Platelet Rich Plasma: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy is known to cure some medical conditions sooner than the conventional ways. Athletes are increasingly opting for this therapy for conditions like sprained ankles or knees, tennis elbow, chronic tendon injuries etc. as they are able to return to competitions much more quickly. The therapy cannot be done for every injury and on all parts of the body. Your overall health will also be considered before the treatment. Whether your injury is chronic or acute also changes the course of this therapy.

Our blood consists of liquid plasma and some solid components like red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Platelets are generally known to clot blood in your body. However, they also carry hundreds of proteins that are necessary to heal the injuries of your body. During the preparation of this therapy, blood is drawn from the patient and the platelets are separated from other blood cells. They go through a process called centrifugation wherein, their concentration is increased 5-10 times. Plasma, with increased concentration of platelets, is added back to the remaining blood. It is then, injected exactly into the injured area in order to speed up the process of healing.

If you have had injuries like sprained ankles or knees, tennis elbow, chronic tendon injuries, acute ligament or muscle tear, knee arthritis or fracture, you may go for this therapy. Also, this is a good option if you want your injury to heal faster than it will through the conventional way of treatment.

Minor injuries can be treated through pain reliever pills or ointments. You need not go for this complicated therapy for them.

You may experience increased pain in the injection site for the next few days.

The outcome and effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma therapy totally depend upon the post-treatment care. Some of the preventive measures that need to be followed after the procedure for a long-term result of the therapy include quitting habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption as well as the use of prescribed chemicals on the affected area to enhance the effect of the treatment.

Follow the guidelines provided by your doctor. You might have to take some pills or apply certain ointments for a few days. Your physical therapist will also suggest you some exercises that you must do in order to keep your limbs active.

The recovery time depends on your age, the severity of your injury and the area of your injury.

A platelet rich injection may cost you anywhere between ₹30000 - ₹ 80000 depending on the severity of your condition and the area of injury.

There are no definite proofs as yet to show 100% effectiveness of plasma rich injections. However, the results of successful treatments have been mostly permanent.

Platelet-rich plasma therapy is an advanced technique that has been getting used on a large scale these days, for several purposes such as hair transplantation, cosmetic needs, and healing of wounds. The cost of treatment usually depends upon location, qualification of the doctor who will perform the procedure, and equipment. However, the estimated price varies in a range of 500 to 2000 dollars.

You can go for conventional ways to treat your injury like physio therapy, pain killers, surgeries etc.

Summary: Platelet-rich plasma therapy is an advanced technique that has been getting used on a large scale these days, for several purposes such as hair transplantation, cosmetic needs, and healing of wounds. It is quite a safe process, although it has not been proven 100% effective till now. Some of the preventive measures that need to be followed after the procedure for a long-term result include quitting habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption as well as the use of prescribed chemicals on the affected area to enhance the effect of the treatment.