PRP therapy is a minimally invasive procedure that is normally administered in a clinic and takes 30 minutes to 1 hour. To ensure a successful experience and optimal healing, it is important to follow pre- and post-procedure recommendations. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to prepare for PRP injection. At least five days before the procedure, stop taking anti-inflammatory medications. One week before the procedure, discontinue any herbs or blood-thinning supplements.
One to two weeks before the procedure, cease systematic steroids. And at least one month before the procedure, avoid steroid injections. The most common way to prepare PRP is to centrifuge a patient's blood sample. A vial of blood is placed in a centrifuge, where it is rotated at intensely high speeds.
This twist causes the blood to separate into three layers. This process is known as differential centrifugation, where the acceleration force is adjusted to sediment certain cellular constituents based on different specific gravity. Once the centrifugation process is complete, the physician or medical technician will remove the vial from the centrifuge and prepare the PRP solution for injection. Commercially available PRP systems offer platelet-rich suspensions ready to apply in a sterile manner, but they come with a high cost and limited volume of blood drawn. At Harmony Healing, we offer several PRP therapy options that fit any lifestyle. Depending on your injury, we usually want you to follow up at the clinic to see the orthopedic surgeon or physician assistant approximately 2 weeks after the injection and then again at 6 weeks and 3 months after the injection. PRP can also be used to restore hair growth by injecting growth factors directly into the scalp at the level of the hair follicles.
With proper preparation and care, PRP therapy can produce very satisfying results.