Advancements in medicine have developed a new treatment where the body heals itself. Platelet-rich plasma is a type of regenerative medicine that works to enhance natural growth factors that your body uses to promote healing in tissues. If you are considering going for PRP in Reston, here is what your doctor at Rostami OPC would like you to know about this treatment option.
What is plasma, and what are platelets?
Plasma is the largest component of blood. This liquid portion of blood includes water and other necessary proteins. Plasma is the medium in which cells of the blood circulate the body. The most crucial cells found in plasma include red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, also known as thrombocytes. Platelets assist in blood clots form, which is a crucial step towards wound healing. Moreover, platelets are involved in creating growth factors that play a role in healing.
What is platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and what are PRP injections?
During this therapy, your doctor will inject a serum into your injured tissues to accelerate healing. The serum contains concentrated platelets that you donate from your body before the injection procedure begins. For this reason, the use of PRP is the best way to achieve maximum results because the treatment relies on a patient’s natural healing system to address various musculoskeletal concerns.
How to make PRP injections
Your doctor will draw a few tubes of your blood and run it through a centrifuge. This process ensures that the blood separates into two distinct layers, one containing concentrated platelets. Afterward, your doctor will use the activated platelets by injecting them at the treatment site with injured body tissue. The PRP will stimulate growth factors and promote an increase in reparative cells that are essential for healing.
Sometimes your doctor may decide to incorporate ultrasound during your procedure, especially when the injured tissue is deep within the body and difficult to access.
Which diseases can benefit from PRP injections?
There are many uses of PRP in medicine. Your doctor can recommend this treatment if you have tissue pain, for example, in the shoulders. PRP is an effective treatment that improves functionality and reduces specific symptoms like pain that hinder the quality of life.
What are the advantages of PRP?
The key benefit that makes PRP therapy stand out is that you will not need to purchase the serum. Your blood is the key component to creating the serum. Moreover, you do not have to worry about having insufficient blood because your doctor will only need a few tubes.
The use of PRP to accelerate healing has significantly reduced reliance on anti-inflammatories and other pain medications like opioids which sometimes have adversities to a patient, especially when the patient is allergic to specific chemicals in them. PRP is a generally safe treatment option because since it is created from a patient’s blood, the risk of it negatively reacting with your immune system is minimal.
Contact Rostami OPC to learn more about PRP therapy and determine if the injections are the ideal treatment option for your condition.
