ASK THE DOCTOR:
Can you explain what PRP is? BY STEVE LASATER, M.D.
A reader writes: Dr. Lasater, can you explain what PRP is? A friend had some treatments with this material, which she said is something in the blood, for rejuvenating her face. She was pleased with the results and soon afterwards went back to have the same treatment done in her breasts! Then, a couple of months after that, she went back yet again, this time to have a third treatment with this same material for help with her bothersome problem of losing bladder control. In addition, she said that it had definitely helped “something else” in that area. When I asked her what she meant, she merely replied “Never mind!” and walked away smiling! What can you tell me about this PRP? — An intrigued reader Dear Intrigued, Your friend has evidently had injections with Platelet-Rich Plasma, or PRP for short. This is a concentrated form of the plasma, a clear part of the blood that does not contain the red blood cells after blood is spun down. The plasma contains most of the platelets, which are the small cell fragments that play a major role in stopping bleeding. The platelets contain complex molecules called growth factors, which can recruit and activate the body’s stem cells, which are cells that serve a number of functions in various tissues. When the Platelet-Rich Plasma is injected into areas such as the face or the breasts, the growth factors in the plasma recruit stem cells, which in turn stimulate fibroblasts, another kind of cell present in various tissues, to produce more collagen, which is a protein that gives fullness and substance to the face, the breasts and many other tissues throughout the body. (Please forgive me for this rather technical description, but it is not a simple thing to describe.) Without sufficient collagen, our faces would just resemble skulls with tissue paper draped over them! The stem cells also help fat cells to increase in size, but in a good way, helping to fill areas where facial or breast volume has been lost over the years.
Platelet-Rich Plasma has also been shown useful for helping regrowth of hair on the scalp, where a series of three or four injection sessions are performed over several months. Regrowth of and thickening of the hair can be significant, but it is best done before the person has lost most of their hair. But its most interesting application, perhaps one that is somewhat controversial, is its use in the treatment of urinary incontinence due to insufficient bladder sphincter control. The PRP is placed around the urethra, through which the bladder empties. By increasing the volume of the tissues in this area, the woman regains control of her bladder and, because of how frustrating and embarrassing urinary incontinence can be, she can also thereby regain control of her life! But what, you ask, is the additional benefit that your friend was referring to? During the PRP procedure, some of the PRP is injected by the clitoris, thereby helping to increase blood flow there. This helps significantly to improve sexual response. In fact, the name for the use of PRP in the woman’s genital area derives from this effect: it is known as the “O-Shot®.” And no, I’m not going to explain that – you’ll just have to guess. But remember – you did say that she walked away smiling! Dr. Steve Lasater practices Age Management Medicine, with particular emphasis on bio-identical hormone replacement and the use of PlateletRich Plasma, at Optimal Wellness Medical Group in Grand Rapids.
The results from the use of Platelet-Rich Plasma are not immediate but take three or four months to be fully evident. It’s sort of like putting a slow-release fertilizer on the lawn. Compared to a product such as Botox®, Platelet-Rich Plasma used for facial rejuvenation will generally have a more dramatic and longer lasting effect. Botox® can help with wrinkles from overused muscles but cannot replace the volume which has been lost. PRP provides that volume. The most effective procedure for artistically improving the shape and fullness of the face consists of using a combination of PRP along with a modest amount of an injectable filler, a combination procedure called the Vampire Facelift®.
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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • December 2020
