What Is PRP Treatment, and Who Is It For?

PRP (platelet-rich plasma) is an autologous treatment in which your own blood is centrifuged in a closed kit, the fraction rich in platelets and growth factors is separated, and it is returned to the scalp, skin or joint; it does not involve cell transplantation. It adds no volume; the aim is tissue stimulation. I plan it for the scalp alongside drug treatment; for the skin, with revitalisation as the goal; and for the knee only in selected patients, stating plainly that the guideline recommends against it. This page explains how it is prepared, what the evidence says in each area, and who it suits.

I am a specialist in anaesthesiology and reanimation; blood sampling, venous access, sterile technique and injection safety are core areas of my training. I perform cellular treatments within this framework, carrying out every step of preparation and application myself. The general framework of cellular treatments is on the cellular therapies page.

How is it prepared?

Blood is drawn and centrifuged inside a closed single-use kit; the red cells are separated and the platelet-rich plasma is injected into the target area. Blood draw, preparation and application together take about 30 minutes; nothing is added. I work with closed-system kits assessed under CE and TİTCK; the kit’s method determines platelet concentration and plasma quality, which is why the name “PRP” does not describe a single product. I do not fix the number of sessions up front; I decide according to the response to the first session.

How is it thought to work?

PRP aims to deliver the growth factors carried by platelets to the target tissue in concentrated form; these factors are intended to support the tissue’s repair process. The effect is not immediate; the tissue response is reported within weeks.

How does it differ from Sanakin?

Both are prepared from your own blood, but the content differs: PRP concentrates platelets and growth factors; Sanakin concentrates the cytokines released while the blood is incubated — according to the manufacturer, mainly anti-inflammatory ones.

In treatments prepared from your own blood, the decision depends on the goal: when inflammation and redness are in the foreground, the serum enriched in anti-inflammatory proteins comes to the fore; when tissue stimulation and revitalisation are the aim, platelet-rich plasma does. The final choice is made at consultation.

PRP for hair

Hair loss. For PRP applied to the scalp there is a meta-analysis of randomised trials; the studies are heterogeneous and the evidence is of low quality. I consider it in early-to-moderate hereditary hair loss, alongside drug treatment. The session plan, the level of evidence and how it differs from the other hair methods are on the PRP for hair page.

PRP for skin

Popularly known as the “vampire facial”. I consider it for dullness, a tired look, fine lines and mild loss of elasticity, with revitalisation of skin quality as the goal; what I observe in my clinical practice is an increase in radiance and hydration reported within a few weeks — I write this as experience, not as a promise. On a background of redness, rosacea and inflamed acne, Sanakin comes to the fore (see the distinction above). For deep pitted scars I do not recommend PRP on its own; for loss of elasticity and superficial scars, the options on the exosome and autologous fibroblast pages are considered.

PRP for the knee

In knee osteoarthritis, PRP is one of the intra-articular treatments used with improvement in pain and function as the goal. The American College of Rheumatology’s 2026 update strongly recommends against PRP in knee and hip osteoarthritis and rates the certainty of evidence as low ¹; the 2019 guideline pointed the same way ². I therefore consider PRP in the knee only in selected patients, in early and moderate stages, once pain and swelling have settled, and after discussing the guideline position openly with the patient. There is no evidence for structural claims such as “repairs cartilage” or “nourishes the meniscus”, so I do not make them. In advanced disease I do not delay a patient who needs surgery with injections; I refer for a surgical assessment.

Intra-articular corticosteroid injection has its place in knee osteoarthritis; the American College of Rheumatology’s 2026 update gives it a strong recommendation in the knee and rates the certainty of evidence as low ¹. In a knee that needs frequent repeat injections, I instead assess serum produced from the patient’s own blood.

PRP and intra-articular ozone are not done in the same session; they can be planned in sequence when needed. The general framework of the methods I use in pain treatment is on the pain treatment page.

Being honest about the level of evidence

For hair there is a meta-analysis of randomised trials, but the evidence is of low quality; the details are on the PRP for hair page. For skin, I do not rely on a controlled study on this page; here I rely on my clinical practice. For the knee, the guideline strongly recommends against PRP and cites the lack of standardised preparation methods ¹². Alongside studies reporting improvement there are studies reporting limited benefit or lacking a control group; I give no percentages without a source and set the number of sessions according to the result.

The procedure and pain management

Topical anaesthetic cream is standard. Because I am an anaesthesiologist, I treat pain management as a separate part of the procedure.

For skin treatments, cooling is added when needed; what you feel is a brief sting and mild burning. The blood draw is a standard venous access; what you feel is a brief sting. As an anaesthesiologist I perform the intra-articular injection myself and plan pain control as part of the procedure. In the knee a fine needle is used, with local anaesthetic and brief cooling when needed; what you feel is mild pressure and a brief sting.

Aftercare

After a skin treatment:

First 24 hours

• No make-up on the treated area
• No hot showers, sauna, hammam or steam
• Avoid heavy exercise
• No alcohol
• Do not sleep face-down (facial treatments)
• Do not touch the injection points; do not squeeze or massage the bumps

First 48 hours

• Avoid direct and prolonged sun exposure
• No facial massage, skincare treatments or energy-based device treatments

Expected findings Small bumps (papules) at the injection points lasting 12–24 hours are expected and show that the product has settled in the skin. Mild swelling, tenderness or bruising lasting a few days may occur. Around the eyes, bruising is slightly more likely than on the rest of the face.

Additional advice

• A small bruise on the arm used for the blood draw may last 1–2 days
• If redness increases, or warmth or fever develops, contact the clinic

After a knee treatment

• Walking is fine the same day
• Avoid running, squatting, heavy stair use and heavy loads for 24–48 hours
• No hot showers, sauna or hammam for 48 hours
• Mild pain, a feeling of fullness and mild swelling may last 1–2 days; brief cooling is enough
• If swelling increases markedly, or there is redness or fever, contact the clinic

Safety and anatomy

Because allergic reactions can occur rarely, treatments are carried out under medical supervision.

The plasma is prepared from your own blood in a closed single-use kit; no drug is added. Temporary redness, small bumps and bruising may occur at the injection points; the expected durations are given in the aftercare section. Sterile technique is essential in intra-articular injection; the risk of infection is low but not zero.

Regulatory status: This product class consists of products assessed under CE and TİTCK frameworks for the relevant indications. The serum or plasma is prepared from your own blood; the kit used is a preparation system within the scope of medical devices. Approval belongs to a product and to a specific indication, not to a technique or to a physician.

Who is not suitable

Treatment is not performed, or is postponed, in the following situations:

• Active infection or inflammation in the treatment area
• Autoimmune disease in an active phase
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Known hypersensitivity to the product components
• Uncontrolled chronic illness
• Untreated bleeding disorder or unregulated anticoagulant use

I do not perform these treatments during active cancer treatment. For a person with a history of cancer, I make the decision together with the treating specialist.

In treatments prepared from your own blood, treatment is also not performed in haematological disease or during a febrile illness; a low platelet count is also a contraindication.

Intra-articular treatment is not performed during an active systemic or joint infection; after a recent intra-articular steroid injection, timing is decided at consultation.

Skin treatments are postponed during an active cold sore (herpes) outbreak in the area, during an active acne flare, and if aggressive peeling or laser was performed on the same area within the past two weeks.

Without being a medical contraindication, I also consider expectation and treatment to be mismatched in these situations:

• People expecting a lasting result from a single session
• People whose actual need is a change in volume or shape — PRP does not add volume, and filler is assessed
• People with undiagnosed hair loss or knee pain — a diagnosis comes first

Suitability is determined by consultation in every case.

Pricing

Under the applicable regulations, price information cannot be published on our website. The cost of a treatment depends on the product used, the technique chosen and the extent of the treatment. You can call the clinic for detailed information.

Frequently asked questions

Is every PRP the same?

No. The kit’s method determines platelet concentration and plasma quality. I work with closed-system kits assessed under CE and TİTCK; we discuss which kit I use at consultation.

Does PRP replace a cortisone injection in the knee?

They are tools for different purposes. Corticosteroid gives fast, short-lived control in a severe flare; PRP aims at tissue stimulation once inflammation has settled, and the guideline recommends against PRP in the knee. In a knee that would need frequent repetition, I consider the serum produced from the person’s own blood instead of cortisone; I decide the order and need at consultation.

How many PRP sessions are needed?

I do not give a fixed number up front; I decide it at consultation according to the response to the first session and the goal.

When does PRP work?

No immediate effect is expected. Radiance in the skin is reported within weeks, and change in the scalp and knee within months; it varies from person to person, and I give no timelines without a source.

Planning your visit

My clinic is in Nişantaşı, Şişli, on the European side of Istanbul, approximately 45 minutes from Istanbul Airport.

For PRP treatment I suggest planning a stay of two to three days: arrival, consultation and treatment, and departure. Because this treatment may be planned as more than one session, it may require more than one visit. The first session takes place in Istanbul, and we plan the schedule of any following sessions together according to your travel arrangements, with remote follow-up in between. Flying is generally appropriate 24 hours after an injectable treatment.

Consultations are conducted in English. Follow-up after you return home is arranged remotely, and I remain reachable for any questions during the period in which the result develops.

Dr. Ömer Fatih Şahin — Specialist in Anaesthesiology and Reanimation Diploma Registration No: 113606

Published: 22 February 2026 · Last updated: 2026-09-22 This content has been medically reviewed by Dr. Ömer Fatih Şahin.

References

1. American College of Rheumatology. 2026 Update of the American College of Rheumatology Recommendations for the Management of Osteoarthritis of the Knee, Hip, and Hand (guideline summary). 14 September 2026. https://rheumatology.org/osteoarthritis-guideline
2. Kolasinski SL, Neogi T, Hochberg MC, et al. 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hand, Hip, and Knee. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020;72(2):149–162. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31908149/