What Is PRP? How Platelet-Rich Plasma Works and When It Might Help You

What Platelet-Rich Plasma and How is it Made?

Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is a treatment that uses a person’s own blood to stimulate healing in tissues. Blood is made up of several parts, among them being platelets and plasma. Platelets are best known for their clotting ability, but they can also carry growth factors that support tissue repair. Plasma is the liquid portion of the blood.

To perform a PRP injection, a provider will draw a vial of the patient’s blood and spin it in a machine (a centrifuge) using a special kit. This process separates the platelets and plasma from other blood components. The resulting mix has more of the “healing” materials such as growth factors and other proteins than typical blood. This concentrated solution is then injected into a targeted area, often under ultrasound guidance, so the growth factors are delivered directly where healing is needed. By sending this enriched mixture to a specific injured area, the body’s natural healing response is boosted. The treatment stimulates an inflammatory response and other repair mechanisms with the goal of ultimately helping repair or heal the injured muscles, tendons, or ligaments. Research is still ongoing to better understand exactly how this works at the cellular level.

What Can PRP Be Used For?

Platelet-rich plasma is currently being used for a variety of injuries and conditions, particularly when healing is slow. PRP injections are commonly used in orthopedic injuries, such as golf and tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, rotator cuff tendinitis, and for cosmetic procedures, such as for hair growth and anti-aging. PRP injections are often being used to help shorten post-surgical recovery times. PRP is also currently being used in some cases for osteoarthritis, however, research is still ongoing to explore the efficacy of PRP in treating and helping manage the symptoms for osteoarthritis.

Benefits, Risks, and Key Takeaways:

The main benefit to PRP is that because it uses a patient’s own blood, it is seen as lower risk for things such as allergic reactions and rejections. The risks of PRP are minor, the main one being soreness and/or swelling at the injection site. More rarely, infection, tissue damage, nerve injury or bleeding can occur. Furthermore, improvement often takes a few weeks to appear, and full effects may take several months. Some people may need more than one treatment. Cost can be high, and many insurance plans do not cover PRP because many of its uses are still under investigation. Lastly, the efficacy of PRP is variable. Because the number of platelets obtained and the way the injections are delivered can vary greatly, people can feel unsure about PRP.

Overall, PRP is a treatment made entirely from a patient’s own blood and aims to boost the body’s own healing power. It has real potential in certain injuries and conditions, but results vary and it’s not guaranteed. If a patient is dealing with a persistent injury or condition where conventional treatments have not helped much, PRP may be worth discussing with a qualified healthcare professional.

References 

1. Clinic, Cleveland. “Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Is a Biologic Medicine Derived from Your Own Blood. PRP Injections Can Stimulate Healing in Diseased or Injured Tissues.” Cleveland Clinic, 20 Mar. 2019, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/platelet-rich-plasma-prp-injection.

2. Gianakos, Arianna. “Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections in Sports.” Yale Medicine, www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/platelet-rich-plasma-injections.

3. John Hopkins Medicine. “Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatment.” Www.hopkinsmedicine.org, 2024, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/plateletrich-plasma-prp-treatment. 

4. Pavlovic, Voja, et al. “Platelet Rich Plasma: A Short Overview of Certain Bioactive Components.” Open Medicine, vol. 11, no. 1, 1 Jan. 2016, https://doi.org/10.1515/med-2016-0048. 

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