Arthritis can cause significant pain and loss of motion in various joints throughout the body, but a promising treatment called platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, has steadily caught on as a remedy. The process involves injecting a patient’s own blood plasma into the affected joint to boost the body’s natural healing processes. The exact number of injections needed to treat your case of arthritis will depend on your specific body type. Usually, it’s recommended that patients get multiple treatments three to six weeks apart.
When you meet with the medical team at Glow Aesthetic Center, led by Dr. Homan Siman, we will discuss your specific case and learn more about your body type and goals. Then, we can create a treatment plan unique to you.
To schedule your consultation with our staff, simply click on our Book an Appointment page. You can also reach us by calling our office at (818) 905-8815 or by filling out the form on our contact page. If you suffer from constant arthritis pain, PRP treatments can provide relief without the need for invasive surgery.
Determining the Number of PRP Injections
There are many factors that can influence the number of PRP injections you need. Online resource Arthritis Health, for example, lists a few elements.
Your Blood
Different people have different blood characteristics. Depending on your blood type and overall health, you may have fewer platelets than others or different levels of platelet function.
Extraction Methods
Another issue that can change the estimate of the number of injections you need is the way in which your plasma is extracted from your blood. At Glow Aesthetic Center, we use a sterile centrifuge that spins your blood around and uses motion to separate the blood cells from the plasma. Different extraction methods can result in different concentrations of platelets in the plasma. If you have fewer platelets, you might need more injections.
How PRP Helps Arthritis
Platelets are cell fragments in your blood that specialize in certain parts of the healing process. They play a vital role in allowing your blood to clot, and they help trigger cell regeneration. While PRP treatments do not necessarily take away your arthritis, they can help reduce its effects and stave off pain. Below is a brief overview of our PRP process.
- Drawing Blood: First, we draw your blood.
- Separating the Plasma: We place your blood in a centrifuge, which uses a spinning motion to separate the red and white blood cells from the plasma.
- Reinjecting the Plasma: Finally, we inject the plasma, which is not abundant in platelets and lacks the red and white blood cells. We target the joint that is causing you arthritic pain.
Once the plasma is reinjected into your joint, that area will be rich in platelets compared to the red and white blood cells. This helps heal the surrounding damage, relieving pain and pressure in many cases.
Other Uses for PRP
Far from just an arthritis solution, PRP is a treatment that can be used for a variety of ailments and even cosmetic goals. Top-level athletes are starting to use PRP therapy for injuries to parts of the body like:
- Ligaments
- Tendons
- Muscles
- Skin
- Joints
The end result is typically a much faster recovery than usual. But you don’t even have to be injured or in pain for PRP therapy to have a use. You could simply want to capture a certain cosmetic look.
To that end, PRP is offered at Glow Aesthetic Center for hair loss as well as for so-called “vampire facials,” or a combination of microneedling and PRP.
PRP for Hair Loss
By injecting platelet-rich plasma into your scalp, we can boost healing for damaged hair follicles. This has proven effective for restoring lost or thinning hair (actually, one study conducted in 2019 found that PRP was more effective than leading hair-restoration product Rogaine).
PRP for Microneedling
Microneedling with PRP is also known as a vampire facial because it uses the patient’s own blood. The process uses a tiny needle to make painless punctures in the skin and inject PRP. This triggers the body’s production of collagen as well as boosting cell regeneration and healing through the plasma. PRP microneedling treatments can useful for combating issues like:
- Wrinkles
- Age lines
- “Crow’s feet”
- Uneven skin tone
What to Do Before Your PRP Treatment
Before your first treatment session, the team at Glow Aesthetic Center will provide a detailed, personalized treatment plan during your initial consultation. There, we’ll let you know about any specific steps you need to take to improve your overall PRP experience. However, the following are a few general guidelines.
- Avoid using blood thinners like ibuprofen or aspirin.
- Inform us regarding any conditions you have that might affect your blood, including cancer, anemia, or abnormal platelet counts.
- Eat and drink before your treatment session to avoid lightheadedness due to having your blood drawn.
How to Schedule Your PRP Treatment for Arthritis
If you are ready to find relief from arthritis pain, PRP might be the way to go. The process uses your own body’s plasma to boost your health, so you don’t have to fear potentially harmful foreign substances or worry about painful and time-consuming surgery. During your initial consultation, the team at Glow Aesthetic Center can tell you how many sessions you can expect before seeing the results you desire.
Schedule your consultation with our medical staff by clicking on the Book an Appointment tab on our website, calling our office at (818) 905-8815, or filling out the form on our contact page. We’re looking forward to helping you find your freedom from the pain of crippling arthritis.
