Platelet Rich Plasma is one of many treatments available to reduce reducing fine lines, wrinkles, add volume, reduce dark circles, counter hair loss and counter signs of ageing. We suggest you set up a consultation to assess which treatment would be suitable in your case.
What are the indications for using PRP?
- Anti-ageing
- Fine line
- Wrinkles
- Volume loss
- Dark circles
- Hairlos
- Acute and Chronic iflammatory conditions such as plantar fascities (heels sprue), achilles tendonitis, lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) and other tendonitis
- Some more recent studies show that it may also be helpful in treating OsteoArthritis
How does PRP work
To understand how it works, we need to look at the role that platelets play when the body sustains an injury or trauma. When the body sustains an injury, surgical or traumatic, it starts a chain reaction and platelets are often among the first cells on the scene to take charge along with a number of growth factors. If injury leads to bleeding the platelets will first obtain hemoestasis – ie stop the bleeding. Stopping the bleeding is not enough as the injury needs to be repaired. The platelets directly or indirectly lead to the release of various substances, signal molecules and cells that will form a vital part of further repair and healing. In normal whole blood the concentration of platelets is 150,000-400,000 platelets per microlitre of blood with an average of around 200,000 platelets/mcl.
When whole blood is centrifuged around 45% of the volume will settle in the bottom of the blood tube as Red Blood Cells (RBC). Above RBC we find blood plasma. Plasma is the 55% of the volume of the whole blood that is lighter in weight and therefore floats above the RBC. The plasma also contains the platelets. We thus have 100% of the platelets in 55% of the volume – which translates to x1.8 higher concentration of platelets in the plasma than in the whole blood. This could and is principally Plalet-Rich-Plasma and it could be used “as is”. However, we can obtain even higher degrees of platelet-concentrations. If the plasma (the yellowish 55% volume floating above the RBC) is separated and spinned again, then the plasma will separate further into a lower portion of plasma with most/all of the platelets called PRP and a portion of plasma above with far less platelets which is termed Platelet-POOR-Plasma or PPP. Say if 20% of the lower portion is used we’d have a PRP with nearly x5 higher concentration of platelets as compared to whole blood. With such a high concentration of “repair/healing/growth/collagen-stimulating” cells injected into a relatively small area the area gets a boost that is far beyond what the tissue would otherwise receive in normal capillary blood vessels.
Is PRP painful?
There may be some discomfort associated with the injection of PRP. If a small area is being treated, for instance in the case of plantar fasiceitis or tendonitis the injection is usually done without any prior local anaesthetic.
If a larger area is being treated as in hair loss or facial rejuvenation, we may apply a numbing cream or local anaesthetic to minimise the discomfort
Is a consultation required?
My Skin Clinic strongly encourages you to come for an initial consultation with one of our doctors. The doctor can assess your situation taking into account your medical history, suggest the available treatment options and set up a treatment plan.
PRP used for hair loss
There are a number of studies and protocols of how to use PRP for hair loss. In one study PRP was carried out every two weeks for a total of 4 treatments and the hair growth was measured after 3 months. In this particular study the growth was 31% after 3 months.
Kindly check www.myhairclinic.pk for more information on how PRP is used for hair loss.