Frequently Asked Questions
Platelet-Rich Plasma is a concentration of your platelets (a part of your blood) obtained by spinning your whole blood in a special centrifuge. Platelets are what naturally begin the healing process in your body anytime an injury occurs. The platelets release proteins that attract your body's stem cells to the injured area. The concentration of platelets in PRP allows your body to recognise the injury as a priority and heals it more quickly and more thoroughly than your body can by itself.
Autologous Conditioned Plasma with Stromal Vascular Fraction (ACPSVF Cell Therapy) and Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) are procedures in which the doctor removes your own body's fat or bone marrow stem cells, concentrates them in a specialised device and injects them into the area(s) of injury with ultrasound guidance to ensure exact placement. The concentration of stem cells works directly at the site of injury or degenerative tissue to increase the healing potential.
It is an individualised decision, made by the doctor based on the severity of the injury, disease involved and your medical history. Some diagnoses require PRP alone, some PRP+HA and others one of our more powerful Regenerative Cell Therapies.
Despite being approved by the FDA, these treatments are not yet available on the NHS. Any new and novel types of treatment have to go through a series of complex processes before they are accepted by the many different boards within the NHS organisation, which could take a number of years. For example, PRP therapy has been used in medicine for more than 20 years but it is only recently that it has started to be used widely across many NHS Trusts.
Your consultations and diagnostic scans may be covered by your insurance provider. However, private medical insurance companies do not currently cover these procedures and consider them investigational, for much the same reasons in what happens with new and novel treatments in the NHS. It may take a number of years for private medical insurance companies to provide funding for these therapies. However, we offer multiple payment options through our financial partners.
Our patients can pay in the following ways that are most convenient to the individual:
- Card payment
- Cheque
- BACS transfer
We recommend you rest and only do regular daily activities (e.g. washing, walking, light household duties, etc.) for the first 2 weeks post-treatment, then start to incorporate regular workout routines or physical activity after that time.
Generally, patients are able to return to work after a couple of days post-treatment. This may be dependent on your profession and the area(s) that are being treated. It is best to ask your doctor at The OrthoBiologics Clinic for a more reliable estimate on when you may return to your work.
Yes, they are very safe indeed.
Typically these include discomfort during injection and possibly a sense of swelling around the injection site.
These are generally very well tolerated.
For PRP therapy, we recommend a course of three injections, which is normally sufficient to produce excellent results. If symptoms persist, then we would recommend a booster PRP shot. If you require Regenerative Cell Therapy , such as ACP SVF, for osteoarthritis, then you will normally only need one injection.
No, there is no special preparation required beforehand unless you are taking blood thinning medication.
It is important to let the team at The OrthoBiologics Clinic know if you have had a recent steroid-based injection within the last 6 weeks or using regular steroids for any other condition as the anti-inflammatory effect of the steroid will reduce the effectiveness of the PRP therapy.
Although the treatments are very safe, these treatments may not be suitable for patients who are taking anticoagulants (blood thinning drugs) or regular steroids such as prednisolone or hydrocortisone or immunosupressants.
This varies from patient to patient. Generally, patients report feeling less pain or seeing improvements in their symptoms as soon as 4 weeks post-treatment. More concrete improvements can be identified by patients in as soon as 12 weeks post-treatment, although back pain may take longer. Despite this, benefits continue long after treatments have been administered, with numerous clinical trials reporting ongoing benefit for many years after treatment. It is also widely believed that Regenerative Cell Therapies, such as ACPSVF, have a much longer lasting effect than PRP Therapy.
It is generally recommended that you limit your activity for 48 hours following your orthobiologic injection.
We generally advise physiotherapy at the completion of your orthobiologic treatment.
Yes, as with most interventional procedures a follow up is recommended to assess pain levels as well as function after treatment.
There will be a varying degree of discomfort or pain associated with the initial injection of local anaesthetic as one would expect. Many patients find the local numbing agent helps the pain for the first 30 min to 1 hour after the procedure. The area injected will likely be very painful for the first 24 to 72 hours and your doctor will recommend pain medication that you should begin taking soon after the procedure for comfort. (Plan to have someone drive you home after the procedure.)
No. All Consultants and other Specialists practising at TOBC are self-employed and are required to hold independent Professional Indemnity insurance cover for their professional practice. They are not employees of The OrthoBiologics Clinic LTD nor servants or agents of The OrthoBiologics Clinic.