Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: Costs, Side Effects, And Treatment

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Medical News TodaySubscribeWhat you need to know about platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy

Medically reviewed by Catherine Hannan, M.D. — Written by Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA — Updated on January 3, 2025

How does it work?
How it works
What are the benefits?
How much does it cost?
Side effects
Summary

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a controversial treatment that uses a concentrated form of a person’s platelets to promote healing and regeneration in various tissues.

PRP is becoming increasingly popular in sports science and dermatology. While clinical studies have shown promise for this therapy, its effectiveness varies depending on the condition that doctors are treating, the preparation of the PRP, and the individual factors of the person receiving treatment.

More robust research is necessary to standardize its use and determine its long-term efficacy.

What is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy?

A lab technician putting samples of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) into a centrifuge. — Jonathan Pow/Getty Images

PRP therapy is a medical treatment that utilizes a concentrated form of a person’s platelets to promote healing and regeneration in various tissues. It has uses in fields such as orthopedics, dermatology, sports medicine, and aesthetics.

To date, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved the use of PRP in bone graft treatments. However, doctors may use the technique to address various other health issues.

Some doctors are now using PRP therapy to encourage hair growth, promote muscle healing, and treat symptoms of arthritis.

Other medical professionals oppose the use of PRP outside its approved medicinal uses. For example, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the Arthritis Foundation (AF) strongly recommend against its use in treating knee or hip osteoarthritis (OA).

How does platelet-rich plasma (PRP) work?

Platelets are blood cells that play an important role in wound healing. They help form clots to stop bleeding and can support cell growth.

To prepare a PRP injection, a doctor will take a sample of a person’s blood. They will seal this sample in a container and place it in a centrifuge.

This device spins at such a high speed that the blood sample separates into component parts, one of which is PRP.

The healthcare professional will then extract this plasma and prepare it for administration.

Research suggests that injecting areas of inflammation or tissue damage with high concentrations of platelets can encourage new tissue growth and promote overall cellular healing.

For instance, doctors may mix PRP with other bone graft therapies to enhance tissue repair. Doctors may also use PRP therapies to treat other muscular, skeletal, or skin conditions.

What are the benefits?

Some examples of treatment areas where doctors use PRP include:

Hair growth

Injecting PRP into the scalp may help reduce inflammation that can lead to hair loss.

For example, a 2022 review concluded that PRP treatments significantly increase both hair density and hair thickness.

Another 2022 review suggested that this technique is a promising and safe treatment option for various types of hair loss, including:

androgenetic alopecia
female pattern hair loss
alopecia areata
cicatricial alopecia

However, the review highlights the need for further research to standardize PRP preparation, dosage, injection techniques, and treatment schedules for optimal results.

Tissue healing

Doctors may use PRP injections to help promote tissue healing.

A 2018 review noted that PRP therapies may help reduce pain and improve healing in ligament and tendon damage cases. Still, the authors concluded that more research is necessary to fully assess the treatment’s effectiveness.

Moreover, PRP therapies may aid in bone healing. However, studies in this area are inconclusive on the benefits of these treatments.

A 2021 review suggests that the lack of standardization in preparing and using PRP could be a factor in these inconclusive reports.

Inflammation reduction

Doctors may use PRP to reduce inflammation in people with OA and rheumatoid arthritis. This inflammation can lead to joints becoming painful and stiff.

However, the use of PRP to treat forms of arthritis is controversial. Both the ACR and the AF strongly recommend against using this method to treat knee or hip OA.

Additionally, because PRP injections are a newer therapy and generally do not have approval for any particular treatment, insurance does not cover them.

How much does PRP cost?

The cost of PRP therapy can vary widely depending on factors such as the treatment area, the number of sessions necessary, and the provider’s location.

In 2018, the cost of a single PRP treatment was typically between $500 and $2,500. A 2023 investigation stated that most PRP treatments cost around $1,000 per session in 2019. Some people may also require repeat treatments.

Costs can vary depending on location, facilities, and the doctor’s expertise performing the treatment. Additionally, few insurance plans cover the cost of PRP treatment.

Risks and side effects of PRP therapy

Doctors generally consider PRP therapy safe because it uses a person’s own blood, reducing the risk of allergic reactions or immune responses.

However, as with any medical procedure, there are potential side effects. These are typically mild and temporary but can vary depending on the treatment site and individual factors.

Possible side effects include mild pain or discomfort and minor bruising or bleeding at the injection site.

Less common side effects may include infection and the development of skin nodules at the injection site.

Other more general risks relate to the injection process. If a healthcare professional performs an injection incorrectly, it can cause tissue damage, nerve injury, or vascular occlusion. The latter refers to when the contents of the injection block a blood vessel.

Furthermore, there have been reports of PRP causing permanent blindness when people inject it into the face and nasal area near the eyes. This is rare but can occur if a vascular occlusion develops in an artery that supplies blood to the eyes.

Summary

While platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has shown potential promise in some clinical studies, its effectiveness varies depending on the condition, preparation, and individual patient factors.

PRP may be effective in wound healing, hair growth, and dermatology. However, more robust research is necessary to standardize its use and determine its long-term efficacy.

Usually, medical insurance does not cover PRP injections, which can become expensive if repeat treatments are necessary.

Medical Innovation
Blood / Hematology
Cosmetic Medicine / Plastic Surgery
Sports Medicine / Fitness

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

2021 biological device application approvals. (2022).https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/development-approval-process-cber/2021-biological-device-application-approvals
Badsha H, et al. (2020). Platelet rich plasma for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: Case series and review of literature.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2020/8761485
Chen X, et al. (2018). The efficacy of platelet-rich plasma on tendon and ligament healing: A systematic review and meta-analysis with bias assessment.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6339617/
Dashore S, et al. (2021). Preparation of platelet-rich plasma: National IADVL PRP taskforce recommendations.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8664176/
Evans AG, et al. (2022). Platelet-rich plasma as a therapy for androgenic alopecia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32410524/
Everts P, et al. (2020). Platelet-rich plasma: New performance understandings and therapeutic considerations in 2020.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7589810/
Jones IA, et al. (2018). The economics and regulation of PRP in the evolving field of orthopedic biologics.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6220002/
Kolasinski SL, et al. (2020). 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation guideline for the management of osteoarthritis of the hand, hip, and knee.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/art.41142
Magruder ML, et al. (2023). Trends in utilization, demographics, and costs of platelet-rich plasma injections: A ten-year nationwide investigation.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36755520/
Paichitrojjana A, et al. (2022). Platelet rich plasma and its use in hair regrowth: A review.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8922312/
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP). (2022).https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/platelet-rich-plasma-prp
Van Lieshout EMM, et al. (2020). Effect of platelet-rich plasma on fracture healing.https://www.injuryjournal.com/article/S0020-1383(20)31032-9/fulltext

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Medically reviewed by Catherine Hannan, M.D. — Written by Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA — Updated on January 3, 2025

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What is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy?

How does platelet-rich plasma (PRP) work?

What are the benefits?

Hair growth

Tissue healing

Inflammation reduction

How much does PRP cost?

Risks and side effects of PRP therapy

Summary

How we reviewed this article:

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