PRP Therapy
PRP Therapy Services Offered in Houston, TX
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is one of the regenerative orthopedic treatments available at Alain E. Elbaz, MD, PLLC, in Houston, Texas. Dr. Elbaz is recognized as an expert in the field of regenerative orthopedics and started using PRP therapy in 2003 to alleviate pain, promote healing, and delay surgery. To learn more about PRP therapy from the expert, call or schedule an appointment online today.
PRP Therapy Q&A
What is PRP therapy?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a biological agent made from your blood that has a high concentration of platelets.
Your blood consists of plasma (liquid), red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Platelets form blood clots to stop cuts from bleeding. But they also have special proteins called growth factors that help the body’s healing process.
The blood that circulates in your body contains only 6% platelets. PRP contains 94% platelets and 5–10 times the concentration of growth factors found in normal blood, providing greater healing potential.
Am I a candidate for PRP therapy?
Dr. Elbaz determines if you’re a candidate for PRP therapy after a consultation. He uses PRP therapy to treat many orthopedic conditions such as muscle, ligament, and tendon injuries, as well as arthritis and fractures.
He uses PRP therapy to reduce pain and promote healing. For patients with arthritis, it may delay the need for joint replacement surgery.
Dr. Elbaz requests you stop taking all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) two weeks before your PRP therapy session. Anti-inflammatory medications may counteract the inflammatory process initiated by the PRP.
What happens during PRP therapy?
Dr. Elbaz draws blood from a large vein in your arm, which he then spins in a centrifuge machine that separates the platelets from the rest of the blood.
He cleans your skin with an antiseptic agent at the site of your therapy and injects a local anesthetic to minimize pain. Using ultrasound-guided imaging, Dr. Elbaz injects the PRP portion of your blood into the affected area.
What can I expect after PRP therapy?
You may feel some discomfort at the site of your injection for a few days after your PRP therapy. Dr. Elbaz recommends using cold compresses to alleviate symptoms. He also recommends you continue to refrain from using NSAIDs.
You can resume most of your usual activities after your PRP therapy, but need to avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting.
Dr. Elbaz believes in providing patients with the simplest, safest, and least expensive therapies to help them get back to doing the things they enjoy. To find out how PRP therapy can benefit you, call Alain E. Elbaz, MD, PLLC, or schedule an appointment online today.