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Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a substance that’s thought to promote healing when injected. Plasma is a component of your blood that contains special “factors,” or proteins, that help your blood to clot. It also contains proteins that support cell growth. Researchers have produced PRP by isolating plasma from blood and concentrating it.
What is plasma and what are platelets?
Plasma is the liquid part of whole blood composed largely of water and proteins, and it provides a medium for red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets to circulate through the body.
Plasma contains many factors essential for cell survival including nutrients, vitamins, hormones, electrolytes, growth factors (such as IGF and HGF), and proteins. Among the plasma proteins, the molecules vital for the coagulation process and for the fibrin polymer formation will serve as a scaffold for cell migration and new tissue generation.
Platelets, also called thrombocytes, are blood cells that cause blood clots, their activation plays a key role in the body’s growth natural healing process. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy uses injections of a concentration of a patient’s own platelets to accelerate the healing of injured hard and soft tissue.
Platelets provide essential growth factors, such as FGF, PDGF, TGF-ß, EGF, VEGF, IGF, which are involved in stem cell migration, differentiation and proliferation. Additionally, platelets also stimulate fibroblasts and endothelial cells to induce new extracellular matrix deposition and neo-vascularisation respectively.
What the procedure involves?
PRP injections are prepared by taking anywhere from one to a few tubes of your own vein’s blood and running it through a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets. These activated platelets are then injected directly into your injured or diseased tissue. This releases growth factors that stimulate and increase the number of reparative cells your body produces.
Mild topical numbing cream is applied on the treatment areas. Since micro-needling only penetrates the top layer of skin, there are very few sensory nerves to trigger pain and numbing cream reduces the pain.
Relationship to stem cell therapy
The topic of stem cell overlaps so affined with PRP. Of course, they aren’t exactly the same thing. The primary difference is that PRP is a smaller idea, a subset of stem cell therapy. Platelets have a bunch of interesting biological features, but they are best known for their work in clotting — and that’s mainly what gives them that healing mystique.
The idea is that injecting PRP into damaged tissues will stimulate your body to grow new, healthy cells and promote healing. Because the tissue growth factors are more concentrated in the prepared growth injections, researchers think the body’s tissues may heal faster.
What are the purposes of PRP injections?
- Skin rejuvenation
- Acne & Scars
- Tired & stressful skin
- Hair loss & Androgenetic Alopecia
- Chronic wound (Diabetic Wounds, Varicose Ulcers, Bedsores)
- Tendon injuries
- Acute injuries
- Post-surgical repair
- Osteoarthritis
Downtime
No downtime for PRP with needle injections. When its combined with micro-needling, your skin will appear red and flushed however this a good sign that your skin is working to heal and produce collagen. Within 24 to 48 hours redness usually subsides.
What are the potential side effects of PRP?
PRP is autologous, which means it contains substances that come directly from your own body. This reduces the risks for an allergic reaction that can occur from injecting other medications. Because PRP involves injecting a substance into the skin, there are potential side effects:
- infection
- nerve injuries
- pain at the injection site
- tissue damage
You should discuss these potential risks with your doctor, as well as the steps your doctor will take to minimize these risks.
Long Lasting Results
Although results are not instant positive effects of PRP can last up to 12 months. Generally, we do advise to have a course of 3 treatments over 3 months for dramatic results and maintain with a treatment every 3 months after you’ve completed your course. During your consultation we will also recommend products to help enhance your results.
Since 2003 Regen Lab has been committed to the development of a unique expertise for the design and manufacturing of high-quality medical devices, intended for cells therapies and for the preparation of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from the patient’s own blood, to be used in bedside procedures.
Regen Lab follows a stringent approach to regulatory matters and Quality System Management. They operate within the framework of the ISO 13485 Norms, which combines the requirements medical device manufacturers must incorporate into their management systems. Regen Lab Quality System is also audited in accordance with the requirements of Annex II of the Directive 93/42/EEC on medical devices.
What is Autologous Platelet Rich Plasma (A-PRP®) by RegenKit®
RegenKit® is composed of sterile disposable tubes, butterfly needle, transfer devices and syringes, packaged in a single-use double blister. RegenKit® cell separator gel allows for the easy, rapid and consistent preparation, from a small volume of blood, of A-PRP with an optimal platelet concentration and viability.
RegenKit® excellence:
- The A-PRP prepared with the Regen BCT device has a very low level of contaminants.
- Red blood cells are removed at 99.7 %.
- The white blood cell level is drastically reduced, with a preferential depletion (96.7 %) of the pro- inflammatory granulocytes. The remaining white blood cells are mostly lymphocytes and monocytes.
A-PRP for Skin Rejuvenation by CellularMatrix (A-PRP + HA)
”Cellular Matrix™ ” a combination treatment with Autologous Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP- Vampire Facelift) with HA (Hyaluronic Acid).
A-PRP (Vampire Facelift) increases the production of collagen, enhances skin elasticity, tone and thickness. It’s more, than hyaluronic acid filler! It stimulates stem cell differentiation and proliferation, stimulates angiogenesis, and creates a volumising effect, leading to skin regeneration and rejuvenation. The key molecule involved in skin hydration and volume replacement is hyaluronic acid (HA), major component of the extracellular matrix stimulates migration and proliferation of dermal cells (fibroblasts).
Treatment is appropriate for use on any skin type or complexion. We recommend a course 2-3 treatments per year, once every 3 months.
A-PRP for Acne & Scars by RegenKit®-BCT
A-PRP has ability to locally release growth factors, small molecules that act as messengers to initiate the process of regeneration on sclerotic tissue. A-PRP stimulates the synthesis of the different components of the extra cellular matrix (including glycosaminoglycans, collagen, elastin, hyaluronic acid and fibronectin), induces stem cell division and differentiation, and stimulates neo-angionesis. As a result, course 3-5 treatments the skin texture becomes smoother, even tone and healthy look.
Plasma enriched with platelets derived from the patient’s blood intents to trigger the healing process in non-responsive to other treatments acute and chronic acne, increase the skin healing rate and reduce pain. A-PRP has also been claimed to have bactericidal properties that allows the use of it for the prevention of acne inflammation.
For best results – intensive course 3-5 treatments, once every two-four weeks, followed by one treatment every tree-six months.
A-PRP for Hair loss & Androgenetic Alopecia by RegenKit®-BCT
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), a patterned hair loss in both males and females, is a commonly occurring disease worldwide. Conventionally, no curative or satisfactory treatment is available for this condition. Therefore, in the current study, we aim to use platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as an alternative treatment option for the AGA patients.
The growth factors contained within the alpha granules of platelets act on stem cells in the bulge area of the hair follicles and stimulate the development of new follicles along with neovascularization.
Activated platelets are understood to release numerous growth factors and cytokines from their alpha granules as part of the wound healing process. Platelets in PRP become activated when injected into the scalp and release multiple growth factors, which promote hair growth. These growth factors play a role in fibroblast activation, collagen synthesis, stimulation of the extracellular matrix, and overexpression of endogenous growth factors.
Growth factors including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) are released by activated platelets in PRP and believed to promote cell proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis, and chemotaxis that is necessary for new hair regrowth. IGF-1 has been shown to induce and prolong the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle. Platelets also contain dense granules that contain bioactive factors to increase membrane permeability and modulate inflammation. Dense granules contain serotonin, histamine, dopamine, calcium, and adenosine that increase membrane permeability and modulate inflammation.
For best results – intensive course once every two weeks for 6-12 months.