You may have heard about platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, as an alternative to surgery. You also may have done your own research and maybe even contacted a few regenerative medicine clinics for quotes. While these are all good things to do when researching platelet-rich plasma treatments, it’s important to understand that PRP can vary significantly in both quality and concentration. Not all PRP is the same, which is why our team at The Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine has invested significant resources into our team of board-certified physicians as well as our state-of-the-art facility to ensure we’re able to provide the highest quality PRP possible for our patients.
What Does “High Concentration PRP” Actually Mean?
For many years, most regenerative medicine clinics have used a bedside centrifuge system that automates the PRP process but offers no customization. This creates a standardized product that often requires multiple treatments to achieve the desired results. At The Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine, we use a different approach that includes:
- State-of-the-art in-house lab powered by equipment from industry leader, Greyledge Technologies
- Customized concentration based on individual patient needs
- Highly trained regenerative medicine laboratory technicians who are able to optimize each sample
- Cell counting is used to verify PRP potency before injection
By using this comprehensive approach, the team at The Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine is confident that we can provide a more concentrated PRP product that delivers more healing factors per injection.
One Treatment vs Multiple Treatments – What’s the Real Difference?
At The Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine, we do our best to limit most PRP treatments to just one visit. This is in contrast to other clinics that typically require as many as 2-4 treatments. This offers a number of benefits to patients including:
- Fewer office visits
- Less disruption to your everyday life
- Lower cost (especially if you account for one visit versus multiple visits)
- May offer faster recovery
When PRP Is the Right Choice
Below are a few examples of injuries that tend to respond well to platelet-rich plasma treatments. Keep in mind this list is not exhaustive.
- Overuse injuries
- Soft tissue injuries and tendinitis
- Plantar fasciitis
- Runner’s knee
- Tennis elbow
- Golfer’s elbow
- Achilles tendon issues
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Ligament sprains
- Meniscal injuries
- Labral tears
The Team Behind the Treatment
One of the keys to our clinic’s success is the extensive experience of each of our providers. When you schedule an appointment at our practice, you’ll likely see one of the following providers:
- Dr. Thomas Nabity – Founder, passion for optimizing regenerative medicine outcomes through the latest technologies.
- Dr. John Santa Ana – Board-certified PM&R, veteran, 10+ years EMG experience
- Dr. Robert Farhat – Board-certified PM&R and pain medicine, expert in non-surgical spine care
- Dr. Kevin Nemeth – Columbia-trained, double board-certified in anesthesiology and interventional pain medicine
- Dr. Chris Hannasch – board-certified in neuromusculoskeletal medicine and former director of MSU’s Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) clinic
- Dr. John Steele – Neurosurgical background, fellowship trained
Questions to Ask Any PRP Provider
If you’re interested in learning more about whether platelet-rich plasma could be a good option based on your health needs, there are several questions you should ask any provider to ensure you’re receiving the best possible quality of care. Some of the key questions we are more than happy to answer here at The Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine include:
- How many PRP treatments should I expect to have?
- Do you use a bedside centrifuge?
- Do you have an in-house regenerative medicine lab?
- Are your physicians board-certified in interventional orthobiologics?
- Do you perform injections using image or X-ray guidance?
- What concentration of PRP do you use?
When Considering PRP Treatment, Don’t Focus Just on Price
When you look for a PRP provider, you want to be careful to avoid only comparing prices. You also want to compare what you’re getting. High-concentration PRP administered by board-certified physicians like the team at The Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine can mean the difference between one treatment and multiple treatments, potentially getting back to a normal life much faster.
To schedule a consultation to determine if PRP is right for you, contact our office today at (248) 216-1008.
By Board-certified Christopher Hannasch, DO