Platelet-rich plasma: a healing virtuoso

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous product that concentrates a large number of platelets in a small volume of plasma [1,2]. PRP has long been used in hospitals to accelerate the body's own healing process, but it is only fairly recently that advances in technology have allowed this same technique to be used in the clinics as well. The blood platelets perform several essential functions in the body, including blood clot formation and the release of growth factors that help to heal wounds. These growth factors stimulate the stem cells to produce new host tissue as quickly as possible, which explains PRP is so effective in the post-treatment healing process. This unique property of PRP speeds up the healing process at the cellular level and there is virtually no risk for allergic reaction or rejection because patient's own blood is used.