PRP - Platelet Rich Plasma + Acell
Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is a substance that’s thought to promote healing when injected. Platelets have special “growth factors,” or proteins, that help your body promote healing and this is why they need to be concentrated into the plasma. As your Baltimore PRP expert, Dr. Schreiber can produce PRP by concentrating platelets in the plasma portion of a blood sample. This is accomplished by taking a small blood sample and spinning it in a centrifuge. The entire process takes about 12 minutes. The number of treatments needed is going to vary whether it is being used for hair growth or skin rejuvenation.
Acell + PRP THERAPY
Acell is an FDA approved cellular regeneration product. Acell is derived from a naturally occurring extracellular matrix (ECM) of proteins found in tissue layers. It is believed to provide "scaffolding" on which cells can build and regenerate dormant follicles. In hair restoration, Acell is combined with PRP and injected into the scalp. The decision to use Acell will be made by the doctor.
PURPOSE
What are the purposes of PRP injections?
Clinicians use PRP injections across a number of applications. Examples of these include:
Hair loss: Doctors have injected PRP into the scalp to promote hair growth and prevent hair loss. According to research PRP injections are effective in treating androgenic alopecia, which is also known as male pattern baldness, and female pattern hair loss.
Microneedling: Also known as collagen induction therapy or percutaneous collagen induction, is an increasingly popular treatment modality for skin rejuvenation. The approach employs small needles to puncture the skin and stimulate local collagen production in a minimally invasive manner. Recently, clinicians have incorporated the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with the aim of augmenting cosmetic outcomes. Treatment with microneedling promotes skin rejuvenation by creating small puncture wounds in the epidermis and dermis. This injury triggers the wound healing cascade and alters the modulation of growth factors to promote regenerative effects. Following microneedling therapy, increases occur in elastic fiber formation, collagen deposition, and dermal thickness. The utilization of PRP in conjunction with microneedling procedures appears to promote further faster healing and the promotion of collagen formation.
Post CO2 Ablative Laser: PRP is prepared and applied post CO2 to promote healing and reduce downtime.
Facial Injections: In aesthetics, PRP is commonly utilized for facial rejuvenation through injections. PRP is often used in conjunction with an HA dermal filler or with fat for volumizing. PRP promotes healing and helps aid in the regeneration of new cellular growth and helps to revive damaged tissues.
PREPARATION
How do you prepare for PRP injections?
Generally speaking, there are few steps to preparing for PRP injections. Basic preparation includes a venous blood draw consisting of approximately 10ml-30ml of blood. This specimen is then centrifuged to separate the plasma and various blood components. This blood collection is performed utilizing sterile kits to minimize the potential for any infections. The PRP may also be mixed with Acell as this has shown improved results in previous studies.
Does PRP hurt?
PRP can be injected in different ways. For example, PRP is utilized for hair restoration, facial rejuvenation, musculoskeletal injuries, and soft tissue injuries. Pain thresholds vary amongst patients depending on the application, but typically patients experience very little discomfort from the PRP. Sometimes a topical numbing lidocaine solution is applied to a patients treatment area before injection to reduce discomfort.
PRP injection process
Here’s what to expect from a typical PRP injection process:
A healthcare professional will draw a sample of your blood. The amount of the sample depends on the procedure and where the PRP will be injected.
The blood is placed into a centrifuge. This is a machine that spins around very quickly, causing the blood components to separate. The separation process takes approximately 10-15 minutes.
A healthcare professional then takes the separated plasma and prepares it for injection into the affected area.
Your doctor will then inject the PRP into the affected area.
How much does PRP cost?
The costs for PRP injections into the scalp are not covered by insurance. The costs can also vary from location to location and on how the injections are used.
SIDE EFFECTS
What are the potential side effects of PRP?
Because PRP involves injecting a substance into the skin, there are potential side effects. PRP is autologous, which means that it comes directly from your own body and there is no chance of rejection.
However, there are risks from the injection itself including, but not limited to:
infection
nerve injuries
bleeding
pain at the injection site
tissue damage
lack of and/or incomplete results
need for further treatments
RECOVERY TIME
What is the recovery time for PRP injections?
Recovery takes about 30 minutes.
Because PRP injections are intended to promote healing or growth, you may not notice an immediate difference after receiving the injections. However, in several months, you may observe that the area is healing faster, growing more hair, or better skin texture and tone than you would have expected if you hadn’t received PRP injections.
It’s typical that multiple treatments will be necessary to receive complete benefits. For most aesthetic treatments, you will need a second treatment 4-6 months after the first. Then, you may need 1-2 treatments per year to maintain your results. Your physician will evaluate and recommend a customized program tailored to you individual needs.
Let your Maryland PRP expert, Dr. Jeffrey Schreiber, evaluate your hair loss to see if PRP + Acell is right for you. Call (410) 753-8600 today or fill out the Appointment Request page.