Using a patient’s own blood to rejuvenate skin, or thicken hair
What is PRP Therapy for Natural Healing?
Platelet Rich Plasma therapy is a fairly novel approach to healing and can be used for soft tissue injury in joints and the spine, to revive aging skin and even improve thickness and texture of thinning hair. So how does this blood therapy work? PRP therapy works by obtaining blood during a routine blood draw. The blood is then separated by a special centrifuging device which separates and activates the platelets. The activated platelets are then harvested and injected back into the site of treatment for its effects in releasing growth factors, amino acids, micronutrients, enzymes, and electrolytes, which act to cause tissue repair and regeneration.
The activated platelets harness your own healing power to achieve tissue repair through the deposition of a new, well-organized matrix to facilitate and enhance wound healing. This healing can restore your tissue to the high mechanical performance and functional levels of non-injured tissue. In the joints and musculoskeletal system, this means that cartilage, ligaments and tendons which normally do not have the best blood supply can have access to a higher concentration of growth factors for better healing.
The advantages of PRP therapy in Joint pain and musculoskeletal injuries are that it can reduce pain, improve joint and soft tissue function and delay or stop the progression of joint degeneration. PRP can be used in the knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist, ankle, finger joints and in the spine.
In the skin, PRP brings back the skin’s ability to moisturize itself and the release of growth factors helps build natural collagen. PRP in the skin can soften and reduce wrinkles and helps with discoloration and melasma. It is ideal for people seeking a natural appearance of youthful healthy skin. Facial PRP is fast becoming known as a natural and nearly risk-free alternative to dermal fillers. Facial PRP can be used to rejuvenate the skin around the eyes, an area where most fillers can’t be used or must be used with extreme caution. It can reduce acne scars, lip lines, crows feet and nasolabial lines. Many people notice within the first two weeks, their skin feels moister and at 4-6 weeks it feels and looks smoother. Each individual is unique, so results will vary and depend upon the condition of your skin, your overall health status, age, diet, lifestyle, smoking history, and other health factors. In my practice, the ideal patient for PRP therapy is one who has worked with me on achieving good diet and lifestyle habits and now wants to take the next step in looking as good as she feels. Most people benefit from 3 treatments, each done about 4-6 weeks apart. This is typically followed by a single treatment every 6 months to a year for maintenance therapy.
When injected along a thinning hairline or in other areas of thinning hair, PRP can stimulate dormant hair follicles to grow and an existing hair follicle to produce a thicker healthier hair. The treatments are typically done 8 weeks apart and the number of treatments depends on the severity of hair loss. PRP therapy for hair can’t grow hair where there is no growth at all so it’s best done early in the hair loss process. Remember, the earlier you start the hair treatments after noticing your thinning hair, the better the results!
What are the side effects and risks of PRP Treatment?
Because we are injecting your own activated platelets and plasma into your body, there are no risks of adverse reaction or allergies. The only minimal risks are infection (which can occur anywhere a needle is placed into the body but is very rare) and bruising (which varies depending on age and overall health). Some discomfort may be experienced during the injections because the PRP itself causes inflammation (this is how it works so well) and this is often felt as an intense tingling sensation or a rush of warmth in the area. After the procedure, you can return back to work and your usual activities quickly.