Platelet rich plasma (PRP) has been implicated in different aspects of medical practice. PRP nowadays is a very common medical treatment employed in aesthetic, Rheumatology and in sport medicine.
Platelets are commonly known for being part of the coagulation process, thus it plays a major role in stopping any bleeding after an injury. In addition, platelets have a number of growth factors such as EGF, IGF1, VEGF, PDGF, bFGF and TGF-beta.
These growth factors will:
- Promote cell growth and improve the tensile strength.
- Promote and regulate new cell differentiation.
- Promote collagen production.
- Collagen and non-collagen proteins deposition in the tissue.
- Induce blood vessels growth.
All of those growth factors assist in tissue rehabilitation and regeneration as much as tissue repair. The regenerated tissues are usually normal functional tissue, however and due to different factors including aging and unrestrictive damage caused by medical condition, it may render it suboptimal when it comes to functionality.
Read: Introduction to P-shots
What to expect when getting P-Shot injections
Male individuals receiving P-shots will expect to have the procedure explained to them and set a realistic expectation for the possible outcomes, side effects and longevity when it comes to performing P-shots.
Procedure:
- Patients will receive local anaesthesia during the process either using an injectable local anaesthetic (penile block) or by using topical anaesthetic.
- As the doctor and the patient are waiting for the anaesthetics to take effect, the patient will have 40-60 cc of his blood drawn and spinned (centrifuged) a few times to acquire the PRP. The amount drawn will usually render about 6-7 ml of PRP which will be sufficient for 4-5 injections.
- PRP will then be processed using calcium chloride to release the needed growth factors before being prepared by the medical staff for injection.
- Areas of injection should be properly cleaned and using antiseptic solutions and prepared prior to proceeding with the injection.
Side Effects
Despite being rare, possible side effects should be discussed and explained to the patient, among those complications that can occur in any other treatment that utilising injectable medications are:-
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Bleeding
- Inflammation
- Infection
- Scaring
- Outbreak of herpes sores (in patients with history of herpes simplex infection)
Patients are usually advised to avoid intercourse for a few days after the procedure.
Number of treatment sessions
Patients might notice results after one session; however, it is recommended to undergo 3 – 6 sessions with a few weeks apart for a better outcome.
How soon can you notice the effect?
When it comes to P-shots, patient response (e.g. onset of effect, rate of improvement and longevity) varies. Some patients will start noticing the effect as soon as 24 hours after the procedure. However, the majority will have to undergo 2 – 3 treatment before noticing a good result. This is totally explainable, as after the injection, the penile (cavernous) tissue will undergo a process of inflammation for the first 1-6 days. Following that, the proliferative and reconstruction process will be taking place from day 6 until day 14, while the maturation of the newly formed tissue will start from day 8 until 1 year following the last treatment, the effect usually reaches its peak by the third month.
Expected outcomes
- improve hardness by improving the circulation and forming of new healthy tissue.
- increase in size (girth more than length) as a result of the new tissue produced.
- Improves individual sexual desire.
However it’s important to note that studies involving P-shot are generally low scale researches with weak evidence level.
Is the outcome consistent?
There is a wide range of underlying medical issues which may interfere with the outcome. Having cardiac issues, hypertension, diabetes, hypothyroidism and high lipids will lead to small blood vessel disease.
Consumption of a high protein diet, high collagen diet, fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin A, C and D, in addition, taking nutrition and supplements rich in minerals such as zinc, copper and iron can aid in the healing process in addition to supporting the immune function.
Patients who are smokers and consume alcohol on regular bases might interfere with the healing process. In addition, patients who are on specific types of medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications. Not to mention, patients who are or have corticosteroids and cortisone will have the healing effect disturbed.
Longevity
With controlled underlying medical condition and healthy lifestyle, effect from P-shot is expected to last for long, however most of the researches reported an average period of one year before regression of the outcome.
Recommendations
Individuals who have undergone P-shot treatment are usually advised to be placed on PDE5 or to use penile vacuums twice a day throughout the treatment. In addition to their synergistic effect of ensuring efficient repair of the penile tissue.
Would you consider it?
When it comes to using plasma in treatments, despite having possible side effects from injecting, the treatment is considered relatively safe as there is only a rare chance of major complication, and the possibility of rejection, allergic reaction or embolism and ischemic necrosis is none. Thus contact your experienced friendly doctor if you have any query or concern about the treatment and get full consultation and assessment.
Read more articles on PRP: P-Shots: Setting Expectations Right, Intrauterine PRP, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) For Wound Treatment, The O-SHOT, Introducing P-Shots: For Stronger, Harder & Long-Lasting Erections, P-Shots: A Shot To The Penis!, Platelet Rich Plasma: The Answer Is WITHIN, Scalp PRP: Can it help with hair loss?
