PRP (platelet-rich plasma) is blood plasma that has been enriched with platelets. One of the advantages of PRP is its ability to stimulate bone and soft tissue healing. Not only for treatment, PRP therapy is also widely used in the world of beauty.
Platelets or platelets contain hundreds of proteins called growth factors. These factors play an important role in the process of blood clotting and wound healing.
In the PRP treatment method, the platelet content will be added to the blood plasma until it reaches 5-10 times the normal concentration. By adding more platelet concentration than usual, it is hoped that the healing process will be faster.
Process of Treatment with PRP
The method of treatment with PRP is unique, because the blood used comes from the patient's own blood. This method consists of several stages which include:
- Blood draw
- Processing the patient's blood into PRP
- PRP injection into the patient's body.
Since 2 weeks before this procedure is performed, the patient will be asked not to take anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen. In addition, ultrasound examination also needs to be done to confirm the diagnosis and determine the appropriate location of treatment.
Next, the doctor will take the patient's blood as much as 20-60 milliliters and put it into a rotating device called centrifuge. This tool will separate the various components of blood. From the amount of blood taken from this process, several millimeters of platelet-rich blood plasma will be obtained.
After that, the patient will be given a local anesthetic and the doctor will inject PRP fluid into the injured or injured body part. The PRP injection procedure will cause mild pain and irritation at the injection site for a few days.
Conditions Treatable with PRP
A number of studies have shown that PRP therapy can help the healing process of injuries. Some of the conditions that can be treated using this therapy include:
1. tennis elbow
tennis elbow is severe pain due to injury to the muscles and tendons around the outside of the elbow. This condition is commonly experienced by tennis players and people who often work or do activities using arm and hand strength.
Tendons have little blood flow, so the healing process in this area is slow. With PRP therapy, platelets and various growth factors are added directly to the tendon area, thereby speeding up the healing process.
This is also supported by a study showing that PRP therapy is able to treat injuries tennis elbow better than corticosteroid injections.
2. Chronic knee tendon inflammation
Chronic Achilles tendon inflammation and inflammation of the kneecappatella) are conditions that can also be treated with PRP therapy. However, the comparison of the effectiveness of this therapy with other therapies still requires further research.
3. Acute injuries to muscles and ligaments
Acute injuries to muscles and ligaments are common in athletes. This type of injury is characterized by pulling muscles hamstring in the thighs and knees due to sprains.
Many professional athletes use PRP therapy to treat this condition. Unfortunately, there is no scientific evidence that confirms that this type of therapy actually helps the healing process of muscle and ligament injuries faster.
4. Broken bones
PRP therapy can also be applied in treating fractures. Various growth factors contained in PRP are believed to support the growth and healing of broken bones.
However, further research is still needed to ensure the effectiveness of PRP therapy in the fracture recovery process.
In addition to the four conditions above, PRP therapy is also believed to be able to help several types of surgery and one of them is shoulder surgery to repair torn tendons. PRP has also been applied to repair torn knee ligaments, especially anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
However, the benefits of PRP in both conditions still require further research to ensure its effectiveness.
Other Conditions Using PRP Injections
Not only in the world of health, PRP has also been used in the world of beauty. The following are some conditions that can be treated with PRP therapy:
Wrinkle skin
You may have heard the term "facial vampire". Vampire facial is a facial treatment that applies the PRP method. This type of treatment aims to remove wrinkles, acne scars, and stretch marks on the skin.
In addition, this method is also believed to be able to make the skin more supple, smoother, radiant, and have a more even skin tone.
PRP therapy generally does not cause allergic reactions because it comes from the patient's own body, but this procedure also has risks and one of them is the spread of HIV due to unsterile equipment.
Baldness
The use of PRP is also effective in treating baldness caused by androgenic alopecia due to hormonal disorders. Androgenic alopecia can occur in both men and women.
This occurs because of the vulnerability of the hair follicles, resulting in gradual thinning of the hair. However, further research is still needed to prove the ability of PRP injections to treat baldness.
Osteoarthritis
PRP has also been tested for people with osteoarthritis. In people with osteoarthritis, PRP is an alternative treatment method, especially in the early stages of the disease.
Therefore, you should immediately consult a doctor if you experience symptoms that point to osteoarthritis, such as joint pain or tenderness and stiffness in the joints.
Unfortunately, the effectiveness of PRP therapy for people with osteoarthritis is not known with certainty. More research is needed to prove the effectiveness and safety of this method.
So far, PRP therapy appears to be effective for use in chronic tendonitis in the elbow (Fig.tennis elbow). Although promising, PRP therapy still needs a lot of research to prove its effectiveness in other conditions, including in the world of beauty.
If you are interested in using PRP therapy as a treatment for certain conditions or cosmetic treatments, consult your doctor first to find out the benefits and side effects.