Side effects of PRP

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is the concentration of platelets in the plasma. A person's blood is composed of several components that contain cells, blood or plasma, and platelets.

In simple words, it is a non-surgical procedure that involves drawing your blood and activating it with an electrical current, before reinjecting it into the specific areas of concern.

Platelets are produced by the spleen and the bone marrow. The purpose of platelets is to attach themselves to any exposed area of injury and begin the process of blood clotting.

Your platelet-rich plasma contains various growth factors and cytokines that will stimulate tissue regeneration and healing. Platelet-rich plasma can be obtained from three to five vials of blood.

Platelet-rich plasma treatments are commonly used for joint pain, tendon injuries, and chronic conditions such as tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, bursitis, and osteoarthritis.

Possible side effects of PRP may include:

Swelling
Bruising
Nausea
Irritation at the injection sites
Nerve injury
Tissue damage

Where Can You Get PRP Injections?

Platelet-rich plasma injections are available at some dermatology and plastic surgery clinics, although they are more commonly performed by orthopedic surgeons or sports medicine physicians.

PRP Therapy Effectiveness

Platelet Rich Plasma therapy is one of the most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedures in the world today.

PRP therapy is a series of injections that are used to enhance the appearance of hair, nails, skin, and joints.

Most patients report visible improvements that can be measured in as little as a month after treatment. The improvement is usually sustained for many years.

Combining platelet-rich plasma therapy with other dermal filler treatments such as autologous fat transfer or hyaluronic acid fillers offers you the best possible results.

PRP Therapy Process

The PRP therapy process involves a series of steps that might take around one to two hours.

The specialist will take a sample of your blood and the sample amount will depend on where the PRP will be injected.
The blood is then placed into a centrifuge wherein the blood spins around very quickly. Within 15 to 20 minutes, the blood components get separated from each other.
A technologist then uses the separated plasma and prepares it for injection into the affected areas.
With the help of ultrasound, the doctors will pinpoint the specific areas for injection, such as the tendon. Then, they will inject the PRP into the affected areas.

Purposes of PRP Therapy

PRP therapy can be useful in several applications that include, but are not limited to:

Hair loss: PRP injections are effective in treating androgenic alopecia, more commonly known as male pattern baldness. Injecting PRP into the scalp can promote hair growth and even prevent hair loss.

Tendon injuries: The thick bands of tissue that connect our muscles to the bones are called tendons. Tendon injuries do not heal quickly and therefore PRP injections are used to treat chronic tendon problems, such as tennis elbow, jumper’s knee, or pain in the patellar tendon in the knee.

Acute injuries: Acute injuries such as knee sprains and pulled hamstring muscles can be treated using PRP injections.

Postsurgical repair: PRP injections can be given to patients post their surgery to repair a torn tendon such as a rotator cuff tendon in the shoulder or ligaments such as the anterior cruciate ligament.

Osteoarthritis: PRP injections can be injected into the knees of people with osteoarthritis.

PRP for Hair Loss

PRP(Platelet Rich Plasma) treatment is increasingly becoming popular in many parts of the world. Men and women who have suffered from hair loss and thinning of hair, are choosing PRP treatment to regain their lost hair volume and look.

PRP therapy for hair loss is a three-step process that involves drawing the patient’s blood which is then processed and injected into the scalp.

PRP injections tend to trigger natural hair growth by increasing the blood supply to the hair follicles. This helps in increasing the thickness of the hair shaft.

Since PRP for hair loss is all about injecting your blood into your scalp, there is no risk of any communicable disease.

But there is a risk of developing some side effects due to injections such as:

Infections
Scar tissue
Injury to the blood vessels and nerves
Calcification at the injection points
Negative reactions to anesthetics

Cost of PRP Therapy

Because the platelets are harvested from your body and then injected back into your skin, you will get an organic result that looks completely natural but the cost associated with PRP therapy is quite expensive and can vary from place to place. Also, insurance plans rarely provide any reimbursement for PRP therapy.

Along with location, price depends on other factors as well like the quality of equipment and the addition of nutritive components.

The price generally ranges from Rs.4500 t0 Rs.15000 per session across several clinics in India.

Take Away

Platelet-rich plasma involves extracting a person's blood, then concentrating and injecting it into an injured area. PRP is used to treat a variety of conditions, including arthritis, tendonitis, migraines, and hair loss.

PRP therapy can be expensive for some people so it is better to consult with your insurance provider to see if PRP therapy is covered for you.