What is PRP ?
Original discovery date of PRP
Platelet-Rich Plasma was discovered in Germany in 1960.
Indeed, Dr. Schulte described the possibility of treating wound defects with autologous blood.
To this end, his technique was first used in the early sixties, and a few years later, in 1968, this method with centrifuged blood was used to fill cysts.
However, this work received little international attention at the time.
Its history
The first use of PRP dates back to the late 1980s.
The first published report on its application was in 1987, involving open-heart surgery in Italy.
After this operation, PRP therapy began to gain popularity in the 1990s.
Today, it is applied for various needs in different fields, including medical applications such as sports medicine, dentistry, and aesthetics.
It is notably used in orthopedics, dermatology, for hair loss, and many other aesthetic domains.
PRP, what is it?
It can be defined as a platelet concentrate derived from a blood draw. It was developed in the 1990s to stimulate tissue repair phases.
PRP injections increase concentrations of growth factors found in platelets, which lead to fibroblast proliferation, which are factors in the healing process.
After disinfection, the concentrate is sterilely injected at the site of the injury.
It is a medical technique that involves reinjecting a portion of one's own blood to treat inflammation and accelerate healing.
Platelet-Rich Plasma is a treatment method originally reserved for high-level athletes for the past fifteen years.
It gained popularity due to media coverage of its use by celebrities like Tiger Woods, Rafael Nadal, and Neymar.
PRP is becoming more accessible to a broader audience today.
This technique must always be performed by healthcare and medical professionals.
PRP in-depth
PRP is a fraction of plasma obtained from autologous blood with an increased concentration of platelets.
It is obtained by centrifuging the blood and allows for the separation of red blood cells and white blood cells, which are removed to retain the platelets.
Once obtained, they are concentrated in order to have more of them.
The interest in injecting these platelets is that they release granules, proteins that facilitate the healing of lesions.
The benefits of injections
The expected benefits of the PRP procedure can vary from person to person.
It's important to know that it triggers the internal healing process, transitioning from an inflammation stage to collagen proliferation and ultimately fiber remodeling.
That's why discomfort may be experienced throughout the process.
This gradual progression makes the procedure span over several weeks, and improvements may be seen after 2 to 3 months. However, to observe a complete result, it can take up to 6 months.
In surgery, the objective of PRP is to reduce pain in order to regain a normal sensation.
However, these injections are no longer only used as pain treatment today. They are increasingly being used in the field of aesthetic medicine.
With its regenerative and healing properties, PRP allows for facial skin rejuvenation. Thus, it is used in anti-aging medicine by many surgeons.
PRP is also used to treat hair loss. Its injection slows down hair loss and stimulates regrowth.
This is achieved through the use of active growth factors contained in the application of the process to accelerate regrowth while directly affecting the stem cells in the follicle from which the hair originates.
Time to observe a result
Results following an injection can vary from one patient to another. In some cases, results may be noticeable as early as 2 or 3 days.
However, to be completely accurate, improvement can be assessed after a minimum of 1 month.
However, one case stands out, which is hair stimulation through injection. Indeed, from the first session, the patient may notice a decrease in hair loss.
Furthermore, they may occasionally experience hair regrowth a few months after the second session.
Adverse effects
There are unwanted effects of the treatment, but these do not present any major side effects.
The only potential issue is pain during needle insertion and transient pain for two to three days.
The only real risks lie in improper injection and equipment use.
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