Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
What Is Platelet-Rich Plasma?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a substance full of growth factors. It stimulates and enhances the natural healing process to serve several clinical and cosmetic purposes. Palm Oaks Family Practice uses PRP in a few treatments to get the best possible results and reduce signs of aging.
Included in each PRP shot are several elements of your blood. The first is plasma, which is the yellow liquid in which all of your blood cells are suspended. Blood plasma is not the most active part of PRP, but it allows the product to be injectable as a liquid.
The other component of PRP is platelets. Platelets are cell fragments that help your blood cells clump together to form a scab when you get injured. They encourage new cells to grow so the injury can heal and remove old and damaged cells to clear the area.
How Is Platelet-Rich Plasma Made?
For PRP treatment at Palm Oaks Family Practice, the red and white cells must be taken out of a small sample of your blood. Your provider draws the sample from a vein, usually in your arm. Then, they place the vial of blood in a machine called a centrifuge that spins rapidly.
The quick spinning of the centrifuge creates centrifugal force, which pulls different cell types within the blood sample apart from each other. While they’re all still suspended in plasma, the layer full of platelets with very few or no red and white cells is the PRP ready for treatment.
Your provider prepares the PRP and places it in a syringe, where it is then ready to administer for your chosen treatment purpose.
Which Treatments Involve Platelet-Rich Plasma?
Palm Oaks Family Practice uses PRP for two main treatment purposes. The substance works by starting, aiding, or accelerating the healing process that’s already taking place or has stalled. Depending on the purpose of your visit and the findings of your initial examination, your provider might recommend PRP for:
Hair Restoration
PRP hair restoration works by stimulating the hair follicles that no longer grow hair. Your provider injects the substance into areas of your scalp that are bald or thinning. This also brings blood circulation to the scalp, which helps promote follicle health.
Men’s Sexual Wellness
For men’s sexual wellness, Palm Oaks Family Practice offers the Priapus Shot® or P-Shot®. The P-Shot involves PRP injections into penile tissue to promote penile growth and firmness. It often works as a long-lasting treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED).
To find out if PRP can enhance your treatment for hair loss or sexual dysfunction, call Palm Oaks Family Practice, or book an appointment online today.
