Why Is PRP Becoming So Popular?

For years, medical researchers have been excited about the promise of regenerative medicine. Essentially, this medical field unlocks new treatments that leverage our body’s own healing capability. 

In recent years, regenerative medicine has yielded one particularly exciting solution to a variety of health woes. It’s called platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and it uses the platelets in your blood to drive regeneration where you need it. 

Dr. Jonathan D. Carlson and our team offer PRP right here at Hawai’i Pain and Spine on the Windward side of O’ahu in Kailua. At our office, Dr. Carlson can help you determine if this groundbreaking treatment could help with your specific health issue. 

There are a few reasons why he might recommend it for you — and why so many people choose it for themselves.

1. PRP is natural

PRP doesn’t use synthetic ingredients. Instead, Dr. Carlson creates the PRP from a very small sample of your own blood. Using a centrifuge, he separates your platelets from the other components in the blood.

Your body uses platelets as part of its healing processes. If you cut yourself, for example, it directs platelets to the area. Those platelets help your blood clot, but they also suffuse the area with growth factors, proteins that signal to your cells to start their regenerative work. 

In other words, PRP gives you a way to stimulate and support your body’s natural healing ability.

2. PRP is safe

Because PRP comes from your own blood, it slashes the risks of side effects and complications. You don’t need to worry about any potential allergies or contraindications because you’re not introducing any foreign substances into your body with this treatment.

3. PRP is minimally invasive

Another major benefit of PRP comes from its delivery method. Once Dr. Carlson makes the PRP, he administers it by injecting it into strategic locations. If you have a knee injury, for example, he may inject it into several spots in and around your knee. 

Because no incisions are required, you don’t need to worry about any significant downtime. You might feel achy or sore at the treatment area for a few days, but you shouldn’t need to miss any work. 

4. PRP works

PRP can deliver results for a wide variety of use cases. Today, Dr. Carlson can apply it for:

• Muscular injuries
• Joint issues, including osteoarthritis
• Tendon and ligament problems, including tendonitis
• Postsurgical healing

Whether you recently hurt yourself or you’ve been dealing with chronic pain, PRP could give you a natural, safe, effective way to address the issue with minimal downtime. To find out if it’s right for you, call our office to schedule an appointment today.