What is PRP Therapy Anyway?

You may have heard about it on the news or in a story of how a favorite athlete is using PRP injections to recover from an injury. It can do anything from encouraging hair growth, promote healing in soft tissue wounds, and reduce inflammation. But what exactly is platelet-rich plasma therapy? And how can it help you? We’re glad you asked.

What is PRP Therapy?

Before we discuss the benefits of PRP therapy, you need to know what it is. First, the doctor will take a small sample of your blood. That blood is then put into a centrifuge or similar device to separate the platelets — blood cells that promote wound healing — from the rest of the blood. Once separated, the doctor will then inject the platelets near the treated area. Since the injection contains a high concentration of platelets, about three to five times higher compared to healthy blood, researchers believe that it will speed up the healing process. The goal of PRP therapy is not only to relieve your symptoms but to stimulate healing. It may also reduce your need for medication and even surgery.