PRP Therapy

PRP Injections - Platelet Rich Plasma in Regenerative Medicine

Whether as a treatment for hair loss, for musculoskeletal conditions like knee osteoarthritis or for skin rejuvenation in aesthetic dermatology -  Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy, a type of orthobiologic therapy, has gained increasing popularity in recent years with widespread use in diverse medical fields, including orthopaedic medicine and cosmetic and aesthetic medicine. PRP refers to the concentration of platelets and growth factors extracted from the patient's own blood that can trigger cell reproduction, stimulate tissue repair and tissue healing when re-injected into the skin of the treatment area. Often only a few ml of the platelet-rich portion of the patient's blood are sufficient to alleviate or even eliminate a patient's complaint. In contrast to many medications, platelet-rich plasma is a completely natural component of the patient's own body, which makes side effects very rare for this form of autologous blood therapy.

PRP Preparation

Platelet-rich plasma refers to a concentrate of platelets obtained from a patient's blood sample. This contains blood plasma from which both the red and the white blood cells have been filtered out. For the production process, venous blood is first taken from the patient, for example from the arm vein. The blood is then centrifuged to reliably separate the cellular components from the plasma by varying the relative centrifugal force (RCF), temperature and time. This procedure is also used in the context of classic autologous blood therapy and is therefore considered tried and tested.

Citrate is often added to platelet-rich plasma tubes in order to prevent the blood from clotting inside the tube. The blood sample is placed in a centrifuge that rapidly spins the sample in order to obtain a platelet concentrate. This preparation has a very high concentration of growth factors with regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties which are important for wound healing. Medicine makes use of these properties in the context of PRP therapy, e.g. PRP injections to stimulate hair growth or advanced skin treatment for younger looking skin. Microneedling procedures can also be enhanced by applying platelet-rich plasma into the treated tissue. In the cosmetic industry both PRP and PRF treatments are very popular anti-aging treatments. PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) is similar to PRP, however it uses a different preparation process in a PRF centrifuge that causes a higher concentration of platelets and a stronger release of growth factors. PRF also contains fibrin, a protein that helps to support tissue repair and regeneration.

PRP Injection: How It Works / Uses

Platelet-rich plasma therapy is a non-surgical medical procedure used in many fields of human medicine, but also in veterinary and dental medicine. Platelet-rich plasma is injected locally into areas of the body to jump-start the body's healing abilities. When injected into the skin it contributes to regeneration at the injection site and promotes wound healing, among other things, e.g. in tendon injuries and acute sports injuries. This makes PRP applications particularly popular in the field of sports medicine and orthopaedic medicine. PRP is also an increasingly favoured treatment option in aesthetic dermatology. PRP application in cosmetic dermatology includes tissue regeneration, wound healing, repairing scar tissue, skin rejuvenation, and treating patients with alopecia. PRP is also a much safer alternative to dermal fillers and the results provided are typically even better. The exact mechanism of action of PRP therapy is still unknown, however experts assume that the interleukins contained in the blood plasma, which are among the body's own messenger substances of the cells of the immune system, stimulate and support the healing process in inflamed tissue, for example.

Furthermore, it has been known for a long time that platelets not only stimulate the formation of connective tissue, but also inhibit inflammation and can even have a cartilage-protecting effect. In addition to thickening the skin's epidermis, PRP therapy of the skin also induces fibroblast formation, which produces collagen. Plasma therapy is used for the following indications, among others:

PRP Centrifuges & Tubes

For PRP preparation a vacuum-sealed blood centrifuge tube – with or without the use of PRP gel or anticoagulant like sodium citrate – are absolute necessities. In our online shop you will find various PRP tubes from the manufacturers Disera and PRPmed. The Vacusera PRP Tubes with Gel are particularly popular. In addition to the anticoagulant sodium citrate, the blood collection tubes are equipped with a separating gel, which safely separates the cellular components of the blood from the plasma after centrifugation. This reliably prevents the red blood cells from mixing with the plasma again.

In addition to two blood collection tubes with a capacity of 8 ml each, the set also includes a practical resuspension tube for collecting the extracted PRP. This collection tube ensures a homogeneous end product, even after a longer standing time. A total of approx. 8 ml of PRP can be obtained by using both blood collection tubes of 8 ml each.

Centrifugation harnesses the principle of centrifugal force to speed up the natural sedimentation process and creates the ideal amount of platelet concentration. When purchasing a suitable PRP centrifuge, it should be ensured that it has a rotor that allows the special PRP tubes with a volume of 8 ml to be accommodated. In addition, it should be ensured that the centrifuge can reach the maximum speeds prescribed for the PRP tubes so that the separation of cellular blood components from plasma is reliable. In particular, PRP tubes with separating gel usually require higher speeds than tubes without separating gel. It is important to ensure that the selected centrifuge is an approved medical device. In our shop you will find, for example, the MEDIFUGE CGF centrifuge from the manufacturer Silfradent, which is approved as a medical device. The iFuge D06 Laboratory Centrifuge with microprocessor control and 25° angle rotor  is also suitable for the production of PRP.

PRP Equipment - Buy Online For Less

You would like to administer platelet-rich plasma injections in your practice, for example against hair loss? In this category you will find all the necessary materials for treatment. In addition to blood collection tubes, you may also purchase a centrifuge to suit your needs.

Do you have questions about PRP treatment or need advice on accessories for PRP therapy? Or perhaps you are looking for a particular PRP kit? Our friendly customer service will be happy to advise you. You can reach us via email, telephone or convenient live chat.