What is the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP)?

What is the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP)?

In recent years, much research has been done on a treatment method called platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and its potential effectiveness in the healing process of many injuries. An emerging method that has attracted many physicians to this treatment technique due to its high safety and, of course, significant effectiveness.

It has even been used to treat chronic tendon injuries or knee sprains for famous athletes such as tennis star Rafael Nadal or the famous golfer Tiger Woods. Many athletes see PRP as a reliable way to get back on track as quickly as possible.

But this is not the only application of this wonderful treatment. What has become more and more popular is its effective use in some cosmetic procedures, such as treating hair loss or targeting the signs of aging such as wrinkles.

 

What is platelet therapy or PRP?

Platelet-rich plasma therapy, known in Iran as platelet therapy or PRP, is a new way to improve the growth and healing of body tissues. PRP helps to produce new, healthy cells in the body's tissues by separating the blood plasma, increasing its concentration and then injecting it into the tissues, and speeds up the healing process. This injection can improve injuries such as Achilles tendon rupture, shoulder pain due to rotator cuff rupture, and many soft tissue injuries.

In fact, plasma is the fluid part of the blood that contains red and white blood cells, vitamins, and suspended matter that will turn yellow when the red blood cells are separated. Platelets, or platelets, are also suspended in plasma, whose main function is to help blood clot during injuries such as cutting parts of the body. These platelets help cells grow and proliferate and begin the process of healing tissue by secreting growth factors needed to strengthen cells.

The plasma therapy process begins with 30 to 60 ml (depending on the position being treated) of the individual's blood. The blood sample is then transferred to a centrifuge, and by rapidly rotating the sample, all blood components are separated during this process. After this stage, normally a few milliliters of platelets will be produced at a concentration ten times higher than the platelets in the blood. In the last stage, after the necessary preparation of the treated site, the activated platelets are injected directly into the tissue of the injured person.

 

How to inject PRP

All stages of platelet therapy, from sampling to injection, will take approximately one hour. Normally, local anesthesia is used to reduce the pain of the injection, and in some cases, ultrasound is used to determine the exact location of the needle. In the last step, platelet-rich plasma will be gently injected into the treated site. All these steps can be performed in beauty clinics and in the doctor's office, and the patient can continue his normal activities after the injection. So in a nutshell:

1.  Your doctor or technician prepares platelet-rich plasma for injection.

2.  Before injection, the area is thoroughly cleaned with disinfectants such as alcohol.

3.  The target site is anesthetized using lidocaine or other types of local anesthetics.

4.  In the treatment of injuries such as tendons, the area near the injection site is covered with a special ultrasound gel and the ultrasound probe shows an image of the tendon to find the exact injection site.

5.  The patient is advised to stay calm to facilitate the injection process. This can also go a long way in reducing the pain of injections.

6.  Using a special syringe, a certain amount of PRP (usually 3 to 6 ml) is injected into the site by a doctor or technician. The injection site will then be cleaned and bandaged.

It should be noted that due to the stimulation of biological responses by PRP, there is a possibility of swelling or inflammation at the injection site, which will usually disappear after two to three days.

 

Precautions before injection

According to doctors' recommendations, the use of some drugs before PRP injection is prohibited, and it is necessary for the patient to provide all the information about the drugs used to the relevant doctor.

Some recommendations regarding the use of medication are:

• Do not use corticosteroids 2 to 3 weeks before injection,

• Do not use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen or aspirin or osteoarthritis drugs such as Celebrex one week before the injection.

• Do not use anticoagulants 5 days before injection

In addition, people are advised to greatly increase their fluid intake one to two days before seeking platelet therapy.

 

Applications of PRP therapy

The new platelet therapy or PRP technique has many applications in the field of health and beauty, and here we will mention some of these applications:

PRP in implantation and treatment of hair loss

Hair loss, or having thinning hair, or baldness, is a common problem around the world. A challenge that millions of men and women face, especially after middle age, which can be caused by a number of factors, including stress. According to recent research, PRP can be used as a new technique to treat non-hereditary hair loss by injecting it into the scalp. Problems with thinning hair or baldness usually require 4 to 6 months of platelet therapy. (once a month)

In order to use this method, the patient needs to wash his hair thoroughly and do not use any styling product on his hair. It is also recommended to have a completely clean cap to protect the hygiene of the injection site and to prevent contamination of the site.

In PRP of hair and scalp, the doctor first takes a blood sample from the person's arm and prepares PRP during the steps mentioned in the previous sections. Then, after using lidocaine for anesthesia, the specialist carefully injects PRP into several points under the scalp. In this way, platelets release their growth factors and create the natural process of cell growth, proliferation and tissue regeneration. This hair strengthening method will take about 30 minutes and the person can easily continue their activities after the injection.

It is recommended that a person refrain from washing their hair and using skin and hair care products for 48 hours after plasma hair treatment. Note that there is a possibility of pain, bruising or swelling for two to three days after the injection in the desired area, which at the discretion of the doctor, taking acetaminophen to reduce pain is not an obstacle. Also, one week after treatment with platelet-rich plasma, hair coloring is unobstructed.

 The therapeutic effect of this unique method is visible after at least 6 months and it may be recommended to continue this treatment after the prescribed period to maintain the improvement of hair growth and texture. It should be noted that plasma therapy, while thickening the existing hair, also helps the growth of transplanted hair roots in hair transplantation, therefore, it is also a good and effective supplement in hair transplantation. In this case, PRP is also used as a spray on the planting area.

According to studies done to date, PRP can be considered a useful natural and non-invasive method that its positive effects have been proven to some extent. In fact, platelet therapy, while reducing scalp inflammation and stopping hair loss, increases hair thickness and density.

• PRP in skin rejuvenation

Aging skin can cause symptoms such as dyschromia, dryness, blemishes and wrinkles on the skin. In addition, with age, the process of cell replacement and wound healing will be very slow and changes such as sagging or fine wrinkles will occur.

Since the clinical experience of using PRP has largely proven its significant effects on skin rejuvenation, this method can be considered a safe natural stimulant, with an immediate and long-lasting effect and natural results in skin rejuvenation. Brought. Considering the method of preparing PRP from one's own blood, it can be said that the possibility of allergic reactions or any kind of skin allergy in this technique is very low.

Platelet-rich plasma, after being injected into specific areas of the facial skin, begins to stimulate and improve cell growth and improve collagen growth, resulting in regenerating skin tissue and speeding up the skin repair process. Finally, using this technique will create skin with a smooth structure, healthy appearance, soft and elastic.

 

In general, it can be said that the use of platelet therapy in facial skin has benefits, including:

• Improve facial appearance with minimal side effects,

• Safe and effective method,

• Improve acne scars,

• Increase collagen production,

• Eliminates skin pores and retains more moisture,

• Improves skin color and texture,

• Wrinkle reduction,

• No allergic reactions,

• Short course of treatment and long-term effects up to 18 months,

Stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, which will cause thick and thin skin.

• Suitable for delicate areas under the eyes that are generally not treatable with methods such as laser.

Contraindications to the use of PRP technique

• People who are taking blood thinners.

• Consumers of drugs or alcoholic beverages,

• People with chronic liver, skin, platelet deficiency, thyroid disease and cancer.

Finally, PRP is a biologically safe solution for people who do not want to have cosmetic surgery. It should be noted that the application of PRP method requires compliance with standards, the existence of specific quality parameters and attention to clinical signs and contraindications. In this regard, you can choose this treatment technique while receiving guidance from expert consultants in Saei Clinic. Effective or choosing other treatments, with the best results.