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Platelet Rich Plasma Injections Specialist

Lawrence Miller, MD -  - Pain Management Physician

Lawrence Miller, MD

Pain Management Physician located in Beverly Hills, CA

At his offices in Beverly Hills, Van Nuys, Long Beach, and Santa Ana, CA, Dr. Miller offers platelet-rich plasma injections to speed healing and recovery in patients from throughout the Greater Los Angeles area.

Platelet Rich Plasma Injections Specialist

What is platelet-rich plasma?

Your blood contains many different substances, including the liquid component called plasma and platelets (also called thrombocytes), the part of the blood that helps it clot when you cut yourself. Platelets also contain growth factors that play an important role in the body's natural healing process. Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is simply plasma that contains a higher-than-usual concentration of platelets, about 5 to 10 times the normal number.

How is PRP made?

PRP uses a sample of your own blood drawn through a needle, similar to the way you donate blood or have blood taken for lab work. The blood is placed in a special machine that separates the platelets from the rest of the blood. Then those platelets go through an additional process called centrifugation to increase the number of platelets. Once centrifugation is complete, the platelets are re-combined with the remaining blood and injected back into your body to promote healing at a site of injury.

How do PRP injections work to promote healing?

PRP contains hundreds of growth factors that help promote the body's own healing processes. Once injected into an injured area of the body, the growth factors target damaged tissues and begin to stimulate natural healing actions. The specific ways these growth factors help promote more rapid healing and recovery after an injury isn't clearly understood.

When is PRP used?

PRP has been used to treat a wide array of chronic and acute injuries as well as degenerative joint changes. Some of the most common applications of PRP include treatment of knee arthritis, tendon injuries like tennis elbow, ligament and muscle injuries and even fractures. It can also be used during surgery to jump-start the healing process immediately following the surgical procedure.

Major Insurance Plans Accepted

We accept most major PPO insurance plans, Medicare, and Personal Injury and Worker's Compensation plans. If you have any questions, please call our office.

Aetna
Blue Cross
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Cigna
Guardian
Health Net
MetLife
UnitedHealthcare
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