As a result, PRP injections are now being used by some doctors to help encourage things such as skin rejuvenation and hair growth. However, there are disagreements regarding the effectiveness of PRP therapy, and it is hence still being studied today.
PRP treatment is thought to reduce inflammation and encourage healing in the body, which is why it is so popular with athletes. The therapy is not cheap, with PRP injections costing anywhere from £500 to £2,000 depending on the treatment you’re getting done and where you’re getting it done.
Platelet-rich plasma is injected into the patient with a syringe. Platelets, in case you don’t know, are blood cells which are known to promote blood clotting and healing in the body, helping the body to repair itself after an injury.
Of course, you need to ensure that the platelets are compatible with your blood type, so usually this plasma comes from your own blood, which is taken in a small sample and placed into a centrifuge or similar device which spins the blood at a high speed.
This spinning process separates your blood’s platelet cells from the rest of the blood, and this PRP solution is then put in a syringe and injected into the desired area of your body.
It is also often used after plastic surgery, as the platelets helps the delicate tissue to heal after surgery. Some doctors also use it for tissue healing after other forms of surgery, including jaw, tendon, muscle, and ligament tissue healing.
Doctors have also used PRP to treated osteoarthritis sufferers who are struggling with inflammation which wreaks havoc on their joints. One study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine actually found that PRP injections were more effective at curbing osteoarthritis knee pain than saline injections were.
Researchers are also studying PRP treatment as a possible means of repairing broken bones and causing bones to heal themselves more quickly. However, this is yet to be proven in the results despite doctors’ best efforts.
People are very weary of inflammation these days, and for good reason! PRP treatment is known to reduce inflammation and ease the body, helping you to improve your health and wellness.
Nonetheless, if you want to get PRP treatment done on a regular basis, such as if you’re an athlete, you may struggle to afford it on an average salary and budget. Most people will have multiple injections every 2-3 months, so be sure to work this into your budget planning.
There is no conclusive evidence that it definitely works so far, which means that it is not usually covered on health insurance plans, so purchase PRP treatment at your own risk and speak to your insurer beforehand if you have concerns about your policy and coverage.
Also, as we mentioned, the price of PRP treatment will vary wildly depending on your location, the facilities, and the doctor performing the procedure.
It’s not very likely that you’ll experience severe reactions or side effects due to PRP, as the thing being injected into your body came from your body in the first place. Nonetheless, you may experience irritation, stinging, or minor bleeding from the area which was injected.
The injection process usually takes around 30 minutes and you can usually go about your day as normal following the procedure – there is no need to rest or take it easy.
PRP is a promising form of treatment for those who are looking to fight inflammation, tissue damage, skin problems, hair loss, and many other common problems.
Due to the platelet-rich plasma being derived from your own blood, the treatment can be considered to be relatively low-risk compared to other procedures.
However, do bear in mind that studies on this form of therapy are limited right now, so you need to take all of this information with a grain of salt and decide for yourself whether you want to try this experimental new treatment for tissue healing.