PRP Science Explained Simply

You don't need a biology degree to understand why PRP produces the results thousands of patients are experiencing. You just need someone to explain it properly.

Here's what's actually happening inside your body when we inject platelet-rich plasma—the cellular mechanisms, growth factors, and biological processes that regenerate tissue.

Your Blood Contains Concentrated Repair Instructions

Blood isn't just red liquid. It's a sophisticated transport system carrying different cell types with specific functions.

Platelets are your repair crew. When you cut yourself, platelets rush to the wound and release proteins called growth factors—molecular signals telling surrounding cells: "Start repairing. Build new tissue. Form blood vessels. Close this wound."

The concentration principle:

Normal blood contains 150,000-400,000 platelets per microlitre. At these everyday levels, platelets handle routine repairs fine.

But they don't have enough growth factor density to trigger serious regeneration in damaged tissues—miniaturising hair follicles, degenerating cartilage, or ageing skin need more aggressive signalling.

PRP changes everything: Through pharmaceutical-grade centrifugation, we concentrate platelets to 4-5 times normal levels—potentially 1-2 million platelets per microlitre.

Instead of scattered repair signals, you have concentrated instructions telling cells: "Regenerate aggressively. Priority repair."

Your body responds with measurable tissue regeneration.

The Growth Factors That Create Results

When we inject concentrated PRP, we're delivering specific proteins that trigger regeneration:

PDGF (Platelet-Derived Growth Factor): Stimulates cell division and growth. Dormant follicle stem cells start dividing. Fibroblasts multiply and produce collagen. Cartilage cells become active.

TGF-β (Transforming Growth Factor-Beta): Controls inflammation and promotes tissue formation. Tells your immune system "this is controlled healing, not damage"—particularly important for joints where inflammation accelerates arthritis.

VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor): Creates new blood vessels. More blood flow means more oxygen and nutrients. In follicles, this supports energy-intensive hair growth. In skin, it improves complexion. In joints, it delivers nutrients to cartilage.

EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor): Accelerates cell regeneration. Critical for skin rejuvenation—improves texture, supports healing, enhances cellular turnover.

IGF-1 (Insulin-Like Growth Factor): Supports metabolism and tissue repair. Helps cells utilise nutrients efficiently for building new structures.

These aren't synthetic chemicals—they're proteins your body produces naturally, concentrated to therapeutic levels.

What Happens in Your Hair Follicles

Hair grows in cycles: anagen (growth, 2-7 years), catagen (transition, 2 weeks), telogen (resting, 3 months).

Pattern baldness progressively shortens anagen and lengthens telogen—follicles spend more time resting, producing increasingly fine, short hairs.

PRP reverses this:

Week 1-2: Growth factors bind to stem cell receptors in follicle bulge. Dormant stem cells start dividing, creating cells that become hair.

Week 2-4: New blood vessels form around follicles (VEGF working). Follicles shift from telogen to anagen—resting to active growth.

Week 4-8: Anagen phase lengthens. Follicles previously growing hair for 6 months now grow for 12+ months, producing longer, thicker hair.

Week 8-12: Visible new hair emerges. Existing miniaturised hairs increase diameter. Ratio of growing to resting follicles shifts favourably.

Month 3-6: Cumulative effects become dramatic—more follicles growing, producing thicker hair, for longer periods.

This isn't theory—trichoscopy and hair counts document it objectively.

What Happens in Your Skin

Ageing skin has declining collagen production, reduced elasticity, slower cell turnover, diminished blood flow. PRP reverses multiple aspects simultaneously.

The regeneration timeline:

Day 1-7: Growth factors activate fibroblasts—cells producing collagen and elastin. These shift from dormant to highly active.

Week 1-3: New collagen synthesis begins. Organised type I and III collagen providing structure and elasticity—not disorganised scar collagen.

Week 3-6: New blood vessels improve nutrient delivery. Skin appears more radiant because circulation genuinely improves.

Week 6-12: Collagen continues accumulating. Dermal layer becomes measurably thicker. Fine lines fill from beneath as new structural support develops.

Month 3-6: Skin remodelling peaks. New collagen replaces old, degraded collagen. Elasticity improves. Texture refines.

Month 6-24: New collagen persists. Skin quality remains improved because you've changed tissue structure, not temporarily filled it.

What Happens in Your Joints

Osteoarthritis involves progressive cartilage degradation, chronic inflammation, reduced synovial fluid quality, and pain from exposed bone.

PRP addresses multiple mechanisms:

Week 1-2: Anti-inflammatory proteins reduce cytokines (IL-1, TNF-α) accelerating cartilage breakdown. Inflammatory environment shifts.

Week 2-4: Growth factors stimulate chondrocytes (cartilage cells) to produce new matrix—gel-like substance cushioning joints.

Week 4-6: New blood vessels in surrounding tissues improve nutrient delivery. Synovial fluid quality increases.

Week 6-12: Pain reduces significantly as inflammation decreases and cartilage quality improves. Mechanical function improves with better lubrication.

Month 3-6: Functional capacity increases measurably. Range of motion improves. Strength increases as pain no longer limits movement.

PRP can't regenerate completely destroyed cartilage—but it slows progression, improves remaining cartilage, and reduces inflammation enough to restore significant function.

Why Concentration Matters Critically

Research consistently shows:

• 2x concentration: Minimal therapeutic effect

• 3x concentration: Some benefit, inconsistent results

• 4-5x concentration: Robust therapeutic effect, consistent results

• Above 6x: No additional benefit

Our pharmaceutical-grade systems achieve validated 4-5x concentration consistently. Basic centrifuges reach 2-3x at best.

That difference—4-5x versus 2-3x—separates meaningful regeneration from expensive placebo.

Why Complete Protocols Work

PRP provides instructions and activation signals. But cells need building blocks to construct new tissue.

For hair: Amino acids, biotin, vitamin C, marine proteins (Viviscal® Professional provides these) For joints:Glucosamine, collagen peptides, vitamin D, omega-3s For skin: Vitamin C for collagen synthesis, retinoids for cell turnover

Supplements aren't upsells—they're materials cells need to execute PRP's instructions.

Like giving builders architectural plans (PRP) but no materials (supplements)—nothing gets built.

Book your free consultation on WhatsApp

PRP Science Questions Answered

How is PRP different from stem cell treatment?

PRP uses growth factors from your platelets to activate your existing stem cells. Stem cell therapy introduces additional stem cells from external sources. PRP is proven, extensively researched, and regulatory-approved. "Stem cell" treatments vary wildly in quality and evidence—many aren't actually stem cells at all. PRP delivers excellent results through your body's own regenerative capacity.

Can PRP regrow hair in completely bald areas?

Only if follicles still exist microscopically. Trichoscopy reveals whether miniaturised follicles remain (PRP can help) or areas are completely follicle-free (only transplant works). Most "bald" areas actually contain dormant miniaturised follicles PRP can revive. Consultation with trichoscopy determines your specific candidacy.

How long do the growth factors from PRP stay active?

Initial growth factor activity peaks within 24-72 hours post-injection. However, the cellular cascades they trigger continue for weeks. Activated fibroblasts keep producing collagen for 8-12 weeks. Follicles shifted to growth phase remain active for months. Single injection creates extended regenerative effects through sustained cellular response.

Why does PRP take months to work if growth factors are active immediately?

Growth factors activate processes immediately—but building new tissue takes time. Hair growth, collagen synthesis, and cartilage formation are biological processes with inherent timelines. You're creating actual new tissue, not temporarily camouflaging problems. That genuine regeneration requires months, but produces results lasting 12-24 months versus weeks for quick fixes.

Is there any way to make PRP work faster?

No shortcut exists for genuine tissue regeneration. Cell division, protein synthesis, and tissue remodelling occur at fixed biological rates. However, optimising support factors helps: excellent nutrition, quality sleep, stress management, avoiding NSAIDs, perfect supplement compliance. You can't accelerate biology, but you can create optimal conditions for it.

What makes some people respond better to PRP than others?

Age (younger patients have higher regenerative capacity), baseline health (nutrition, sleep, stress levels), genetics (some people produce more robust growth factor responses), protocol compliance (supplements, aftercare), and severity of condition (early-stage problems respond better than advanced). During consultation, we assess your individual response likelihood.

Can PRP be combined with other treatments?

Yes, often synergistically. For hair: PRP + minoxidil + finasteridel works better than any single treatment. For facial: PRP + appropriate skincare + occasional Botox/fillers addresses multiple ageing mechanisms. For joints: PRP + physiotherapy + appropriate activity modification produces superior outcomes. We design integrated protocols during consultation.

Is PRP's regeneration permanent, or temporary?

The tissue you regenerate is genuine and persists—new collagen lasts 12-24+ months, regenerated cartilage remains improved. However, underlying conditions (pattern baldness, arthritis, ageing) continue progressively. Maintenance treatments sustain improvements by periodically re-triggering regeneration. You're not dependent on PRP—you're managing ongoing conditions.

How do doctors know PRP is actually working, not placebo?

Objective measurements prove efficacy: trichoscopy showing increased follicle diameter and density, standardised pain scales and functional assessments for joints, skin elasticity measured by cutometer for facial treatments. Plus extensive published research including double-blind placebo-controlled trials showing PRP significantly outperforms saline injections. Results are measurably biological, not psychological.

What's the difference between PRP and PRF (platelet-rich fibrin)?

PRF is PRP prepared differently—slower centrifugation creating a fibrin matrix with platelets suspended in it. Some practitioners claim PRF releases growth factors more slowly/sustained. Evidence comparing PRP versus PRF is limited. We use validated PRP systems with extensive research supporting efficacy rather than newer techniques with less evidence.

The London PRP Clinic | Marylebone • Canary Wharf • Belgravia