FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
How does PRP work?
PRP is the blood fraction in which platelets are concentrated.
Thrombocytes are blood cells that are involved in blood clotting, wound healing and tissue regeneration. In case of injuries that cause bleeding, thrombocytes get activated releasing the proteins and growth factors (VEGF, IGF, FGF, PDGF, EGF, TGF-β) stored in their granules.
Growth factors involved in thrombocytes have the following functions:
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PDGF – cell growth, blood vessel regeneration, collagen synthesis
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FGF – tissue regeneration, collagen and hyaluronic acid synthesis
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EGF – epithelial cell formation and wound healing
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TGF - beta-epithelial and blood vessel epithelium wound healing
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VEGF – new vascular endothelial cell production
PRP provides more effective, faster and earlier recovery in the tissue it is injected by releasing more and faster growth factors than circulating whole blood does.
To whom PRP should not be applied?
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Patients with critical thrombocytopenia (Platelet count lower than 105/µl )
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Patients with platelet dysfunction syndrome
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Cancer patients
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Patients receiving anticoagulant therapy
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In case of chronic or acute infections
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Patients with chronic liver failure
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In case of septicemia
In above cases, patients should inform the physician about their diseases and treatments and should consult with the physician about the application.
Is PRP safe?
The tubes used in the PRP application should be medical devices that have undergone the necessary certification processes and have proven biocompatibility and sterility. The accessories included in the kits must be subjected to appropriate sterilization processes.
Products providing closed-system PRP application carry no risk of contamination because they do not allow contact of patient blood and collected PRP with external environment. When applied correctly, there is no risk of transmission of blood-borne diseases such as AIDS or hepatitis.
PRP is an autologous application, that is, PRP injected to the patient is obtained from the same patient's blood. Therefore, there are no major risks such as allergies or rejection.
As stated on the products, all materials used during the applications are single-use disposable materials. All materials must be disposed of as medical waste.
Is PRP painful?
During PRP application, mild heat, slight burning sensation and stretching sensation may be felt.
Needles used during PRP injection should be very fine-tip needles. However, pain sensitive patients can feel the entry of very fine needles on their skin. For these patients, pain can be reduced by measures such as applying cream and cold.
While everyone’s pain tolerances vary, patients report a range of discomfort from mild to moderate with PRP injections.