PRP Therapy (Platelet-Rich Plasma)
Autologous platelet-rich plasma — the patient's own blood, concentrated and delivered where the tissue needs it. A focused, low-risk regenerative protocol for tendinopathy, early osteoarthritis, and select soft-tissue injuries.
- Class
- Cellular biologic
- Source
- Autologous
- Delivery
- Image-guided injection
- Role
- Standalone or adjunct
01 About
What it is.
Platelet-rich plasma is a concentrate of the patient's own platelets, prepared in-clinic by drawing a small volume of blood and centrifuging it to isolate the platelet layer. The resulting preparation contains 4–7× the platelet concentration of normal blood — a dense reservoir of growth factors waiting to be released at a target site.
PRP is autologous: it cannot be rejected, cannot transmit disease from a donor, and carries no risk of allergic reaction. It is the most accessible biologic in regenerative medicine, with the longest clinical track record and the lowest barrier to entry — and at Apex it is used as a standalone protocol or as an adjunct to allogeneic stem cell and exosome therapy.
02 How it works
How PRP works.
When platelets are activated at a tissue site they release a calibrated cocktail of growth factors — PDGF, TGF-β, VEGF, EGF, IGF-1 — that drive the early phases of repair: vascular ingrowth, fibroblast recruitment, modulation of inflammation, and matrix remodeling. Concentrated PRP saturates the local environment with these signals far above what circulating blood would deliver.
Image-guidance is essential. PRP injected blindly may not reach the tendon, ligament, or joint surface that requires it. We deliver under ultrasound guidance, with documentation of needle placement — the difference between a treatment that works and a treatment that doesn't is often a few millimeters of needle position.
03 What the research shows
What the studies show.
PRP has the deepest clinical evidence base of any regenerative biologic — with the strongest published outcomes in tendinopathy, mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis, and select soft-tissue injuries.
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Platelet-rich plasma versus active control for chronic lateral epicondylar tendinopathy
A multicenter RCT of 230 patients with chronic tennis elbow comparing leukocyte-rich PRP to active needling control. At 24 weeks the PRP group reported significantly greater pain reduction and improved tenderness — the strongest tendinopathy data to date.
Read on PubMed -
Platelet-rich plasma versus hyaluronic acid for knee osteoarthritis
A pooled analysis of 18 randomized trials covering 1,427 patients with symptomatic knee OA. PRP outperformed hyaluronic acid in pain and function scores at 6 and 12 months, with no increase in adverse events.
Read on PubMed -
Platelet-rich plasma for plantar fasciitis
Pooled randomized trial data found PRP injections produced superior pain reduction at 3 and 6 months compared to corticosteroid injection — with the effect persisting longer and a more favorable safety profile.
Read on PubMed
PRP performs best in tendinopathy and early-to-moderate joint disease. In late-stage end-of-the-road OA or full-thickness tears, the published response is smaller — and we'll tell you when stem cells, surgery, or a structured PT program is the better next step.
04 Are you a candidate
Who's a candidate. Who isn't.
Candidates:
- Chronic tendinopathy: lateral and medial epicondylitis, patellar tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy, gluteal tendinopathy.
- Mild-to-moderate knee, hip, or shoulder osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1–3).
- Plantar fasciitis that has not responded to 6+ weeks of conservative care.
- Patients who prefer an autologous-only approach, or who want a lower-cost first step before considering stem cell therapy.
When we will not recommend it:
- Active local or systemic infection.
- Hematologic disorders (severe thrombocytopenia, platelet dysfunction).
- Active malignancy at the treatment site.
- Patients on anticoagulation that cannot be paused safely — reviewed individually.
- End-stage joint disease where surgery is the more appropriate answer.
Think you might be a candidate?
The first step is a 60–90 minute consultation. We review your imaging, history, and goals — and tell you honestly whether this is the right next step.
05 A patient experience
Dr. Abdullah was so upfront about stem cells and what I needed and didn't need. My tennis elbow finally got better!
Huda Khan Google · 5.0
07What happens at your consultation
A conversation, not a sales meeting.
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01
Intake & history
60–90 minutes. We review imaging, prior treatments, current medications, and goals. Most of this hour is listening.
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02
Focused exam
A clinical exam tailored to your indication. Range of motion, strength, functional testing — what the literature actually predicts response on.
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03
Honest candidacy review
If we think you're a candidate, we'll tell you why. If we don't, we'll tell you what we'd recommend instead — surgery, PT, watchful waiting.
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04
Written plan & pricing
A defined treatment plan with modality, sequence, follow-up cadence, and total cost — before any commitment.
06 What treatment looks like
What treatment looks like.
A typical PRP protocol begins with a brief in-clinic blood draw (around 20–60 mL), centrifugation while the patient waits, then targeted injection under ultrasound guidance. The full visit runs about 60–90 minutes.
Most indications respond best to a series of 2–3 injections spaced 4–6 weeks apart, depending on the tissue and the published protocol. We define the schedule in writing before any commitment, reassess at 3 months, and adjust based on what we observe — never on what we hoped for.
09 Common questions
PRP Therapy (Platelet-Rich Plasma), answered.
How is PRP different from stem cell therapy?
PRP is autologous — it uses your own platelets to deliver growth-factor signaling. Stem cell therapy uses screened allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells, which are biologically more active and modulate the local immune environment more deeply. PRP is a focused, lower-cost protocol; stem cells are deployed when the tissue requires more. Many patients use PRP first; some use both, sequenced.
How many sessions will I need?
Most protocols are 2–3 injections spaced 4–6 weeks apart, with reassessment at 3 months. The exact number depends on the tissue, severity, and response to the first dose. The full schedule is defined in writing before any commitment.
Why use my own blood?
Autologous biologics carry essentially no rejection or transmission risk. Your platelets are already calibrated to your physiology. The tradeoff is that PRP's potency depends on your own platelet biology — for very inflamed or poorly responsive tissue, allogeneic stem cells are sometimes the better tool.
Does it hurt?
There is mild discomfort during the injection — comparable to a routine cortisone injection. Most patients describe a deep ache for 24–72 hours afterward as the local inflammatory response begins. We provide post-procedure instructions and time the visit so you don't drive home in pain.
When will I see results?
Initial improvement typically begins around 4–6 weeks. The full response builds over 3–4 months as the tissue remodels. Tendinopathy and ligament injuries often respond more slowly than joint pain — we calibrate expectations honestly at the consultation.
Are there risks or side effects?
The most common side effects are mild post-injection soreness, bruising, and transient swelling for 48–72 hours. Serious adverse events are rare across the published RCT literature. We review your specific risk profile — anticoagulation, autoimmune status, prior infections — at the consultation.
10 Coverage & cost
PRP is not covered by insurance. Pricing is discussed directly, in writing, before any commitment — no subscriptions, no recurring charges. Financing options are available for protocols not covered. We never hold a pricing conversation until we know you're a candidate.
Begin with a consultation.
A 60–90 minute first visit. Imaging review, history, and a frank conversation about whether PRP is the right tool for your indication — and what we'd recommend if it isn't.