Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP Injections)

What Does a PRP Treatment Entail?

The process involves the withdrawal of blood, separating and concentrating the PRP from the whole blood, and then injection of the PRP into the treatment area.

Blood for PRP therapy is taken in a similar way to a blood test. The next step is to separate and concentrate the PRP from the rest of the blood products (e.g. red blood cells); this is done by placing the blood taken into special vials and spinning the vials in a centrifuge. The heavier cells, such as red blood cells, fall to the bottom of the vial, and the plasma that is ‘rich in platelets’ is left at the top of the vial. The PRP is then extracted into a syringe and heated to body temperature in an incubator. After this process, it is ready for injection.

The platelet-rich plasma injection is repeated a few times and may help with antiaging of the face. Platelet-rich plasma is used for other applications, more specifically the treatment of sports injuries such as tendinitis, hamstring injuries, plantar fasciitis, musculoskeletal injuries, as well as ligament and tendon injuries. It can also promote wound healing on many levels. In some cases, it can provide an alternative to corticosteroid injections.

PRP therapy is also commonly used by the average orthopaedic surgeon, given the benefits associated with the therapy. It can be used in the treatment of numerous orthopedic issues, which often relate to sports med conditions.

Figure 1: On the left is our Incubator that heats the PRP to body temperature; On the right is our centrifuge that separates the plasma from the red blood cells.

Are PRP Injections Suitable For Hair Loss?

Research executed in 2014 showed that PRP injections are effective for hair loss and specific problems such as male pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia.

Depending on the area where PRP is injected, a local anaesthetic can be used.

Are Platelet Injections Effective For Knee Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is one of the conditions that could benefit from PRP injections. The procedure is used worldwide for medium to severe knee osteoarthritis.

Other specific injuries have also shown to get better with PRP injuries, including rotator cuff injuries. The benefit is that the patient’s own blood components (autologous transplantation) are used, which makes it less likely for the body to reject this kind of cell therapy. Therefore, it can be an alternative for certain treatment options that have proven ineffective in the past.

Does PRP Have A Risk Of Side Effects Or Complications?

Most patients can experience a little discomfort around the treatment site, but this is usually the extent of the side-effects.

Complications are always a possibility with any kind of treatment. Even though relatively rare, potential complications include tissue damage, nerve injuries, injection, or a slow healing process. Therefore, it is important for patients to have this treatment done by an experience health care professional.

How Can I Make an Appointment for a PRP Treatment?

Patients can make an appointment for a PRP Treatment by contacting the Dr Lanzer team via telephone, email, or the website contact form. Even though our clinic has a lot of patients daily, we aim to provide patients with an appointment to fit their schedule.

Do you have some additional questions about the PRP treatment? Patients can always request more information about the PRP treatment by requesting info via email, telephone, or the website contact form.

When contacting the Dr Lanzer Clinic for more information about a certain treatment, please specify the name of the treatment you are interested in. It is also recommended to give us a short overview of the type of information you want; this could include treatment cost, procedure execution, treatment eligibility, and more. The Dr Lanzer Clinic will provide you with the requested information as soon as possible.