Does PRP Actually Work? What the Research Really Says About Platelet-Rich Plasma

You've probably heard the claims. Celebrities swear by it. Your friend's cousin got "amazing results." The clinic down the road promises miracle hair regrowth. But here's the thing nobody tells you: not all PRP is created equal, and the difference between "it changed my life" and "I wasted my money" often comes down to three factors most patients never think to ask about.

Let's cut through the noise.

The Uncomfortable Truth About PRP Research

If you've been Googling "does PRP work," you've probably noticed something frustrating: some studies say it's brilliant, others say it's no better than placebo. What gives?

The answer is simultaneously simple and maddening: PRP isn't one treatment—it's hundreds of different protocols masquerading under the same name.

Think about it. When researchers in Melbourne use a basic tabletop centrifuge achieving 2x platelet concentration, and doctors in London use pharmaceutical-grade systems achieving 5x concentration, are they really testing the same treatment? Of course not. Yet both studies get labelled "PRP" in the medical literature.

This is why your hairdresser's sister-in-law had terrible results at that clinic in Essex, whilst someone else saw their bald spot fill in completely. Same diagnosis. Same treatment name. Completely different outcomes.

What Actually Matters: The Three Variables That Determine Whether PRP Works

1. Platelet Concentration (And Why Most Clinics Get This Wrong)

Here's a number that should matter to you: 4-5x baseline concentration.

That's the threshold where platelets deliver therapeutic levels of growth factors. Below that? You're essentially injecting expensive saline. Research published in multiple peer-reviewed journals confirms this repeatedly—yet walk into most clinics offering PRP, and they're using systems that barely reach 2-3x concentration.

Why? Because proper pharmaceutical-grade centrifuge systems cost significantly more than basic equipment. Most clinics quietly hope you won't know the difference.

At The London PRP Clinic, we use Swiss Regen, Magellan, and Angel Arthrex systems specifically because they're the only ones consistently achieving therapeutic concentration. It's not the cheapest way to do things. It's the only way that actually works.

2. Leukocyte Content (The Detail That Changes Everything for Joint Treatments)

Pop quiz: if you're getting PRP for knee arthritis, should your preparation be leukocyte-rich or leukocyte-poor?

Most patients have no idea this question exists. Yet according to a 2025 comprehensive review in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, leukocyte-poor PRP delivers superior outcomes for joint applications—fewer inflammatory side effects, better pain relief, improved function.

Leukocyte-rich formulations can trigger excessive inflammation in joints, undoing the very benefits you're paying for. But here's the problem: preparing leukocyte-poor PRP requires more sophisticated equipment and technique. Not every clinic bothers.

3. What Happens After the Injection (The Part Most Clinics Ignore)

Imagine spending £600 on PRP hair treatment, then going home and taking ibuprofen for a headache that evening. Congratulations—you've just sabotaged your own treatment. NSAIDs interfere with platelet function and healing cascades.

Or picture this: you get a vampire facial, then hit the gym hard the next day, lie in a tanning bed that weekend, and skip the medical-grade skincare because "it's expensive." Your results? Mediocre at best.

Here's what separates clinics that get results from those that don't: comprehensive protocols that address the entire healing environment.

This is why every treatment at The London PRP Clinic includes pharmaceutical-grade supplements—Viviscal® Professional for hair, glucosamine and marine collagen for joints, proper skincare guidance for facial treatments. We're not being upsell-happy. We're being honest about what actually works.

Let's Talk About the Research (Without the Medical Jargon)

Hair Restoration: What 87% Success Rate Actually Means

That frequently cited "87% of patients see improvement" statistic? It comes from trials using specific protocols: three treatments at monthly intervals, 4-5x platelet concentration, combined with complementary supplements and topical therapies.

Notice what's missing? Single treatments. Subtherapeutic concentrations. PRP alone without support.

The patients who see life-changing results follow evidence-based protocols. The ones disappointed by PRP usually got a watered-down version at a cut-rate clinic.

A 2021 systematic review in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology didn't just confirm PRP works for androgenetic alopecia—it specified exactly how it needs to be done. The clinics achieving 30-40% increases in hair count at six months weren't doing anything magical. They were simply following the actual science.

Joint Pain: Why Some Studies Show No Benefit

Remember that RESTORE trial everyone cites to claim PRP doesn't work for knee osteoarthritis? Here's what they don't tell you: the study used a specific PRP formulation in a specific patient population (moderate OA, average age 58, average BMI 28).

When researchers analysed multiple trials in a 2023 Frontiers in Medicine meta-analysis of 1,344 patients, they found PRP significantly outperformed both placebo and hyaluronic acid for pain and function—but effectiveness varied enormously based on preparation method and patient selection.

The consensus? PRP works brilliantly for mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis in appropriately selected patients using optimised leukocyte-poor formulations. It's not a universal solution. It's a targeted therapy that requires medical judgment.

Facial Rejuvenation: The Timeline Nobody Warns You About

Here's where many patients get frustrated: facial PRP doesn't work like Botox. You don't walk out with immediately tighter skin.

What you get instead is genuine collagen production—new tissue that takes 8-12 weeks to develop fully, continues improving through six months, and lasts 12-24 months rather than three.

The Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology documents this extensively. Patients who understand the timeline and commit to proper protocols see remarkable, natural-looking improvement. Those expecting instant gratification invariably feel disappointed.

The Questions You Should Ask (That Most Patients Don't)

Before booking PRP anywhere—including with us—ask these:

"What platelet concentration does your system achieve, and can you show me validation studies?"

If they can't answer or dodge the question, walk away. You're about to pay for theatre, not therapy.

"Do you use leukocyte-poor or leukocyte-rich PRP for my condition?"

For joints and facial treatments, you want leukocyte-poor. If they don't know what you're talking about, that's a problem.

"What's included beyond the injection itself?"

Legitimate protocols include supplements, aftercare products, and follow-up. If they're just injecting and sending you home, they're not following evidence-based practice.

"Who actually performs the treatment?"

In the UK, PRP is often delegated to nurses or aestheticians. At The London PRP Clinic, only qualified medical doctors perform treatments. The difference in outcomes isn't subtle.

Why Most Clinics Can't Match These Standards (And Won't Tell You)

Running a proper PRP clinic is expensive. Pharmaceutical-grade equipment costs tens of thousands. Proper training takes months. Medical-grade supplements aren't cheap. Hiring doctors instead of nurses impacts margins.

Most clinics do what makes business sense: invest in marketing, use basic equipment, delegate to less expensive staff, skip the supplements, and hope patients don't know enough to ask questions.

We made different choices. Our equipment costs more. Our doctors earn proper salaries. Our protocols include expensive supplements as standard. We turn away patients when PRP isn't appropriate, even though we could take their money.

These decisions make us less profitable than competitors. They also make us significantly more effective.

The Real Question: Are You Getting Actual PRP or Expensive Placebo?

This is what it comes down to. PRP absolutely works—when prepared correctly, administered properly, by qualified practitioners, using comprehensive protocols, in appropriate patients.

Strip away any of those elements and you're left with expensive disappointment.

We've seen patients come to us after failed treatments elsewhere. The pattern is always the same: subtherapeutic concentration, poor technique, no comprehensive protocol, wrong patient selection, or some combination thereof.

It's not that PRP didn't work. It's that they never actually received proper PRP.

What Happens at The London PRP Clinic

We're not going to pretend we're the only clinic in London doing this properly. But we are going to be honest about our approach:

Every treatment is performed by qualified medical doctors—not because we think nurses aren't capable, but because regenerative medicine requires medical judgment that only physicians can provide.

We use only pharmaceutical-grade PRP systems achieving validated 4-5x concentration—because using anything less is knowingly providing subtherapeutic treatment.

We include comprehensive supplement protocols as standard—Viviscal® Professional for hair, glucosamine and marine collagen for joints, proper skincare for facial treatments—because isolated injections don't produce optimal results.

We refuse treatments when they're inappropriate—advanced baldness with complete follicle loss needs transplant surgery, not PRP. Severe bone-on-bone arthritis needs orthopaedic consultation, not injections. We'll tell you this even though it costs us revenue.

These aren't marketing claims. They're our actual practice standards, and they're why our outcomes match published research rather than disappointing it.

Here's What We're Not Telling You

We're not claiming PRP is magic. We're not promising 100% success rates. We're not suggesting it works for everyone.

What we're saying is simpler: when PRP is done properly, in appropriate candidates, using evidence-based protocols, it produces meaningful, measurable results that improve quality of life.

The research supports this. Our clinical experience confirms it. Thousands of patients' outcomes validate it.

But you have to actually do it properly.

Make an Informed Decision

Look, you're going to make your own choice about where to get treatment. Maybe price is your primary concern. Maybe location matters most. Maybe you just vibe better with a different clinic.

We'd just ask one thing: whatever you decide, make sure you're comparing like with like. Ask about platelet concentration. Ask about preparation methods. Ask who performs the treatment. Ask what's included beyond the injection.

If you decide to work with us, you can book a free consultation via WhatsApp below. We'll assess whether you're actually a good candidate, explain exactly what our protocol involves, and give you realistic expectations about outcomes.

If you decide to go elsewhere, at least now you know what questions to ask.

Book your free consultation on WhatsApp

Questions People Actually Ask (With Honest Answers)

Is PRP just a placebo effect?

No, but here's the nuance: properly prepared PRP contains measurable concentrations of growth factors that trigger documented biological responses. This isn't faith healing—it's molecular biology. However, the placebo effect does exist in all medicine, including PRP. The question isn't whether placebo contributes to outcomes, but whether PRP provides benefits beyond placebo. Meta-analyses comparing PRP to saline injections show statistically significant differences favouring PRP, suggesting real biological effects beyond expectation.

Why do some studies show PRP doesn't work?

Because "PRP" isn't a standardised treatment—it's a category encompassing hundreds of different preparation methods, concentrations, and protocols. Studies using subtherapeutic concentrations or inappropriate patient populations often show minimal benefit. Studies using optimised protocols in appropriate candidates consistently show positive results. It's like asking "does medication work?"—the answer depends entirely on which medication, at what dose, for which condition.

How do I know if I'm actually getting good PRP?

Ask specific questions: What platelet concentration does your system achieve? (Answer should be 4-5x baseline.) What preparation system do you use? (Should be a recognised pharmaceutical-grade brand, not a generic centrifuge.) Is it leukocyte-poor or leukocyte-rich? (Depends on application, but they should know.) Who performs the treatment? (Should be a qualified doctor for optimal outcomes.) What's included beyond the injection? (Should include supplements and comprehensive aftercare.)

Can PRP make my condition worse?

Properly prepared PRP using autologous blood carries minimal risk of making conditions worse. The worst-case scenario with good PRP is typically no improvement, not deterioration. However, poorly prepared PRP with high leukocyte content can trigger excessive inflammation in joints. Contaminated PRP could theoretically cause infection, though this is extraordinarily rare with proper sterile technique. This is why preparation method and clinical standards matter enormously.

Why is there such a big price difference between clinics?

Because there's a massive quality difference. Pharmaceutical-grade PRP systems cost £15,000-40,000 versus £2,000 for basic centrifuges. Doctor-performed treatments cost more than nurse-delegated ones. Comprehensive protocols including supplements cost more than injection-only approaches. Some clinics invest in quality; others compete on price. You generally get what you pay for, though expensive doesn't automatically mean good—you still need to ask the right questions.

How long until I know if PRP worked for me?

Depends on application. Hair: reduced shedding within 4-8 weeks; new growth at 8-12 weeks; optimal results at 6 months. Joints: pain improvement typically 4-6 weeks for mild OA, potentially 3-6 months for moderate-severe cases. Facial: subtle improvement at 2-3 weeks; noticeable change at 4-8 weeks; optimal results at 3 months, continuing through 6 months. If you've seen zero change by these timeframes, either the treatment didn't work for your specific case or the preparation was inadequate.

Is PRP better than surgery/fillers/other treatments?

PRP isn't universally "better"—it's different. For hair: PRP stimulates existing follicles; transplant relocates them. Both have roles depending on loss pattern. For joints: PRP may delay surgery in mild-moderate OA; severe OA needs replacement. For face: PRP improves tissue quality; fillers add volume; Botox relaxes muscles. They address different problems. The question isn't which is "better" but which is appropriate for your specific situation.

What happens if I don't maintain treatments?

Hair: Loss patterns typically resume gradually over 6-18 months as genetic/hormonal factors reassert themselves. You won't suddenly lose all the hair you gained, but without maintenance, progressive miniaturisation continues. Joints: Benefits gradually diminish over 6-12 months. Facial: New collagen persists longer (12-24 months) but natural ageing continues. Maintenance doesn't mean you're dependent on treatment—it means the underlying condition (pattern baldness, arthritis, ageing) is ongoing and progressive.

Can I just get one treatment to try it?

You can, but here's the honest answer: single treatments rarely produce dramatic results. Most published research uses protocols of 2-3 treatments minimum. Single treatments might show modest improvement, but you're unlikely to experience the outcomes documented in clinical trials. It's like going to the gym once and expecting visible muscle growth. If budget is the concern, it's more effective to save for a proper protocol than to waste money on isolated treatments that underdeliver.

Why should I trust your clinic specifically?

You shouldn't blindly trust any clinic, including ours. Instead, verify claims. We say doctors perform all treatments—ask about their qualifications. We say we include supplements as standard—ask what's specifically included. We say we refuse inappropriate patients—ask us to explain when PRP isn't suitable. Any legitimate clinic should welcome these questions. If we can't back up our claims with evidence, take your business elsewhere. If we can, then you've made an informed decision rather than a faith-based one.

The London PRP Clinic | Marylebone • Canary Wharf • Belgravia