What is platelet-rich plasma?
Platelet-rich plasma, as the name suggests, is a concentrate of platelet-rich plasma protein extracted from a patient’s blood. The platelets facilitate blood clotting, but they also have growth factors (GF) that help heal injuries, encourage homeostasis, and facilitate the regrowth of tissues.
Platelet-rich plasma is prepared through a process known as centrifugation. The process helps separate light and heavy proteins using centrifugal force. Centrifugation also explains why PRP contains 5-to-10 times more than the usual concentration of GF and platelets in the normal blood.
How is platelet-rich plasma prepared?
The process of preparing PRP is straightforward and quick. A physician collects the blood from the patient and transfers it to a centrifuge, a machine that helps apply centrifugal force to the blood. Centrifugation usually takes five to twenty minutes. After centrifugation, the physician extracts platelet-rich plasma according to the centrifuge instructions. Thrombin and calcium are then added to the collected PRP, which facilitates the release of growth factors from the alpha granules.
Platelet-rich plasma injection procedure
PRP injections require precision. It is, therefore, essential to ensure that all PRP injections are administered by a seasoned physician. The physician should also use imaging techniques such as Ultrasound guidance to ensure a precise injection. Before an injection, we advise our patients to adhere to the following precautions.
- Avoid corticosteroid medications- patients should avoid these medications two to three weeks before the procedure.
- Avoid NSAIDs such as Celebrex, aspirin or ibuprofen a week before the procedure.
- Avoid anti-coagulation medications five days prior the procedure.
- Drink plenty of water before the procedure.
Our physicians will also explain benefits, cost of the procedure, steps of the procedure, and follow up processes to our patients before administering PRP injections. After injection, patients are advised to minimize activity for at least 24-hours. However, due to our exceptional PRP procedures, most of our patients are able to participate in activities immediately after PRP therapy.
Our history with nerve regeneration
As industry leaders in age management, regenerative medicine, and other related research, we have been perfecting how to make PRP for years. Our PRP’s have more growth factors when compared to other PRP’s used by other specialists.
Why patients should avoid nerve surgery
Nerve surgery is notoriously difficult and dangerous. There are countless cases out there of patients who underwent these surgeries with no results. Some even developed new problems related to the surgeries. In fact, a recent research shows that the world’s most popular never surgery, carpal tunnel release, destabilizes the wrist because the surgery cuts a critical ligament that is required for wrist stability. Therefore, patients should give PRP therapy an opportunity to help their nerves accomplish their own regeneration.
Let LifeBoost help you
Do you have a nerve injury? Let LifeBoost help you. We are an age management, orthopedic, aesthetics, and hormone replacement therapy clinic. Visit us today or call to talk to one of our experts.
