Are you dealing with an injury that just doesn’t seem to heal? Platelet-rich plasma therapy uses your blood and its miraculous healing properties to repair wounds and injuries quicker than ever. Read on to hear everything you need to know about PRP.
No one wants to undergo an injury, but unfortunately, they happen often — one in five Americans visit the hospital every year. One of the most common injuries people face is wounds.
Many wounds heal on their own, but chronic wounds or wounds that don’t heal can lead to infection and increased health risks. But what if there was a way to expedite the healing process for a smoother recovery?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy uses your blood and its miraculous healing properties to repair your wounds quicker than ever. Southern Secrets Medical Spa, located in Conroe, Texas, is here to explain how PRP works and who should consider treatment.
How PRP works
Your blood is made of four components — red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and platelets. As the name suggests, PRP uses just the platelets and plasma.
Platelets are known for their incredible healing properties like clotting your blood. They also contain hundreds of proteins, known as growth factors, that are vital to helping injuries heal. PRP contains 5-10 times the number of growth factors as normal blood, bringing nourishment to the injured tissues for a smoother and quicker recovery.
PRP can help heal patients from:
- Wounds
- Chronic tendon injuries
- Ligament issues
- Surgery
- Arthritis
- Fractures
Athletes like Tiger Woods and Kobe Bryant have used PRP to heal from sports-related injuries and get them back out on the playing field.
What to expect during PRP treatment
PRP therapy is a predictable and safe treatment that Andrew Martin, MSN-FNP-C does regularly to improve the well-being of his patients.
During PRP treatment, Andrew draws a small sample of blood from your arm (20-60 mL) and spins it on a centrifuge. This separates the solid and liquid components of your blood.
Next, the platelet-rich plasma is prepared and Andrew draws it into a syringe. Lastly, he administers it into the wound or site of injury through several injections.
Most patients tolerate the treatment well and don’t find it to be painful, but slightly uncomfortable. If you have low pain tolerance, talk to Andrew about applying a topical anesthetic to minimize any pain and keep you comfortable.
Results of PRP
PRP provides expedited healing and no downtime. It’s important to note while the results are impressive, they’re not immediate.
After your appointment, you may notice some soreness and tenderness at the injection site but this should reside in a few days. You should notice some improved comfort and movement at the site of injury after about two weeks.
PRP injections may take 4-6 weeks for some patients to experience an improvement. Everyone’s body is different — individual results vary depending on the type and degree of injury.
Who should get PRP?
PRP is a safe treatment with minimal health risks, which makes it a good option for many people. Andrew may suggest PRP therapy if you:
- Are in good health
- Have tried other treatments without improvement
- Are experiencing early to mid-degeneration
- Cannot complete daily tasks without pain
- Don’t smoke
The best way to find out if PRP is a good option for you is by coming into our office. Call 832-263-1300 to schedule an appointment or book online.