Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is an innovative therapy gaining widespread use in our Lone Tree dermatology office. PRP is an autologous therapy which means that it is natural and comes from your own body, NOT from a lab, animal, or other human source. PRP falls in the realm of regenerative medicine which aims to harness your body’s own healing powers. Our patients from Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch, Parker Littleton, Castle Rock, Denver, and elsewhere are excited about the potential benefits of PRP!
Your blood is made up of 4 main components: red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Platelet-Rich Plasma is a platelet concentrated liquid component from your own blood that contains healing and growth factors.
The process involves drawing a small tube of blood from your arm and spinning the blood in a centrifuge for about ten minutes. The spinning process separates out the unwanted red and white blood cells, leaving pure yellow-gold plasma which is rich in platelets (we like to call it “liquid gold!”).
PRP is a restorative, regenerative treatment that improves and stimulates living tissue. PRP therapy delivers your own growth factors to areas in need of healing and rejuvenation. PRP is widely used in orthopedics and sports medicine as well as dermatology.
PRP is intended to be mixed with bone graft material prior to application to a bony defect. Use of PRP for other purposes is common but is considered “off-label.”
In the field of dermatology, PRP is commonly used for skin rejuvenation and to promote hair growth & reduce hair loss. We apply PRP topically to the surface of the skin in combination with microneedling or laser treatment. We also inject PRP into the face or scalp using gentle technique with tiny needles or blunt cannulas. Multiple treatment sessions are generally recommended for best results.
We have been performing PRP therapy in our Lone Tree office since 2018. We initially used the Eclipse PRP system with good results but recently upgraded to ProGen PRP. Progen PRP is FDA-cleared and has several advantages over older systems. It utilizes a larger tube for your blood draw which provides a higher volume of PRP. ProGen PRP uses a unique spinning process which results in a higher platelet capture & recovery rate. This provides up to a 170% increase in platelet concentration. Unlike other systems, ProGen PRP is made in the USA.
We strive to make PRP treatment comfortable for our patients. Helpful techniques include use of topical numbing cream, lidocaine (local anesthetic), and ice-cold air blown at the skin. Most of our patients find treatment to be very tolerable.
The best part about PRP is that it comes from your own blood, so it is natural and there is minimal risk of allergic reaction. The ProGen PRP kits that we use are sterile and individually packaged. PRP preparation should be performed in a medical environment with proper physician oversight. We do not recommend that you have PRP therapy performed at a medispa or other unsupervised environment.
Platelets are tiny cells that circulate in our blood and bind together to help stop bleeding at sites of injury. Platelets are made in your bone marrow together with your red and white blood cells. Platelets help regulate immune function and inflammation. Platelets release a variety of growth factors including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).These growth factors are thought to stimulate wound healing, promote hair growth, reduce inflammation, and promote neoangiogenesis (increase blood vessel proliferation)
Plasma is the liquid portion of blood. It is the largest component of your blood, making up about 55% of its overall content. The primary purpose of plasma is to transport nutrients, hormones, cells, and proteins throughout the body.
There are many peer-reviewed studies supporting the use of PRP, particularly for the treatment of hair loss. Studies show that PRP can lead to an increase in hair counts, higher hair density, and a thicker hair shaft.
