PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma)
Regeneration using the growth factors from your own blood
Definition
PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) is an autologous therapy that concentrates platelets and their growth factors (PDGF, TGF-β, VEGF, EGF, FGF) to 5–10 times normal blood concentration by centrifuging the patient's own blood. When reinjected into the target area (joint, scalp, facial dermis), these factors stimulate cell proliferation, collagen synthesis, and angiogenesis. It is the regenerative therapy with the most published evidence: over 10,000 studies.
Detailed explanation
PRP quality critically depends on three variables: centrifugation protocol (final platelet concentration, presence or absence of leukocytes), activation method (with thrombin or calcium for immediate degranulation vs. no activation for slow release), and injection volume.
Meta-analyses published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine confirm PRP's superiority over hyaluronic acid in knee osteoarthritis at 12 months, and its equivalence or superiority to corticosteroid injections (with a better long-term safety profile).
In androgenetic alopecia, three sessions spaced 4 weeks apart produce 35–40% increases in hair density in controlled studies, with 60–70% maintenance of the initial improvement at 12 months.
The PRP + MSC exosome combination is the most advanced protocol currently available for hair and joint regeneration: exosomes contribute 10× more signalling factors than PRP alone.
Scientific sources
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