{"url":"https://whatshealthyandwhy.com/prp/what-is-prp","path":"/prp/what-is-prp","alternates":{"json":"https://whatshealthyandwhy.com/api/articles/prp/what-is-prp.json","markdown":"https://whatshealthyandwhy.com/prp/what-is-prp.md"},"topic":{"slug":"prp","name":"PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma)","url":"https://whatshealthyandwhy.com/prp"},"slug":"what-is-prp","order":1,"title":"What is PRP and how does it work?","question":"What is PRP (platelet-rich plasma) and how does it work?","answer":"PRP is a concentrate of your own platelets and growth factors that may speed tissue repair, but results vary with how it is prepared.","description":"How platelet-rich plasma is prepared and used for healing, hair restoration, and skin rejuvenation.","confidence":2,"confidenceNote":"Supported by reviews of growth-factor biology and a dermatology systematic review; this page cites no trials, and PRP products differ widely.","evidenceSummary":{"rctCount":0,"observationalCount":0,"metaAnalysisCount":1,"replicated":false,"newestStudyYear":2021},"category":{"categoryTitle":"How to Live","categorySlug":"how-to-live","subcategoryName":"Therapeutic Practices","subcategorySlug":"therapies","url":"https://whatshealthyandwhy.com/explore/how-to-live/therapies"},"actions":["Ask the clinic how its PRP is prepared (spin speed, platelet count, leukocyte content, activation), as these change results [4].","Expect an in-office visit: a blood draw of about 15–60 mL, 15–30 minutes of preparation, then injection into the target area [1]."],"cautions":["PRP is not FDA-approved as a drug; it is used as a medical procedure, with FDA-cleared devices for preparing it.","Two trials using 'PRP' may use very different products, so one study's results may not apply to another clinic's treatment [4]."],"simpleText":"PRP (platelet-rich plasma) is a concentrate made from your own blood that contains a high concentration of platelets and growth factors. It is used in orthopedics, dermatology, and aesthetics to promote tissue repair and regeneration.\n\nPRP is not FDA-approved as a drug, but it is widely used as a medical procedure because it uses a patient's own biological material. FDA-cleared devices exist for preparing PRP, and the procedure is performed in clinics across the United States and worldwide.","mediumText":"How PRP Is Prepared\n\nThe PRP process involves three basic steps:\n\n1. Blood draw -- A small amount of blood (typically 15-60 mL) is drawn from the patient's arm, similar to a routine lab draw [1].\n2. Centrifugation -- The blood is placed in a centrifuge and spun at high speed. This separates the blood into three layers: red blood cells at the bottom, a \"buffy coat\" of white blood cells and platelets in the middle, and platelet-poor plasma on top [3].\n3. Concentration and injection -- The platelet-rich layer is extracted, resulting in a concentration of platelets 3-5 times higher than normal blood levels. This concentrate is then injected directly into the target area [1].\n\nThe entire preparation takes about 15-30 minutes and is typically done in-office.\n\nGrowth Factors in PRP\n\nPlatelets contain alpha granules that release several key growth factors upon activation [4]:\n\n- PDGF (Platelet-Derived Growth Factor) -- stimulates cell replication and blood vessel formation\n- TGF-beta (Transforming Growth Factor) -- promotes collagen synthesis and tissue remodeling\n- VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) -- stimulates new blood vessel growth\n- EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor) -- promotes cell growth and differentiation\n- IGF-1 (Insulin-Like Growth Factor) -- mediates cell growth and repair\n\nThese growth factors work together to accelerate the body's natural healing cascade [4].\n\nCommon Applications\n\nPRP is used across several medical fields:\n\n- Joint healing -- Injected into damaged joints, tendons, and ligaments to reduce pain and promote tissue repair, particularly in knee osteoarthritis and rotator cuff injuries [1].\n- Hair restoration -- Injected into the scalp to stimulate dormant hair follicles and promote hair growth in androgenetic alopecia [2].\n- Skin rejuvenation -- Applied topically after microneedling or injected into the skin to stimulate collagen production and improve skin texture [2].","deepText":"Preparation Variables That Affect Outcomes\n\nNot all PRP is created equal. Several variables in preparation significantly influence clinical results [4]:\n\n- Centrifuge speed and time -- Different protocols produce different platelet concentrations. Single-spin protocols yield lower concentrations (2-3x baseline), while double-spin protocols can achieve 5-8x baseline [3].\n- Leukocyte content -- PRP can be leukocyte-rich (LR-PRP) or leukocyte-poor (LP-PRP). LR-PRP contains white blood cells that may increase inflammation, which can be beneficial for tendon injuries but detrimental in joint spaces [4].\n- Activation method -- Platelets can be activated with calcium chloride, thrombin, or simply by exposure to collagen at the injection site. The activation method affects growth factor release kinetics [1].\n- Volume and platelet count -- There is no universal standard for the \"ideal\" platelet concentration. Studies use widely varying protocols, which contributes to inconsistent results across clinical trials [4].\n\nUnderstanding these variables is important when evaluating PRP studies, as two trials using \"PRP\" may actually be using very different products [4].","deepTruncated":false,"references":[{"id":"1","title":"Platelet-Rich Plasma: New Performance Understandings and Therapeutic Considerations in 2020","authors":"Everts P, Onishi K, Jayaram P, Lana JF, Mautner K","year":2020,"journal":"International Journal of Molecular Sciences","pmid":"33096812","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33096812/"},{"id":"2","title":"Systematic Review of Platelet-Rich Plasma Use in Androgenetic Alopecia Compared with Minoxidil, Finasteride, and Adult Stem Cell-Based Therapy","authors":"Gentile P, Garcovich S","year":2020,"journal":"International Journal of Molecular Sciences","pmid":"32295047","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32295047/"},{"id":"3","title":"Principles and Methods of Preparation of Platelet-Rich Plasma: A Review and Author's Perspective","authors":"Dhurat R, Sukesh M","year":2014,"journal":"Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery","pmid":"25722595","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25722595/"},{"id":"4","title":"Platelet-Rich Plasma: A Narrative Review","authors":"Collins T, Alexander D, Barkatali B","year":2021,"journal":"EFORT Open Reviews","pmid":"34040800","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34040800/"}],"wordCount":511,"source":{"path":"src/content/topics/prp/what-is-prp.md"},"citeAs":"“What is PRP (platelet-rich plasma) and how does it work?.” What's Healthy and Why. https://whatshealthyandwhy.com/prp/what-is-prp","notice":"General information backed by peer-reviewed research, not medical advice."}