Fundamentals Of PRP Therapy Portland

By Eric Hayes


There are doctors who are using platelet-rich therapy injections for different purposes and reasons. The reasons for the treatment range from encouragement of growth of hairs to promotion of healing of tissues. There is still ongoing research on the effectiveness of the procedure and its benefits. When considering PRP therapy Portland residents need to know what it involves and the side effects.

One of the first things is to know how it works. Platelets are the blood cells which have a number of roles in the body, with one of them being to promote clotting of blood. That ensures the individual does not bleed excessively when they have a cut. The cells also help in containing proteins in blood which help in wound healing. Research shows that by injection of inflammation areas or tissue damages with high platelet concentration, it will encourage healing of wounds.

There is a small sample of blood that is extracted from the person to be treated. The sample gets placed in a centrifuge that spins at a very high speed. Through the process, platelets will be separated from other blood components. After that, the concentration will be injected into the treatment area. Because the injection has high concentration of platelets, healing will be faster. The concentration is usually about ten times more than concentration of untreated blood.

There are various treatments for which PRP is effective. A major application is to encourage growth of hairs and involves injecting platelets into the scalp. The injection is done to reduce inflammation that leads to loss of hair. The treatment is also used to help healing of tissues, in which case it will be used to help in healing after jaw surgery. Tissues which are healed are tendons, muscles and ligaments.

The platelet-rich therapy is important for reduction of inflammation that is brought about by osteoarthritis. Inflammation will lead to stiff joints which are also painful. The therapy could also be used for healing of bones but that application is still largely under research.

You will need to clearly understand what the therapy will cost. In the first place, it is hardly covered by insurance because there is not enough evidence that it is effective. The cost incurred will vary from place to place and depends on facilities available and the level of expertise of the doctor. The patient is supposed to have multiple injections which will be given at intervals of 2 or 3 months.

There are possible side effects that you need to be wary of. The injection involves use of platelets of the person. There will never be any serious reactions to injections but there is possibility that the person will experience irritation, bleeding and pain at the injection area. In most cases, you can resume normal activities immediately.

While PRP treatment is a very promising therapy for people that experience damage of tissues and loss of hairs, there are studies still being carried out on it. There needs to be more research to establish its effectiveness. It is important to use doctors with enough expertise and experience on it.




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