Platelet-rich plasma therapy, also known as PRP therapy, has been around for years. This is a method that uses your own blood plasma (which is concentrated in a centrifuge) to treat areas of the body through injections. While it has often been used to treat sports injuries, the process has a number of different applications.
Dr. Stuart Kaufmann and PRP in Philadelphia specialize in using PRP therapy to treat many different conditions. Here are five benefits of PRP therapy.
Platelets are a component of our blood that has proteins that aid in blood clotting as well as help the healing process along. Just about every use of PRP therapy uses this important factor in treating different areas of the body. The procedure increases the concentration of platelets in blood plasma to boost the effectiveness of a patient’s platelets. PRP therapy can be used to treat injuries and help healing post-surgery.
The same proteins that help to heal tissue can also help with the damaged follicles that result in hair loss. This can be useful in treating the effects of androgenic alopecia, a common form of hair loss in men and women. A 2019 research review found the therapy to be effective in increasing the diameter of hairs in treated areas and growing denser hair overall.
This treatment also has anti-inflammatory properties which can help reduce swelling and relieve pain. This is part of the reason it became so popular in treating sports injuries, like tennis elbow, rotator cuff injuries, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, and other chronic injuries. Many collegiate and pro athletes alike use this treatment for chronic injuries.
PRP facials are becoming a fixture in cosmetic treatments, commonly referred to as a vampire facial. This process uses platelets to promote another common protein in the body, called collagen. It also helps with blood clotting and is a building block for bones, muscles, ligaments, and skin. Facials using this treatment will tighten, smooth, and improve skin.
PRP treatments are non-invasive and use your own blood plasma in different ways. This means your own healing system is key in helping you get better, rather than relying on medications and other short-term methods of relief. The result is a safe treatment that can help you heal faster with no side effects.
If you’re interested in PRP therapy, be sure to make an appointment with Dr. Kauffman and PRP in Philadelphia to see what it can do for you.
