Before undergoing Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy, it’s important to make some preparation. You should discuss any health concerns with your doctor and mention any prior medical treatments you may have received, such as laser treatments, injections, or microdermabrasion.
Additionally, you should stop taking any medications or herbal supplements that affect clotting a few days before your procedure as they can increase the risk of complications. Additionally, you may need to make changes in your diet and lifestyle such as avoiding any alcohol or cigarettes leading up to your appointment.
Furthermore, to ensure optimal results, you should always stop using any skin care products that contain acids, such as AHAs or BHAs, and retinoids at least 7 days prior to your appointment. Lastly, it’s essential to have a hairless treatment area, so you should make sure to shave the area you’ll be having treated before your appointment.
How do I prepare for a PRP injection?
Preparing for a PRP injection is relatively straightforward. Start by scheduling an appointment with your doctor to determine if the procedure is right for you. Before the appointment, you should inform your doctor of any medications that you are taking, whether over-the-counter or prescribed, as well as any herbal supplements or vitamins.
Additionally, you should also let your doctor know about any allergies you may have and any medical history that could affect the outcome of the procedure.
During the appointment, your doctor will discuss the procedure with you and answer any questions you may have. After this, they will assess the area that needs to be injected and may draw your blood to create the PRP.
Depending on the area of application, your doctor will either numb the area or sedate you, before the injection.
On the day of the procedure, wear comfortable clothes and avoid wearing any jewelry or makeup as this may interfere with the procedure. Additionally, it is also important to have a responsible adult to bring you home after the procedure as you are likely to be in a sedated state.
Finally, remember that the injection site may be sore after the procedure and there may be some swelling that lasts for a few days, but this should not be cause for alarm. Be sure to follow any advice from your doctor after the procedure and keep them updated if anything changes.
How can I make PRP more effective?
In order to make platelet-rich plasma (PRP) more effective, it is important to ensure that the PRP injection is being done properly. This includes collecting the right amount of blood, preparing the sample correctly, and providing the right dilution with the necessary activators.
Additionally, it is important to take precautions to ensure that the injection will be successful, such as avoiding performing the injection near a joint capsule or tendon, in order to reduce the risk of harmful reactions such as inflammation.
In addition to proper injection technique, it is also important to ensure that the chemical properties of the PRP sample are appropriate for the treatment goals. This can involve checking the concentration of growth factors, the number of platelets, the pH levels, among other factors.
Finally, it is important to ensure that there is correct timing between the preparation of the sample and the application of the PRP. Ideally, the administration of PLR should occur within 90 minutes after preparation, in order to ensure optimal efficacy.
Furthermore, it is recommended to have a syringe pre-filled with PRP available for administration, rather than refilling after injection.
What should I do before and after PRP treatment?
Before PRP Treatment:
1. Stop taking anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen and aspirin, at least one week prior to treatment.
2. Avoid smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and strenuous physical activity.
3. Wear loose, comfortable clothing that is easy to move in.
4. Make sure the area to be treated is clean and free from any debris or products you might have used to clean or moisturize the skin.
After PRP Treatment:
1. Immediately following the procedure, apply an antibiotic ointment to the treatment area to reduce the risk for infection.
2. Do not apply ice to the area.
3. Stay well hydrated and continue to eat healthily. This can help speed up the healing process.
4. Do not apply any creams, oils or other home remedies to the treated area.
5. Avoid sun exposure and wear sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when going out in the sun to prevent further damage and bruising.
6. Refrain from straining or excessive exercise in order to give your body time to heal.
What foods to avoid after PRP?
It is generally recommended that people avoid certain foods after receiving a Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment. These foods include those that are high in fat, fried, processed, or loaded with preservatives, additives, or sugars.
Foods that are high in fat should be avoided as they can impede the healing process, lower the effectiveness of the treatment, and increase the risk of developing complications.
Examples of foods that should be avoided include red meats, processed meats, fast food, bacon, candy, cake, ice cream, deep-fried foods, soft drinks, added sugars, and refined white flour.
In addition to avoiding certain types of foods, it is important to maintain a healthy and balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Eating a nutrient-dense diet can help speed up the healing process, reduce inflammation and ensure your body gets the essential vitamins and minerals needed to support recovery.
It is important to follow your doctor’s instructions when it comes to food and nutrition after PRP. Your doctor can recommend healthy foods and provide advice on any additional dietary changes you should make as part of your recovery process.
Who is not a good candidate for PRP?
Generally speaking, individuals who have contraindications for PRP therapy are not good candidates. This may include anyone who is pregnant, taking steroid medications, have uncontrolled diabetes, have a bleeding disorder, are dealing with acute or chronic infections, or have any type of malignancy.
Furthermore, people with unrealistic expectations of the procedure, who have a history of poorly responding to other treatments, or who are age less than 18 are not good candidates for PRP. Lastly, individuals who currently have active facial acne as well as individuals who have recently undergone laser, dermabrasion, or chemical peel treatment within the last 6 months are not good candidates for PRP treatment.
What can I add to PRP?
Adding supplements to Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) can improve its healing ability, lower pain and inflammation, and reduce the healing time. Common supplements that can be added to PRP include hyaluronic acid, which helps keep tissue healthy and can protect against joint inflammation, vitamin C, which helps make collagen and supports blood vessel and tissue health, glucosamine and chondroitin, which can help rebuild cartilage and reduce joint pain, and antioxidants such as resveratrol, which can reduce inflammation, oxidative stress, and pain.
Finally, adding stem cells to PRP can aid in the healing process by helping the cells and tissues to regenerate and repair tissue more quickly, and can also decrease inflammation.
What stimulates PRP?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a form of concentrated platelets that are processed from a patient’s own blood and has a high concentration of platelets, growth factors and cytokines which stimulate tissue and joint healing.
PRP can be used to stimulate healing in soft tissues such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments, as well as hard tissues such as bone. PRP stimulates healing by promoting the formation and proliferation of new soft tissue and bone.
This occurs through the activation of a series of biochemical signals and events, including the release of various chemical factors and growth factors.
The release of an abundance of growth factors, such as Platelet Derived Growth Factor (PDGF), Transforming Growth Factor (TGF), Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), and Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF) are known to cause the proliferation of new tissue and cells.
These growth factors also aid in the formation of connective tissue, the stimulation of collagen production, and the stimulation of angiogenesis, which is the formation of new blood vessels. They additionally increase proteoglycan deposition and upregulate degenerating cells, which is important in times of tissue damage or injury.
By converging to form a cytokine network, these molecules play a major role in the healing process by mediating inflammation and wound healing. This ultimately leads to improved tissue and joint health and healing.
What to do if PRP doesn’t work?
If you have tried Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment and it has not resulted in the desired outcome for you, it is important to remember that this does not necessarily mean that the treatment has failed entirely.
Even if the initial PRP injection does not give you the desired outcome, there are a number of other treatments that can be tried to help you recover from your injury or ailment. These treatments can include physical therapy, laser therapy, and corticosteroid injections.
Physical therapy is an excellent form of treatment when PRP does not work, as it can help to decrease pain and improve mobility and function. During physical therapy sessions, you will be guided through a series of exercises and stretches designed to improve your strength, flexibility, and range of motion.
Laser therapy can help to reduce inflammation, pain, and swelling. This treatment is typically used alongside physical therapy to help promote healing. Laser therapy is relatively painless and is one of the most popular treatments for pain management.
Cortisone injections are another option if PRP does not work. These injections help to reduce inflammation and can provide relief from pain. While the injections typically provide only temporary relief, they can help to reduce inflammation and therefore enable increase in range of motion and function.
Finally, it is important to remember that there are other treatment options available if PRP does not work, such as regenerative medicine treatments and stem cell therapy. These treatments are still being studied and are not as widely available as other treatments yet, but they may be options for you to explore depending on your condition.
Can you drink before PRP treatment?
No, you should not drink before PRP treatment. PRP, or Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy, is a medical procedure in which a patient’s own platelets are harvested from the blood and injected into an injured or damaged area of the body.
This procedure is meant to promote healing, making it important that the patient abstains from drinking alcoholic beverages prior to the procedure. Alcohol can thin the blood and increase the risk of the patient experiencing excessive bleeding during the procedure.
It can also impair the body’s ability to ensure proper recovery and healing. For this reason, patients should avoid drinking alcohol at least twenty-four hours before their PRP treatment.
Do and don’ts after PRP session?
Post Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatment:
Do’s:
• Follow your doctor’s post-treatment instructions
• Ice applications to the affected area at least twice a day for the first week after the treatment
• Avoid strenuous activities like running or weightlifting for at least one week
• Avoid hot tubs, saunas, and swimming for at least a week
• Let your body heal naturally
• Eat a healthy and balanced diet
• Drink plenty of fluids and stay hydrated
• Consult with your doctor before starting any new medications
Don’ts:
• Don’t rub or apply pressure to the injected area
• Don’t expose the treated area to direct sunlight
• Don’t apply any heat, ice, or massaging to the treated area
• Don’t take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including aspirin and ibuprofen
• Don’t take any blood thinners such as warfarin
• Don’t do any intensive physical activities such as running or heavy lifting
• Don’t have any injections to the same area for at least two weeks
• Don’t take any herbal supplements without consulting your doctor
How can I maximize my PRP results?
To maximize the results of PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) treatments, there are a few steps you can take. First, make sure you are prepped for the procedure. This includes doing simple things like avoiding the use of aspirin, ibuprofen, and other anti-inflammatory medicines for at least one week before the treatment.
Additionally, it would be beneficial to keep a healthy diet as well as drink plenty of water for the weeks leading up to and following the procedure.
Second, keep in mind that PRP treatments may not show an immediate result, as the effects of the procedure may not appear until a few weeks after it is completed. As such, it is important to be patient and let the treatment do its work.
Third, make sure to follow the treatment plan prescribed by your doctor. Ensure you are communicating with your doctor and sticking to what they recommend in terms of follow-up treatments and lifestyle changes that may further improve your PRP results.
Lastly, consider supplementing your PRP treatments with other treatments that have been found effective in facial rejuvenation. For example, facials, chemical exfoliants, and dermabrasion can all work to enhance the benefits of PRP.
Additionally, your physician may be able to advise you on other treatments that can be used in conjunction with PRP treatments.