What is PRP
Platelet Rich Plasma is composed of plasma with a high concentration of white blood cells (WBC) and platelets containing growth factors. The WBCs help fight infections while the platelets help clot the blood and contain the powerful growth factors needed to start the healing process. A normal platelet count is 150,000-350,000. PRP contains 3-6 times that number and sometimes more.
Surgeons now have a tool to significantly enhance the healing process and speed up recovery time. When we undergo a surgery or obtain any kind of wound, our bodies must go through a lengthy healing process. Our bodies call up natural healing factors, but sometimes that is not enough.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) helps “jumpstart” the healing process because it is a concentration of your own autologous (aw-tal’-o-gus) platelets, which have reservoirs filled with powerful “growth factors and healing agents”. To get the PRP we obtain a small amount of your blood (1-2 oz.), then separate and concentrate the platelets. Your surgeon then applies the concentration of platelets to your wound, surgical site, or injury site.
Clinical data has clearly shown that PRP acts as a bioactive bandage and jumpstarts the healing process. In many different surgical specialties, the data shows that PRP accelerates the healing process, slows or stops post operative oozing, reduces blood loss, accelerates bone regeneration, helps tendons and ligaments repair more quickly, reduces inflammation, and decreases post-op pain.