What is platelet-rich plasma?
Blood is made of red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and platelets. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is the name given to blood plasma with a high concentration of platelets that contains huge doses of bioactive proteins, such as growth factors, that are critical in the repair and regeneration of tissues. “In order to extract these platelets, a small amount of blood is drawn from the patient and it immediately undergoes centrifugation, a process in which mixtures are separated using centripetal force,” explains Dr. Ahmad. “This process separates out red blood cells, which carry oxygen, and the platelet and the plasma. The platelets with the plasma have all of the healing agents. Once we’ve done the separation, we extract the platelet-rich plasma that can then be injected back into the patient’s injured area. It is their own platelet-rich plasma — it isn’t taken from another person or derived in a laboratory.” Growth factors can dramatically enhance tissue recovery and the special pr
