Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autogenously harvested liquid platelet concentrate
extracted from a patient's peripheral blood that contains higher than baseline concentrations
of growth factors and cytokines. This innovative new technology has demonstrated great
promise in the field of plastic surgery, and its use has been evaluated in several
clinical settings including wound healing, hair restoration, and skin rejuvenation.
The goal of this article is to explain the biology behind PRP and to review the basic
principles involved in its preparation. This will be followed by a discussion of some
clinical applications of PRP in both aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.
Keywords
platelet-rich plasma - PRP - growth factors - wound healing - skin rejuvenation -
bone healing - hair growth