How much does PRP hair treatment cost at The London PRP Clinic?

£545 per session for our comprehensive PRP hair treatment, which includes Viviscal™ Professional supplements and organic hair oils. Most patients need 3-4 initial sessions. ExoRevive treatment is £445 per session.

Is PRP better than a hair transplant?

PRP is better for early-stage hair loss (Norwood 1-4) as it's non-surgical with no downtime and costs £545 vs £3,000-15,000 for transplants. Hair transplants are better for advanced hair loss (Norwood 5-7) but require surgery and 2 weeks recovery. Many patients use PRP to enhance transplant results.

What's the difference between PRP and ExoRevive?

PRP uses your blood's platelets containing 5-7 growth factors. ExoRevive uses lab-derived exosomes with 1,000+ growth factors, often showing faster results (6-8 weeks vs 3-4 months). ExoRevive costs £445 per session vs £545 for PRP with supplements.

Which London Underground station is closest to The London PRP Clinic?

Our Marylebone clinic is a 5-minute walk from Marylebone Station and 7 minutes from Baker Street Underground (Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee, and Bakerloo lines). We're also 8 minutes from Edgware Road Station.

PRP Treatment for Osteoarthritis

31 Aug

Written By Omar Elalfy

Osteoarthritis affects 8.75 million people in the UK, making it the nation's most common joint disease. While traditional treatments focus on symptom management, platelet-rich plasma therapy offers a regenerative approach that may slow disease progression while providing lasting pain relief.

How PRP Addresses Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis involves progressive cartilage breakdown, inflammation, and changes to surrounding bone and soft tissues. PRP targets multiple aspects of this disease process simultaneously, offering advantages over treatments that address only symptoms.

When injected into arthritic joints, PRP releases anti-inflammatory proteins that reduce synovial inflammation, growth factors that stimulate cartilage cell activity, and angiogenic factors that improve blood supply to joint tissues. Research from Stanford University shows PRP also reduces production of inflammatory enzymes that break down cartilage.

A 2023 analysis in Nature Reviews Rheumatology examined the molecular mechanisms of PRP in osteoarthritis. The study identified over 800 bioactive proteins in PRP that influence joint health, explaining why this treatment affects multiple pathways simultaneously.

Effectiveness for Different Joints

Knee Osteoarthritis

The knee has the strongest evidence base for PRP treatment. A network meta-analysis of 30 trials involving 3,463 patients found PRP superior to all other injection therapies for knee osteoarthritis at 12 months. Patients experienced average pain reduction of 50-60 percent and functional improvement of 40-50 percent.

Success correlates with disease severity. Patients with Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1-2 (mild) arthritis show 80 percent response rates. Grade 3 (moderate) shows 65 percent response. Grade 4 (severe) arthritis responds poorly, with only 30 percent experiencing significant benefit.

Hip Osteoarthritis

Hip arthritis presents unique challenges due to the joint's depth and complex anatomy. However, ultrasound-guided PRP injection has shown promising results. A European study of 118 patients with hip osteoarthritis found 68 percent experienced significant improvement lasting average 15 months.

Hip PRP requires precise technique and usually benefits from image guidance. The treatment appears most effective for mild to moderate hip arthritis without significant bone deformity.

Shoulder Osteoarthritis

Glenohumeral (shoulder) arthritis often accompanies rotator cuff problems, complicating treatment. PRP can address both the arthritis and associated soft tissue pathology. Studies show 60-70 percent of patients experience meaningful improvement, with benefits lasting 12-18 months.

Treatment Protocols and Optimisation

Current evidence supports specific protocols for optimal outcomes. Most successful studies use a series of 2-3 injections spaced 2-4 weeks apart. Single injections show inferior results to multiple injection protocols.

Platelet concentration matters. Studies indicate optimal results with platelet concentrations 4-6 times baseline. Higher concentrations don't necessarily improve outcomes and may increase inflammatory response.

Leukocyte (white blood cell) content remains debated. Leukocyte-poor PRP (LP-PRP) causes less post-injection inflammation and may be preferable for osteoarthritis. Leukocyte-rich PRP (LR-PRP) may benefit certain tendon conditions but shows no advantage for arthritis.

Pre-Treatment Optimisation

Certain factors improve PRP response. Maintaining healthy weight reduces joint stress and improves outcomes. Adequate vitamin D levels support tissue healing. Good blood sugar control in diabetics enhances platelet function.

Stopping anti-inflammatory medications one week before treatment prevents interference with the healing cascade. However, paracetamol can be used for pain management without affecting PRP efficacy.

Post-Treatment Protocol

The first 48 hours involve relative rest and ice application. Days 3-7 allow gentle range-of-motion exercises. Weeks 2-4 involve progressive weight-bearing and strengthening. By week 6, most patients resume normal activities with ongoing physiotherapy.

Studies show patients who follow structured rehabilitation achieve 30 percent better outcomes than those who don't. The rehabilitation programme should be tailored to the specific joint and patient's functional goals.

Comparing PRP to Standard Treatments

Versus NSAIDs

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs provide symptom relief but don't address underlying disease. Long-term NSAID use carries risks including stomach ulcers, kidney problems, and cardiovascular events. PRP offers similar pain relief without systemic side effects and may provide disease-modifying benefits.

Versus Steroid Injections

Corticosteroids provide rapid pain relief, typically within 48 hours, but effects rarely exceed 3 months. Multiple steroid injections accelerate cartilage loss and increase infection risk with eventual joint replacement. PRP shows slower onset but longer duration of benefit without cartilage toxicity.

Versus Hyaluronic Acid

Multiple studies directly compare PRP to hyaluronic acid injections. A meta-analysis in Arthroscopy Journal found PRP superior at all time points beyond 3 months. The difference becomes more pronounced with time, suggesting PRP's regenerative effects versus hyaluronic acid's temporary lubrication.

Predicting Treatment Success

Several factors predict PRP response. Younger age (under 65) correlates with better outcomes, likely due to superior healing capacity. Lower BMI (under 30) reduces mechanical stress and improves results. Mild to moderate arthritis responds better than severe disease.

Higher baseline activity levels predict better outcomes, possibly because active individuals better comply with rehabilitation. Absence of significant joint deformity or instability improves success rates.

Realistic expectations matter. Patients understanding that PRP is not curative but can provide significant improvement for 1-2 years show higher satisfaction rates.

When PRP May Not Be Appropriate

Certain conditions contraindicate PRP treatment. Active infection anywhere in the body risks spreading infection to the joint. Blood disorders affecting platelet function prevent effective PRP preparation. Pregnancy is a relative contraindication due to limited safety data.

Severe arthritis with complete cartilage loss shows poor response rates. Inflammatory arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis requires different treatment approaches. Unrealistic expectations or unwillingness to participate in rehabilitation predict poor outcomes.

The Evidence Base Continues Growing

Research into PRP for osteoarthritis accelerates annually. Current studies investigate optimal protocols, combination treatments, and biological markers predicting response. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) now acknowledges PRP as a treatment option for knee osteoarthritis, though notes the need for continued research.

Emerging evidence suggests combining PRP with other biologics may enhance outcomes. Studies investigate PRP plus hyaluronic acid, PRP with stem cells, and PRP combined with exosomes. While promising, these combination treatments require further validation.

Ready to explore if PRP could help your arthritis? Book a free consultation via WhatsApp with The London PRP Clinic. Share your X-rays or MRI scans for expert assessment and receive evidence-based guidance on expected outcomes for your specific situation.

Omar Elalfy