Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP)

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One of the most exciting areas of research in orthopedics and sports medicine involves making the most of the healing stages in bone and soft tissue injuries.

During the initial inflammatory stage of an injury, a patient will experience inflammation and an increase in cells, known as cell proliferation, because the body is responding rapidly to the onset of a soft tissue injury.

Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP) treatment can help support wound healing in trauma and joint injury. you may have heard about professional athletes (Tiger Woods) getting platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to help heal an injury.

Blood is made up of 93% red blood cells (RBCs), 6% platelets, 1% white blood cells (WBCs), and plasma. Platelet-rich plasma contains of two elements: plasma, or the liquid portion of blood, and platelets. Platelets is a type of blood cell that plays an important role in healing throughout the body, they are well-known for their clotting abilities. In addition, they also include growth factors that can trigger cell reproduction, stimulate tissue regeneration, or healing in the treated area. Platelet-rich plasma is simply blood that contains more platelets than normal. The goal of PRP therapy is to maximize the concentration of platelets and minimize the number of red blood cells.

Dr. Savarino draws blood from the patient in our office, and places it in a special centrifuge. The centrifuge separates out the red blood cells, which are discarded. The resulting platelet and plasma concentrate is used for the PRP treatment. The treatment takes about 15-20 minutes, and the treatment area is anesthetized to limit discomfort.

The PRP solution is injected into the target area, such as an injured knee or an inflamed tendon. Ultrasound is used in our office to guide Dr. Savarino to pinpoint the site, giving optimal results. The objective is to increase the concentration of specific bioproteins or hormones, called growth factors, in a specific area to accelerate the healing process.

They are also other uses for PRP injections. What started out for accelerated healing turns out to be effective in a wide range of conditions, from musculoskeletal pain and injuries to, hair restoration as well as skin rejuvenation and cosmetic procedures.

PRP treatment works best for chronic ligament and tendon sprains/strains including:

• Rotator cuff injuries, including partial-thickness and full-thickness tears
• Shoulder pain and instability
• Knee sprains and instability
• Hamstring and hip strains
• Ankle sprains
• Tennis & golfer’s elbow
• Patellofemoral syndrome and patellar tendinopathy
• Ankle sprains
• Achilles’ tendinopathy & plantar fasciitis
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Sports hernias & athletic pubalgia
• Other chronic tendon and ligament problems

PRP can also offer relief for many cases of osteoarthritis. This includes:

• Knee arthritis
• Hip joint arthritis
• Shoulder arthritis
• Other joint arthritis

PRP Facial

PRP is increasingly used for cosmetic procedures for facial rejuvenation as well as other procedures. The natural healing properties of platelets improves the appearance and overall health of skin. The PRP is micro-needled into your skin, coating and soaking your face with growth factors. The PRP facial helps minimize the appearance of specific signs of aging. This treatment helps repair the skin, smoothing wrinkles, reducing dark spots and improving texture. In spite of its name, it is actually a minimally invasive cosmetic treatment that aims to improve skin.

PRP for Hair Restoration

When it comes to your scalp, PRP is a natural way to stimulate and encourage new hair growth for both men and women! The growth-factor rich Platelet Rich Plasma rejuvenates the damaged hair follicle, to reawaken it and bring it back to life.

How Does PRP Hair Restoration Work?

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a natural medical treatment that uses a concentration of platelet cells from the patient’s own body. The platelets used have growth factors that are believed to promote natural healing and rejuvenate damaged hair follicles tissue.

The results of the PRP treatment may vary based on the treatment area. It may take several weeks for joint injections for injuries and six months for scalp injections. Patients may require additional injections at the direction of their doctor.

Come and speak with Dr. Savarino, a highly skilled physician with over 10 years of experience and expertise in pain management. He has brought cutting-edge technology and new trends in medicine to Central Monmouth County to benefit his patients. He will be happy to discuss and address your medical questions and concerns with an individualized treatment plan.