Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

Harness the healing power of your own body. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy uses a concentrated solution of your own platelets, rich in growth factors and regenerative signaling molecules, to accelerate healing in damaged or degenerated tissues.

This advanced regenerative treatment is ideal for tendon, ligament, muscle, and joint injuries, especially when conservative care hasn’t provided full relief. With the guidance of ultrasound, PRP is delivered precisely where it’s needed to stimulate tissue repair, reduce inflammation, and restore function naturally.

Common conditions treated with PRP include:
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Tennis/golfer’s elbow
• Patellar and Achilles tendinopathy
• Osteoarthritis (knee, hip, shoulder)
• Plantar fasciitis
• Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
• Labral and meniscal tears (mild to moderate)

PRP is especially valuable for active individuals, athletes, and anyone seeking to avoid surgery or long-term reliance on medications. It supports true healing, not just symptom management, so you can return to movement with strength and confidence.

Free Discovery Call

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

How is PRP prepared?
We draw a small amount of your blood, spin it in a medical centrifuge, and isolate the platelet-rich layer. This natural solution is then injected into the affected area using ultrasound guidance for pinpoint accuracy.

How many treatments will I need?
Some feel improvement after just one session, and others need a series of 3-4 treatments, spaced 4–6 weeks apart, depending on the severity and chronicity of the issue.

Is PRP painful?
The injection can be uncomfortable, especially in deeper or more inflamed areas. Some soreness after treatment is expected and is a sign that your body is engaging in the healing process.

Are there any risks?
Because PRP is made from your own blood, there’s minimal risk of allergic reaction or rejection. Infection, though rare, is a general risk with any injection. We take every precaution to ensure a sterile, safe environment.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection Post-Procedure Care Guidelines:

Activity:

Avoid strenuous activity for 3–7 days following the injection.

Gentle movement is encouraged.

Allow your body to rest and focus on the healing process.

Pain Relief:

Expect some post-injection soreness; this is normal and usually lasts a few days.

Manage soreness with gentle massage, stretching, and rest.

Anti-Inflammatory Medications (NSAIDs):

Avoid anti-inflammatory medications (like ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.) as they might interfere with the intended healing response stimulated by the prolotherapy. If pain relief is needed, Tylenol use is okay.

Hydration and Nutrition:

Stay well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

Support your body's connective tissue repair by ensuring adequate intake of protein (collagen, gelatin), vitamin C, zinc, and other nutrients that aid regeneration.

Follow-Up:

Follow-up phone call 1-2 weeks out to keep track of your progress and symptoms, as treatment plans may be adjusted to optimize your results.

How Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Works

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy utilizes the body's innate healing capacity by delivering a concentrated dose of platelets directly to injured or diseased tissue. It stimulates a healing cascade through the release of a complex mixture of bioactive substances crucial for tissue repair and regeneration [1, 2].

Initial Stimulation and Cellular Recruitment

Once the PRP in injected it immediately acts as a potent biological signal, initiating key processes of tissue rejuvenation. The PRP signals to and attracts cells that are essential for healing, including fibroblasts (which generate connective tissue), tenocytes (tendon cells), chondrocytes (cartilage cells), and potentially stem cells to the treatment site. It also attracts immune cells like neutrophils and macrophages, which help clear cellular debris, old scar tissue, and inflammatory byproducts. This orchestrated response sets the stage for regenerative healing by first creating a clean, responsive environment for repair to occur.

Cellular Proliferation and Differentiation

PRP prompts these recruited cells, as well as local cells already present, to proliferate and mature (differentiate) into the specific cell types needed for repair. This effectively serves as a catalyst, accelerating the natural healing process [1, 3].

Preparation, Activation, and Degranulation

The therapeutic effects stem from the high concentration of platelets achieved through preparation and their subsequent activation.

Concentration: PRP is created by centrifuging a small sample of the patient's own blood. This process separates the blood components and concentrates platelets, often achieving levels 3 to 8 times higher than baseline [4].

Activation: When injected, the concentrated platelets encounter natural activators within the tissue environment, such as exposed collagen, thrombin, calcium ions, and ADP [1, 5]

Degranulation and Growth Factor Release: Activated platelets undergo degranulation, releasing the contents of their storage granules [1, 2, 3].

Alpha-granules: These are the most abundant and crucial for healing, containing a multitude of growth factors and cytokines [1]. Key examples include:

Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF): Stimulates blood vessel formation (angiogenesis), promotes the migration, proliferation, and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and fibroblasts, enhances collagen synthesis, activates macrophages, and encourages bone cell proliferation [1].
Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β): A potent stimulator of type I collagen synthesis (the primary collagen in tendons and ligaments), and encourages fibroblast migration. It also plays roles in regulating inflammation and cell differentiation [1, 5].
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF): A primary driver of angiogenesis [1].
Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF), Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1): These further contribute to cell proliferation, differentiation, and tissue remodeling [1].

Dense (Delta) Granules: These release substances like ADP, ATP, calcium, and serotonin, which are important for initiating blood clotting and amplifying the overall signaling cascade at the injury site [2, 3].

Downstream Biological Effects:

The release of this growth factor cocktail orchestrates a complex, amplified healing cascade:

Enhanced Angiogenesis: Driven primarily by VEGF and PDGF, the formation of new blood vessels improves the local supply of oxygen and vital nutrients necessary for tissue repair and removes metabolic waste [1, 5].
Extracellular Matrix (ECM) Formation: Growth factors like TGF-β stimulate cells (particularly fibroblasts) to produce collagen and other ECM components. This matrix provides the essential structural scaffolding required for new cell growth and organized tissue regeneration [1, 5].
Modulation of Inflammation: PRP influences the inflammatory process. It initiates the necessary acute inflammation required to kickstart healing but also contains factors that can help modulate and resolve inflammation, potentially preventing excessive or chronic inflammation that could impede recovery or cause further tissue damage [1, 5, 6].

In essence, PRP therapy concentrates the body's natural healing factors and delivers them precisely where needed, amplifying signaling pathways to accelerate and improve the quality of tissue repair through enhanced cell activity, blood supply, and structural matrix formation [1].

References

Everett PA, et al. Platelet-Rich Plasma: New Performance Understandings and Therapeutic Considerations in 2020. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Oct 21;21(20):7794. doi: 10.3390/ijms21207794. PMID: 33096662; PMCID: PMC7589810.
Sánchez-González DJ, et al. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) in Dermatology: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Action. Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Jan 3;25(1):7. doi: 10.3390/ijms25010007. PMID: 38203458; PMCID: PMC10779091.
Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS). Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection: How It Works. Updated September 30, 2024. Accessed April 27, 2025.
Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy. Accessed April 27, 2025.
Ali M, et al. Mechanisms, Efficacy, and Clinical Applications of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Tendinopathy: A Comprehensive Review. Cureus. 2024 Jul 29;16(7):e65565. doi: 10.7759/cureus.65565. PMID: 39190070; PMCID: PMC11350620.
Johns Hopkins Medicine. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections. Accessed April 27, 2025.