PRP or platelet-rich plasma therapy is a treatment method that is applied in the form of injection of the blood taken from the person himself to the tissues that are planned to be treated in the body, after undergoing various processes. It can be used for aesthetic problems such as hair loss and skin rejuvenation, as well as to accelerate the healing of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints.
PRP therapy, which takes about 30-40 minutes to complete, begins with the collection of the patient’s blood in a tube. Platelet-rich plasma is used by separating it from other components of whole blood by centrifugation method. Because platelets act as a natural reservoir for growth factors needed to repair injured tissues. Growth factors secreted by platelets stimulate tissue healing by increasing collagen production and gene and protein expression in tendon stem cells. These growth factors also accelerate blood flow and make cartilages more rigid and flexible.
PRP injections can be done in different ways. For example, for hair loss, lidocaine, a local numbing solution, is applied if necessary before injecting into the scalp. For this, it may be necessary to come to the treatment session a little early. Usually, PRP is mixed with a local anesthetic to reduce the pain associated with the injection. Sometimes, PRP injection can be done together with the surgical procedure.
PRP injections are administered by specialist doctors trained in this field. The process is carried out in several successive steps. The path followed during the PRP application is as follows;
Since the injection contains 5 to 10 times more platelet concentration than normal blood, PRP is thought to have an accelerating effect on healing. The time from the blood collection to the completion of the procedure usually covers a period of half an hour.
