In this article, we will explore what PRP Kit is used for. Nowadays, many aesthetic clinicians offer platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy as a less invasive procedure compared to others to rejuvenate the skin and combat hair loss. PRP is an advanced treatment option that harnesses the body's own healing ability to promote cell repair, collagen regeneration, and tissue rejuvenation.
But how is platelet-rich plasma therapy prepared? This is where the PRP kit comes into play. What is the significance of the PRP kit? Autologous blood from the patient is used in PRP, which is centrifuged in a high-speed machine to obtain plasma solution rich in platelets containing a high concentration of growth factors. Despite requiring several injections, PRP is a completely safe and low-risk procedure that can treat various cosmetic conditions.
The Scope of PRP Kit and PRP Therapy
Platelet-rich plasma therapy is a type of regenerative medicine that can treat acute sports injuries such as torn tendon problems. It also has positive effects on musculoskeletal injuries and chronic pain conditions (such as knee arthritis). However, innovations in cosmetic medicine have also shown that PRP improves symptoms of skin aging and promotes hair growth.
Unlike other cosmetic injections using neurotoxins or fillers, a PRP serum is produced from the patient's own blood. Platelets are a key component of blood containing numerous proteins or growth factors that play a crucial role in healing cell and tissue damage. When injected into the desired treatment area, PRP can help accelerate soft tissue healing and repair in your body, promoting the development of new cells.
How to Use PRP Kit?
The process of preparing a platelet-rich plasma injection is simple and involves three basic steps:
Blood collection: The first step of any PRP procedure is to collect a blood sample. Using a small needle, the provider will draw a small amount of blood from the patient. Typically, the amount of blood drawn will depend on what is being treated and where the serum will be injected.
Centrifuge to isolate platelet-rich plasma: The blood sample is stored in a small bottle or tube and then placed in a centrifuge machine to initiate the platelet separation process. The machine will spin at high speeds, allowing concentrated platelets to swim on top of the plasma fluid while other blood cells are isolated at the bottom.
Prepare PRP serum for injection: Centrifugation will typically yield a serum containing a higher concentration of platelets than what is found in normal blood. The provider will collect this serum in a syringe and immediately inject it into the patient.
Ways to Separate Platelet-Rich Serum from Blood
Clinicians can use different methods to produce a plasma sample with a high platelet count. Various PRP kits are available to facilitate the centrifugation process, each using unique segregation techniques to obtain platelet-rich plasma serum. Here are three ways to extract the PRP solution from blood:
Gel separator system
This process is one of the easiest ways to separate plasma and platelets from the entire volume of blood. This technique works by essentially spinning the blood in a test tube filled with a gel substance. The idea here is for the other blood cells to remain in the other section while using osmosis to capture the platelets in a gel layer. One drawback of this gel-based separator system is that it may result in plasma with low platelet concentration.
Single spin, buffy coat system
This system creates a thin layer known as a buffy coat, which contains white blood cells and a concentration of platelets. To obtain this thin layer, the blood sample is spun very rapidly to separate the blood cells into three layers. The top layer contains plasma fluid, followed by WBCs and platelets in the middle, and separated red blood cells at the bottom. Buffy coat-based kits provide at least 5 to 7 times higher platelet concentration than normal for PRP injections.
Double spin, buffy coat system
Adding a second soft spin to the initial buffy coat procedure completely isolates platelets from red blood cells. With just one spin, there are still significant amounts of red blood cells present in the serum. Taking them out for another centrifuge will remove them completely and leave almost pure platelets in the plasma solution.
Factors That May Affect PRP Injection Concentration
There are several factors that may affect the final product of the centrifugation process for PRP. Clinicians should consider specific variables such as the patient's normal blood and platelet levels, the centrifuge method, and the use of additives for platelet activation, in addition to fully understanding the entire PRP procedure.
Composition of the patient's blood
The number of platelets present in whole blood can vary from person to person. If an individual has a specific medical condition that affects their platelet production and function, PRP therapy may not be effective for them. Therefore, it is important to consult with a clinician to determine whether a patient has immune issues and bleeding disorders that may affect PRP treatment.
Rotational speed and duration
There is no standard protocol for centrifugation, and clinicians may adopt their own methods depending on what works in their practices. However, it is important to note that the rotational speed of the blood sample may affect the separation of platelets and blood cells. This depends on centrifugation force and speed.
Addition of anticoagulants
To help activate blood proteins and platelets, some clinicians may also choose to add compounds that can enhance the regenerative properties of growth factors during the preparation process. Some of the additives they can include are anticoagulant agents that prevent blood clotting during the preparation process. Compounds like thrombin and calcium chloride can stimulate platelet activation to enhance the healing factors of PRP injection.
Why Is PRP Kit Becoming So Popular?
The astonishing therapeutic effects of PRP growth factor injections have made them increasingly used to provide pain relief, restore joint function, and improve quality of life in individuals with soft tissue injuries and musculoskeletal disorders. Some of the common injuries that this procedure can help treat include:
Joint conditions like knee osteoarthritis
Tennis elbow
Ankle pain
Discogenic pain and degenerative disc disease
Acute or chronic muscle injuries
Torn muscles and ligaments
Injured knees, knee sprains
Chronic tendon injuries
Nerve injuries like sciatica
PRP is also offered in many aesthetic practices alongside clinical applications for facial rejuvenation and hair loss treatment.