Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) in Charleston and Mt. Pleasant, SC

Reviewed by Ashley Harwyn, PA-C, ABAAHP  |  A4M Board Certified  |  Updated October 4, 2026

PRP is made from your own blood, and the evidence for it changes with every use. Here is what holds up for hair, skin, joints, and sexual health, and where we use it.

That spread is the reason this page exists. PRP is often sold as one remedy for skin, hair, joints, and sex life at once, and the evidence does not support that picture. Below we explain how PRP is made, what the strongest studies found for each use, what the FDA has and has not reviewed, and how we decide whether it belongs in your plan. If hair is your main concern, our PRP hair restoration page goes deeper.

• PRP is plasma that holds far more platelets than normal blood, up to 5 to 10 times the usual level, made by drawing blood and spinning it in a centrifuge.[1]
• For pattern hair loss, a 2024 analysis of 13 randomized trials found about 27.6 more hairs per square centimeter than placebo, but rated the evidence low quality.[4]
• For facial aging, a 2024 overview found that 18 of its 28 studies had no control group and that the evidence is too weak for firm conclusions.[5]
• Orthopedic results are mixed. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons sees benefit for some tendon and knee problems, yet a 288-person placebo-controlled knee trial found no difference at 12 months.[1][6] Solcara does not offer orthopedic PRP.
• The FDA device category for PRP preparation kits is defined as preparing plasma to mix with bone graft. It is not an approval of PRP for hair, skin, or sexual function.[2]
• PRP always starts with an in-office blood draw. It cannot be done at home.

What platelet-rich plasma is, and how a dose is made

Blood is mostly a liquid called plasma, with red cells, white cells, and platelets carried along in it. Platelets are best known for helping blood clot, but they also hold hundreds of proteins called growth factors that play a part in healing.[1] PRP is plasma that has been enriched so it carries many more platelets than usual. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) puts the concentration at 5 to 10 times the normal level.[1]

Making it is simple. A clinician draws blood from your arm and places the tube in a centrifuge. Spinning separates the blood into layers, and the platelet-rich layer is collected for use.[1][3] Depending on the goal, that plasma is then injected into the scalp or applied to skin right after a treatment that opens small channels in it.

The theory is that a dense dose of growth factors placed in one spot helps tissue repair itself. Even the AAOS says it is not exactly clear how PRP works.[1] Lab studies hint that the extra growth factors may speed healing. That is a good reason to keep studying PRP, and it is not proof that it changes how you look or feel.

One more detail explains a lot of the mixed research. PRP is not a single standard product. Kits differ, the number of platelets differs, and some preparations contain more white blood cells than others. The AAOS lists the makeup of the preparation itself as one of the factors that can change results, along with the body area and your overall health.[1] Reviews of facial PRP make the same point: preparation methods, schedules, and follow-up all vary from study to study.[5] So when two clinics both say “PRP,” they may not mean the same thing.

PRP evidence, one use at a time

The fairest way to judge PRP is to ask a narrower question: PRP for what? The answer changes from one part of the body to the next. Here is where the best evidence we found stands for the uses people ask about most.

Hair. Pattern hair loss has the most consistent research of the cosmetic uses. A 2024 meta-analysis pooled 13 randomized trials and found PRP added about 27.6 hairs per square centimeter over placebo, with a plausible range of roughly 14 to 41.[4] The trials disagreed with each other a great deal, there were signs of publication bias, and the authors graded the evidence low quality.[4] That count also comes from a small marked patch of scalp, so it is not the same as a visibly fuller head of hair.

Skin. For facial aging, the picture is thinner. A 2024 overview gathered 13 systematic reviews covering 28 primary studies. Most of those studies (18 of 28) had no comparison group, and the certainty of the evidence ran from very low to low.[5] The authors concluded the evidence is not enough for firm conclusions about PRP, whether used alone or combined with other treatments such as lasers.[5] Some reviews found more patient satisfaction when PRP was added, but with low certainty.[5]

Joints and tendons. Orthopedic PRP shows the same split. The AAOS writes that PRP appears effective for certain chronic tendon injuries, especially tennis elbow, and for low- to moderate-grade knee arthritis, while it found little or no benefit when PRP was added to rotator cuff or ACL surgery.[1] Yet in the RESTORE trial, 288 adults aged 50 and over with knee arthritis received three weekly injections of PRP or salt water. At 12 months, pain and cartilage did not differ between the groups, and the authors said their findings do not support PRP for knee arthritis.[6]

Sexual function. PRP shots marketed for erections and sexual response sit at the far end. The Sexual Medicine Society of North America calls PRP for erectile dysfunction experimental and says it should only be given within research protocols approved by an ethics board.[7] Our P-Shot and O-Shot pages describe the research for men and women in more detail, and both treat these uses as unproven.

What FDA clearance covers, and what it does not

Ads often say PRP is “FDA approved.” The real situation is narrower. The FDA reviews the kits and machines used to prepare PRP. The device category those systems fall under is a Class II device, cleared through the 510(k) process, and it is defined as preparing PRP from a small blood sample to mix with bone graft so the graft is easier to handle.[2]

That definition says nothing about hair, wrinkles, scars, joints, or sexual function. A cleared preparation device is not an approved treatment for any of those uses. When PRP is used for them, it is being used off-label, and the evidence for each use has to stand on its own, which is why we sort it use by use above. If a provider tells you PRP itself is FDA approved for your concern, ask them to show you the clearance.

Where PRP fits in our practice, and where it does not

At Solcara, PRP has two jobs. The first is hair. For pattern hair loss, Ashley first looks for causes such as thyroid disease or low iron, and only then talks through whether PRP adds anything. The hair restoration page covers the full process and the published schedule of monthly sessions at first, then repeat visits every 3 to 6 months.[3]

The second is skin. PRP can be added to microneedling or a laser facial for patients who want it, with the clear understanding that its added benefit for facial aging is unproven.[5] We do not promise that it removes wrinkles, scars, or stretch marks.

What we do not offer matters too. Solcara does not provide PRP for sports injuries, tendons, or arthritis. If that is your goal, an orthopedic or sports medicine specialist is the right place to start. And PRP is never an at-home treatment. Every session begins with a blood draw in our office.

Your visit is with Ashley Harwyn, PA-C, who is board certified in anti-aging and functional medicine (A4M) and holds ABAAHP certification. You can see her at our Mount Pleasant office at 496 Bramson Ct, Suite 120, or at The Longevity Club, 163 Rutledge Ave, Suite 202, in downtown Charleston.

Curious whether PRP fits your goal? Ask before you commit to a series. Call 843-981-0870 to book a visit with Ashley. She will explain what the research shows for your specific concern, whether PRP adds anything, and which options to try first if it does not.

Side effects, cost, and questions to ask any PRP provider

Most side effects reported in PRP studies are local and short-lived. In hair trials, the most common one was brief pain where the needle went in.[4] Facial studies reported only mild, passing soreness, redness, and swelling.[5] In the knee trial, adverse events were minor and passed, though more people in the PRP group had joint pain, swelling, and stiffness after the injections.[6] The AAOS describes the risks as minimal, with infection and nerve or tissue injury no more common than after a cortisone shot.[1] Tell us about any blood thinner, supplement, or bleeding disorder before treatment.

Cost is a fair question too. The AAOS notes that few insurance plans pay even part of the cost of PRP, so check with your plan before you book.[1]

Before you agree to PRP anywhere, these questions are worth asking:

• What exactly is it meant to treat in my case, and what did the best study for that use find?
• Is the evidence from randomized trials, or mostly from studies without a comparison group?
• How many sessions are planned, and when will we judge whether it helped?
• What happens if nothing changes after a full series?