When talking to the expert consultant about your Platelet Rich Plasma procedure, one of the first questions you’ll likely have is about the PRP preparation. So how is the serum extracted from your blood? Is it safe? Is there any possibility of infections? How does the serum work? Read ahead to understand everything you need to know about the extraction process of the miracle PRP serum.
Step 1 – Harvesting a Sample of Blood
The first stage in the PRP preparation involves the harvesting of blood from your forearm. About 20ml to 60ml of your blood is sufficient to create enough Platelet Rich Plasma. That’s because the serum contains a concentration of platelets, growth factors, and stem cells and only very minute quantities need to be injected into the target areas for effective results.
Step 2 – Sophisticated Centrifugation Processes
Your blood is placed in individual specialized vacutainers that help to preserve the integrity of the blood and prevent it from clotting. These test tubes are then placed in the centrifugal device that continuously spins it at top speeds. As a result, the Red Blood Cells or RBCs separate and settle at the bottom in a dark layer. Above this layer is the thin layer or buffy coat of White Blood Cells or WBCs. You can identify it by its straw-colored gel-like appearance. Above this layer is the layer of platelets and WBCs.
Step 3 – Second Stage of the Centrifugation
After separating the layer of the RBCs, the upper layers are collected and placed in a sterile tube to prepare them for a second spinning. A few cells of RBCs are also added. After the spinning process is completed, the doctor can extract the Pure Platelet Rich Plasma that is found in the form of pellets at the bottom of the test tube. Only about a third or about 5ml of the solution at the bottom is the usable serum. The upper layer is the Platelet Poor Plasma that is discarded. Care is taken to separate the P-PRP quickly or the two layers can start to mingle within a short time.
Step 4 – Adding Other Compounds
Many doctors choose to add other compounds to enhance the healing properties of the serum during the PRP preparation process. Some compounds work to prevent the serum from clotting while others act like stimulants when the plasma is injected into the target site to activate the healing process. To help reduce the discomfort and possible pain you might feel after receiving the PRP injection, the doctor might choose to add painkillers and analgesics also. The PRP serum is now ready for administering.
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4338460/figure/F1/
Factors that can Affect the Efficacy Of the PRP
Several factors related to the PRP preparation process can influence the actual effectiveness of the serum. Your doctor might also choose to vary the procedures a little according to the specific medical or aesthetic issues you’re looking to treat. On rare occasions, patients have talked about not seeing any improvement at all. To ensure that you get the results you’re looking for, you should choose to work with a certified practitioner who has enough positive testimonials from past patients. Some of the factors that can affect how the serum works are:
- The speed at which the spinning is conducted and the number of times the test tube is rotated can affect the concentration of the platelets that the doctor can get from the process.
- The blood should be kept at a temperature of 21°C – 24°C or 12°C – 16°C for the most viable platelet collection.
- Compounds like citrate and dextrose of sodium citrate help to stop the serum from clotting while calcium chloride and thrombin contribute to speed up the healing process and assist in the formation of the platelet fibers on the basis of which new tissue generates. Adding the right compounds is important.
- The amount of the PRP serum injected during a single session, the intervals between consecutive sessions, and the total number of sessions you take can all affect how the treatment works on you.
Ensuring the Effectiveness of the Treatment
Your doctor is likely to take all the necessary precautions to ensure that the PRP preparation is conducted properly and the serum is administered according to the proper guidelines so that it gives you positive results.
- You will be given a list of simple precautions to take and medications to avoid in the weeks leading up to your scheduled appointment.
- The doctor will take care to prepare the serum as soon as the blood is harvested and give you the injection right after the serum is ready. These steps ensure that is no chance of the sample getting contaminated.
- In case you need more than one injection, a fresh batch of the serum is created each time. That’s because freezing and later, thawing the sample may not give you best results.
- The injections are always given with utmost precision. To make sure that the exact spot is targeted, your doctor will use an ultrasonic imaging diagnostic device.
Getting the PRP Treatment
Every Platelet Rich Plasma treatment session takes anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes to complete. You will not need to take time off from work or your regular activities since there is no downtime involved. If you do notice any after effects, they are typically very minor and settle within a few days.
Should You Opt for PRP?
The PRP preparation is a highly innovative process that has the potential to help you with many medical and aesthetic conditions. It can help patients that have been advised surgery recover without the need for the invasive measures. PRP is excellent for you if you cannot go in for conventional treatments because of allergies or any other causes. That’s because the serum is created from your own blood and your immune system is not likely to reject it. Try the PRP treatment, and you will be amazed at the results, a fact that many celebrities across the world will testify to.