if you are getting PRP injections for hair loss on your scalp, you may need about 20 ml of blood to make 4 ml of PRP per injection site.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has gained popularity as a natural way to rejuvenate skin, particularly when it comes to reducing dark circles and wrinkles around the eyes.
However, the effectiveness of PRP treatment largely depends on the amount of plasma used. While too little plasma may not yield significant results, excessive amounts can lead to potential side effects.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the ideal amount of plasma for under eyes and how to maximize the benefits of PRP treatment while minimizing any risks.
How Do Doctors Make PRP?
To make PRP, doctors need to take a small amount of blood from your arm using a needle and a syringe. Don’t worry, it’s not much more than what you would give for a regular blood test.
The blood sample is then placed in a special machine called a centrifuge that spins it very fast. This separates the blood into different layers based on their density.
The bottom layer is called red blood cells (RBCs), which carry oxygen around your body.
The middle layer is called white blood cells (WBCs), which fight infections and inflammation. The top layer is called plasma, which contains platelets and other proteins.
The doctor then takes some of the plasma from the top layer and transfers it to another tube.
This plasma has more platelets than normal because some of them were separated from the RBCs during the spinning process. This is called platelet-rich plasma or PRP.
How Much Plasma Do You Need for PRP?
The amount of plasma you need for PRP depends on several factors, such as:
- The size of the area being treated
- The severity of the condition
- The concentration of platelets in the PRP
- The number of injections needed
There is no fixed rule for how much plasma you need for PRP, but generally speaking, most doctors use about 15 to 60 milliliters (ml) of blood to make 3 to 10 ml of PRP per injection site.
For example, if you are getting PRP injections for hair loss on your scalp, you may need about 20 ml of blood to make 4 ml of PRP per injection site.
If you have four injection sites on your scalp (frontal hairline, temples, crown, and back), then you would need about 80 ml of blood total to make 16 ml of PRP total.
What Are the Benefits and Risks of PRP Injections?
PRP injections have many potential benefits for various conditions because they can:
- Stimulate new tissue growth
- Reduce inflammation
- Increase blood flow
- Enhance healing
- Decrease pain
Some examples of conditions that may benefit from PRP injections are:
- Tendon injuries (such as tennis elbow or jumper’s knee)
- Muscle injuries (such as hamstring strains or calf tears)
- Joint injuries (such as rotator cuff tears or meniscus tears)
- Osteoarthritis (especially in the knee)
- Hair loss (especially male pattern baldness)
However, like any medical procedure, there are also some possible risks associated with PRP injections such as:
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Bruising
- Allergic reaction
- Nerve damage
How to Minimize These Risks?
To minimize these risks, it is important to follow your doctor’s instructions before and after getting PRP injections such as:
- Avoid drinking alcohol or smoking for at least 24 hours before getting PRP injections because they can affect blood clotting.
- Apply ice packs to the injection site after getting PRP injections to reduce swelling and pain.
- Rest in the treated area for a few days after getting PRP injections to allow healing.
Conclusion
As scientists keep learning more about plasma for under eyes, they’ll find even better ways to use it for different problems. By keeping up-to-date with the latest research and listening to doctors, people can get the most out of PRP.
Whether someone wants to get rid of pain or heal faster, PRP can help. So, if someone wants to try it, they should talk to a doctor and see if it can help them.
