalp may promote hair growth and help prevent hair loss. This may also benefit treating androgenic alopecia, also known as male or female pattern baldness.

Enhancing Stem Cell Therapy with PRP

At Swiss Medica, we often combine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with PRP therapy to enhance the treatment effects. The growth factors in PRP can stimulate stem cell proliferation and differentiation, enhancing the healing and regenerative capabilities of stem cell therapy.

This combination can be particularly effective in treating degenerative conditions and injuries and performing face rejuvenation procedures. For example, PRP may create a suitable microenvironment for MSCs, which triggers better multiplication and differentiation and improves the healing process. 

Some of the common injuries that can be managed with combinational therapy may include:

• Osteoarthritis,
• Tendonitis,
• Rotator cuff injuries,
• Spinal disorders,
• Inflammation in herniated disc and other conditions.

Also, such a combination can be used for anti-age procedures.

Benefits of PRP Therapy

How does PRP therapy work to improve your body’s health?

• Natural Healing: PRP injections don’t involve any strong medications.
• Long-term Relief: PRP can promote long-lasting pain relief and symptom improvement, lasting from six to nine months as studies suggest. 
• Personalized Treatment: PRP treatment can be adjusted to individual patient’s needs, increasing the efficiency of the therapy.
• Reduced Recovery Time: PRP can accelerate the healing process, allowing patients to return to their normal activities more quickly.
• Pain Reduction: PRP therapy can reduce pain and inflammation, improving the quality of life for patients with chronic conditions.
• Reduction in the Opioids and Anti-inflammatory Medications Intake: Also, the use of such medications should be stopped during PRP therapy, as it enhances the initial inflammatory response.
• Combination with Other Treatments: PRP injections can be used with other therapies, like stem cell treatment or physical therapy to increase the therapeutic effect.

Patient Testimonials

Our patients are the best source to answer the question, “Does platelet-rich plasma therapy work?” At Swiss Medica, we’ve supported numerous patients in reaching their health goals with PRP therapy. With over 330 reviews, our patients share their stories and the improvements they’ve experienced after treatment at the Swiss Medica clinic.

When Do I See the Therapy Results?

The effects of PRP treatment usually become evident a few weeks after joint injections and about six months following scalp injections. In some cases, patients might require follow-up treatments to support and enhance the effect. The effect of PRP therapy may last up to nine months. However, each case is different and results of the therapy may vary.

Risks of PRP Therapy

Grasping the risks of the treatment is vital to answer the question, ‘Does PRP therapy work? PRP therapy is considered a safe treatment option for several reasons:

1. Minimally Invasive: The procedure involves injections, minimizing the risk of complications.
2. Low Risk of Side Effects and Allergic Responses: PRP uses the patient’s own blood, reducing the risk of immunological reactions, adverse effects or spread of infectious diseases. The most common side effects are mild and may include temporary pain or discomfort at the injection site, swelling, or bruising. These effects usually disappear on their own within a few days.
3. Sterile Technique: At Swiss Medica, we adhere to strict sterile protocols during the preparation and administration of PRP to ensure patient safety and reduce the risk of contamination.

Contraindications of PRP Therapy

While PRP therapy is safe for many patients, certain conditions may contraindicate its use:

1. Blood Disorders: Patients with blood clotting disorders, hemodynamic instability or thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) may not be suitable candidates for PRP therapy.
2. Certain Skin Diseases: Some skin conditions may worsen with injections.
3. Active Infections: PRP should not be administered at the site of an active local infection at the site of the procedure or systemic infection.
4. Cancer: Patients with active cancer, especially hematologic cancers, should avoid PRP therapy due to the potential risk of stimulating cancer cell growth.
5. Pregnancy: PRP therapy is generally not recommended for pregnant women due to the lack of research on its safety during pregnancy.
6. Use of Blood Thinners: Patients on anticoagulant therapy may need to discontinue their medication before undergoing PRP treatment, but this should only be done under the guidance of a healthcare professional.

Before undergoing PRP therapy, a thorough medical evaluation is conducted at Swiss Medica to ensure that patients are suitable candidates for the treatment and to identify any potential contraindications. 

In this article, we walk you through the enrollment process step by step.

Contact Us

At Swiss Medica, we are committed to providing innovative and effective treatments like PRP therapy to help our patients achieve their health goals. For more information about PRP therapy and other treatments we offer, please contact our professionals.

Dr. Aleksandra Fetyukhina, MD

Medical Advisor, Swiss Medica doctor

Your Name Please fill out this field Phone Please fill out this field E-mail Please fill out this field

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