Disclaimer: The following information should be read by a parent or responsible adult prior to young adults to determine suitability of the content.
Platelet Rich Plasma is known as PRP. I have used it in my practice to treat numerous conditions with success. The biggest advantage to PRP is it is a normal part of your blood. This means that your body cannot reject or react negatively it’s use. PRP is obtained by drawing blood in a special tube and then placing it into a centrifuge which separates the red blood cells from the RBC. This yellow fluid is then drawn out of the tube and is ready to be used to induce healing and rejuvenation wherever it is injected. I obtain about 5 milliliters of PRP from each 10 milliliters of blood.
My first question at the training was why if it is normally in the blood why would it work differently out of the tube? My analogy now is the supply chain disruptions we are seeing currently which has building materials in short supply delaying construction even possible causing a stoppage. With PRP, all the necessary concentrated materials to repair and regenerate the injured or abnormal tissue is delivered to the site of repair enabling a robust response leading to better results than what is obtained by the normal reduced amount circulating in the blood.
PRP has been shown to reduce inflammation and improve the healing and regeneration of the following tissues: bone, muscle, tendon, ligament, skin, fat, and soft tissue. It has the potential to remodel scars, blood vessels and nerves. PRP is applied topically or injected. Topical use is beneficial for wound healing and in the Vampire Facial procedure where skin micro-needling induces an injury and the PRP which induces healing and rejuvenation of the skin. The possible injected uses are too numerous to list and really are limited by the ability to reach the problem with a needle and syringe. The peak effects of PRP usually occur between 3 to 6 months but may occur sooner. Some problems may require more than 1 treatment to obtain the desired results.
I have used PRP to treat the following problems:
- Osteoarthritis of the knees and shoulders. Injected into the joints with reduction in pain and inflammation and promotion of healing possibly delaying or obviating the need for surgery. The advantage over cortisone injections is cortisone injections inhibit healing and only reduce inflammation and pain. If cortisone is accidently injected into a tendon or ligament, it may lead to weakening and possible rupture in contrast to PRP, which would induce healing and strengthening of the tendon or ligament.
- Tennis Elbow (aka Lateral Epicondylitis) is treated by injecting PRP into the painful area over the inflamed bone. Once again has the same advantage over cortisone.
- Achilles Tendinitis is treated by injecting PRP around and into the tendon.
- P-shot or Priapus shot for Erectile dysfunction (difficulty obtaining and maintaining erections) and Peyronie’s disease (curvature of the penis from abnormal plaque that forms in the penis). This is accomplished by injecting PRP into the penis (don’t worry topical anesthesia is used!).
- Vampire Facelift. Injecting PRP into the face after topical anesthetic to induce regeneration of the skin including reducing fine lines, wrinkles, texture, and tone of the skin. Improvement in the subcutaneous soft tissue volume is also noted.
- O-shot or Orgasm shot for female sexual dysfunction or urinary incontinence. PRP is injected under the clitoris and intravaginally along the periurethral space after topical anesthesia. Improves sensation and helps to rejuvenate the tissues.
- Hair loss. PRP is injected into the scalp to stimulate hair follicles to regenerate and restart hair growth.
- Acne scars and outbreaks. PRP can have impressive effects on scars of all types, but I have seen acne scars dramatically improve and reductions in acne outbreaks that have changed people’s self-esteem and confidence in heart-warming ways.
- Torn Hamstring muscle. Injected into area of tear in muscle belly with improved pain and swelling with shortened healing time.
Other reported PRP uses include:
- Burn treatment to speed healing and reduce scarring.
- Epidural back or neck injections instead of cortisone.
- Hip injections.
- Dental implants to improve results and shorten healing times.
Possible down sides to using PRP:
- Cost. Treatment with PRP is considered experimental therapy by insurance companies and is not covered. Costs in my clinic vary between $750 to $1250 or more in certain cases.
- May require more than 1 treatment.
- Results are not guaranteed.
The only significant complication I have heard about was when someone injected PRP into the eye and it caused blindness.
Brusing may occur whenever you inject anything but the bruising from PRP heals quicker than normal because all the components to heal a bruise are in the PRP.
In summary, PRP is an example of the phenomenal healing properties God created in our bodies. I trust God’s system and ability far more than human created treatments and use what God has given us first, only resorting to man’s creation if there isn’t a God solution evident to me. I am constantly amazed at how everything God has created works together whether it is the human body, the Earth’s ecosystem, our solar system, or the universe and beyond. He is our Alpha and Omega and everything in between. In Heaven, will I understand what I lacked in knowledge on earth? Maybe it won’t matter and there will be more important knowledge there. I pray I am up for all the challenges that lie ahead here to finish the race and hear “Well done, good and faithful servant.” I pray you are also.
David Jayne M.D.
