What is PRP?
Platelet-rich plasma treatment (PRP) is a treatment method applied by injecting the blood taken from the person itself into the body tissues that are planned to be treated and treated. It is performed for aesthetic problems such as skin rejuvenation or hair loss, as well as to speed up the healing of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints.
PRP consists of the initials of the English expression, which is referred to as "Platelet Rich Plasma". The substance injected into the region of need is plasma enriched in platelet. Plasma is a blood component that helps blood to clot, containing special cells called platelets or other proteins. In addition, this plasma contains various proteins that support cell growth.
Thanks to the injection of PRP into damaged tissues, new and healthy cells grow or are supported in the body.
How is PRP Treatment Performed?
PRP treatment, which takes between 40-60 minutes to complete successfully from blood collection to mixture injection, is applied by experienced physicians trained in this field. The process is carried out in various stages in the order specified below.
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Some blood is taken from the patient to prepare the PRP to be injected. The amount of blood varies depending on where the PRP will be injected.
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The blood sample is taken into the tube under sterile conditions and it is placed in a "centrifuge" device. This device rotates very quickly and allows the blood components to decompose in 15 minutes. Thus, platelets are separated from other blood components.
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Plasma separated into its components is made ready to be injected into the region where it is needed as a plasma containing "concentrated platelet".
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Imaging methods such as ultrasound are used to identify the parts (tendons, etc.) to be injected in the body.
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After determining the area to be injected, the prepared PRP mixture is injected.
Why is PRP made?
PRP supplementation is done to reduce inflammation and speed up recovery. Platelet-rich plasma therapy or PRP injections are used for various reasons such as promoting hair growth, rejuvenating the skin, ensuring soft tissue healing. Platelet activation plays an important role in the body's natural healing process.
What are the Application Areas of PRP?
In many cases, PRP injections are used for therapeutic purposes. The most preferred areas of PRP are as follows.
Hair Loss: PRP injections can be applied to the scalp to promote hair growth and prevent hair loss. According to studies, PRP injections have been shown to be effective in the treatment of androgenic alopecia, also known as male pattern hair loss. Satisfactory results can be obtained especially in hair loss of genetic origin seen in men. PRP can also be applied in combination with hair mesotherapy.
Tendon Injury: Tendons are thick and hard tissue bands that connect the muscles to the bone. Tendons heal slowly after injury. PRP injections can be used to relieve chronic tendon problems such as ankle Achilles tendonitis, knee pain and inflammation in the patellar tendon, tennis elbow((lateral epicondylitis).
Postoperative Repair: In some cases, PRP injections can be used to repair torn tendons or ligaments such as the rotator cuff tendon on the shoulder after surgery.
Calcification (Osteoarthritis): PRP can be injected into the joints of patients with osteoarthritis, such as knees and hips. According to the studies conducted, PRP injections have been found to be more effective than hyaluronic acid injections in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Skin Rejuvenation: PRP injections can be used against signs of ageing that appear on the skin under the influence of advancing age and environmental factors. With the application, positive effects such as increased skin elasticity, wrinkles, and getting rid of scars can be observed.
What are the Possible Side Effects of PRP?
PRP may cause some side effects due to the injection applied to the skin. The risk of an allergic reaction is very low since PRP contains substances taken directly from the person's own body. However, some of the following risks may occur:
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Infection
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Nerve injury
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Injection pain
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Local bleeding
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Tissue damage
How long is the recovery time in PRP injections?
Depending on the injury, the rest and recovery time after the PRP injection to the relevant area depends on the degree of injury. Immediately after the PRP injection other than injury, the person treated can return to his daily life. A positive difference after PRP injection is not observed quickly, because growth factors must first become active. Therefore, it may be noticed that the injured area heals faster or more hair grows than expected on the scalp within weeks of application.
How many sessions does the PRP treatment consist of?
For the treatment of chronic or arthritis tendonitis, most patients are recommended three to four sessions of PRP therapy. In acute muscle injuries, usually, one or two sessions may be sufficient. The age of the person is also one of the factors that determine the number of sessions required because the number of stem cells in the body decreases with increasing age.
PRP sessions usually take place two weeks apart. It is planned in an average of four to eight sessions, depending on the discomfort and need of the person. It can be applied together with mesotherapy in order to rejuvenate the skin or reduce hair loss. After the sessions are completed, injections can be maintained several times a year.
