Introduction to Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection Therapy
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injection therapy is a treatment that uses your own cells to regenerate and restore specific problem areas. You may be familiar with the term as many famous athletes have used PRP injections to speed up recovery after injuries or when Hollywood stars talk about their ‘Vampire facials’ consisting of PRP injections.
PRP therapy injections have a wide range of benefits beyond orthopedics and aesthetics including hair restoration and autoimmune disease treatment.
Platelet-Rich Plasma was first introduced in the 1970s by doctors who needed to treat patients with low platelet counts. PRP was given as a transfusion to help increase platelets in these patients to reduce the risk of bleeding and complications from bleeding.
Later, PRP therapy was used during maxillofacial surgeries and then to treat musculoskeletal injuries by promoting cell growth and healing. Other fields such as cardiology, women’s health, and urology, have all found uses for PRP therapy.
More recently, platelet-rich plasma use is being explored in dermatology. PRP therapy helps promote collagen production which helps restore a youthful appearance to skin, especially on the face. PRP injections can help stimulate hair follicle growth which can be beneficial in treating and reducing patterned baldness.
Benefits of PRP Therapy
PRP therapy has benefits for many different issues and concerns, from joint pain to hair loss. Here are a just a few of the ways platelet-rich plasma has been used.
Treat Injured Ligaments and Tendons
Platelet-rich plasma injections have long been used to treat sports-related injuries. Professional athletes would receive PRP injections into their injured ligaments and tendons to help with pain and reduce healing time. Platelet rich plasma PRP injections promote cell growth and regeneration which assists in repairing tissues and tendons after injuries.
PRP therapy is an appealing alternative to surgery as it is often a simple and straightforward procedure to bring pain relief to common joint injuries.
Reduce Inflammation and Chronic Pain
PRP therapy also helps manage inflammation, further promoting pain relief and healing. Platelets play a role in immune response, including regulating and controlling the extent of inflammation via chemokines they secrete. Platelets can help reduce the recruitment of leukocytes (white blood cells) and in turn, control and manage inflammatory responses.
Platelet rich plasma injections have been shown to improve chronic pain and inflammation caused by both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Restore Hair Loss
Research has shown the benefit of PRP therapy for androgenic hair loss, or patterned hair loss. This diagnosis affects both men and women and can cause great distress from hair loss or thinning as we age.
Platelet rich plasma can increase hair growth rate and improve hair strength overall.
Anti-Aging Benefits
There are also many aesthetic benefits of PRP therapy. By stimulating collagen production, PRP injections can help restore fullness that is often lost with age in cheekbones and around the periorbital bones. PRP injections can improve pigmentation and the texture of skin after only one treatment.
In addition to repairing skin damage caused by time and sun – PRP therapy has been shown to increase healing time when used together with other treatments such as fractional laser resurfacing.
Systemic Disease Management
A new technology using PRP infusions rather than injections is showing promise in treating many systemic autoimmune diseases like Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Neurological diseases such as, Parkinson’s Disease , and Multiple Sclerosis have also seen positive benefits when platelet rich plasma is given intravenously.patieto name a few.
System administration of platelet rich plasma can help recruit your own body’s cells to help heal and repair damaged tissue. It essentially creates an appealing environment for your body to create stem cells, catalyzing cell regeneration and restoration.
How PRP Therapy Works
Your blood is made up of three main types of cells: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. These cells are held within a protein-rich fluid called plasma.
Platelets are typically known for their ability to help blood clot after a cut or injury, but platelets also have many other healing properties. They can help reduce inflammation, reduce recovery time from an injury, and promote new cell growth or regeneration. This is because platelets release several types of growth factors in addition to their clotting properties. Platelets also are mediators when it comes to inflammation, promoting anti-inflammatory actions.
Research is showing if you use concentrated amounts of platelets and plasma – you can channel these healing properties in specific ways including hair restoration and skin rejuvenation.
PRP therapy works by taking some of your own blood (through a blood draw) and then spinning the blood to separate the various parts. The platelets and plasma are then removed from the other blood cells and injected into specific areas you wish to treat. The concentrated dosing combined with directly inserting into the intended area allows for greater effects and benefit of the healing properties of platelets.
There are also implications of using PRP intravenously for a systemic effect rather than focused treatment for autoimmune and neurological diseases. The logic is by infusing platelet-rich plasma into the bloodstream, your own stem cells are activated to help restore balance and create systemic healing. Although more research is needed to show the full benefit of systemic PRP therapy, various therapies are already showing great results.
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Behind the Science
Science & Safety
A systematic review of the safety and effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for skin aging Archives of Dermatological Research volume
When looking at PRP therapy benefits for the face, a 2019 systematic review of 24 studies showed improvement in facial skin appearance, texture, and fine lines. This review also notes when PRP is given with other facial treatments like fractional laser resurfacing, the healing time was improved for those patients.
A 2016 study of 20 women showed that even after one treatment, PRP injections improved dermal collagen levels in the face. Another study of 13 patients showed improvement in skin wrinkles, texture, and tightness when patients received PRP injections. Although both of these studies had fairly small study sizes, they both show the potential for PRP injections as a safe and effective facial rejuvenation treatment.
The Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Hair Regrowth: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial Stem Cells Transl. Med
A 2016 study published in Stem Cell Translational Medicine showed PRP therapy increased hair follicle count and hair follicle density in patients treated for patterned hair loss.
A Study to Compare the Efficacy of Platelet-rich Plasma and Minoxidil Therapy for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia International Journal of Trichology
A 2019 study comparing PRP injections to minoxidil (Rogaine) treatment found PRP therapy to be far superior. Parameters including photographs of the scalp, patient satisfaction questionnaires, and hair-pull tests.
A Meta-analysis On Evidence Of Platelet-rich Plasma for Androgenetic Alopecia International Journal of Trichology
A 2018 meta-analysis evaluating the use of PRP therapy for androgen hair loss noted some overall improvement in hair follicle volume and thickness with PRP, but these improvements were not statistically significant. Therefore researchers concluded more trials are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of PRP therapy for hair loss.
Applications and efficacy of platelet-rich plasma in dermatology: A clinical review J Cosmet Dermatol
Although PRP therapy shows promising benefits for both facial and hair loss treatments, some researchers note the need for more comprehensive randomized control trials to fully understand the potential of PRP injections
Spectrum
Where does PRP Therapy fall on the medical spectrum?
PRP Therapy falls under ‘Alternative Medicine’ section of the medical spectrum.
Alternative Medicine
Also known as holistic medicine, it is the study and application of nature, botany, energy, and technology to bring the body back to balance and address the root causes of disease without detrimental side effects, toxins and chemicals, or a lifetime of intervention.
Top Alternative Medicine Therapies
Biological Medicine
Also known as European Biological Medicine, this modality, popular in Germany and Switzerland, applies numerous therapies that aim to restore the body’s regulatory and self-healing capacity by promoting proper regeneration on a cellular and organ level.
Top Biological Therapies
Conventional Medicine
Conventional medicine is the most recognized and practiced section of the medical spectrum that includes pharmacological drugs, surgical procedures, lab testing, and more in an attempt to reduce symptoms and manage disease.
Conventional Therapies
The Innovative Medicine approach considers all conventional options and appropriately prescribes or refers patients to specialists in which this approach would be most suited.
Emotional Therapies
Mental health and the study of mind-body medicine is an integral part of the medical spectrum that can often go overlooked and unaddressed.
Psycho-Emotional Intervention
The study of psycho-neuro-immunology (PNI) has shown how our thoughts and psychological state impact our biochemistry and can lead to disease. Any comprehensive treatment plan must address psychological stress to be successful.
Top Psychological Therapies
Spiritual Practices & Therapies
We often confuse spiritual practices with religion, but the role of spirituality, consciousness, awareness, purpose, and information on a quantum level is incredibly important in healing.
Top Spiritual Practices & Therapies
PRP Therapy – Receiving Treatments
Receiving PRP Therapy
The New York Center of Innovative Medicine (NYCIM) offers PRP therapy in the form of activated PRP (see image to the right) as part of our anti-aging division and systemic IV pushes with the TruDose PRP system. However, the use of this or any of our numerous therapeutic options is only performed on patients after an in-depth health evaluation. Our ultimate goal is the complete restoration of health in the most efficient and safe manner, and with so many therapeutic options, it is impossible to know if PRP therapy is right for you without an initial evaluation at our clinic.
PODCAST - The Story of TruDose PRP
More Info
Resources & Experts
- The Next Big Thing in Regenerative Medicine and PRP Therapy
Innovative Medicine Article
- The Story of TruDose PRP with Tapley Holland
Innovative Medicine Podcast
- Botox and the Truth About Aging
Innovative Medicine Article
- What is PRP?
Healthline
- PRP Hair Loss Treatment
The Doctors TV Show Video
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PRP therapy?
Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy is an injection or infusion using your own platelets and plasma to promote healing, cell regeneration, and reduce inflammation.
How much does PRP therapy cost?
PRP therapy can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand depending on the area treated and how many sessions you need.
What is PRP therapy for face?
PRP therapy for the face, or the Vampire Facial, injects PRP into the dermal layers of your skin. This promotes collagen production – a protein that decreases as we age – therefore restoring plump and youthful-looking skin.
What is PRP therapy for hair loss?
PRP for hair loss promotes hair follicle growth and can help restore androgenic alopecia or patterned hair loss in men and women. PRP injections increase hair follicle volume and follicle density.
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PRP Therapy
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