PRP Therapy & Regenerative Medicine in Katy, TX

What Is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy?

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a regenerative treatment that uses concentrated healing factors from your own blood to stimulate tissue repair and reduce inflammation in injured or degenerated structures. The treatment is grounded in the fundamental biology of wound healing: when tissue is injured, platelets are among the first responders — they aggregate at the injury site, activate, and release a cascade of growth factors that orchestrate the repair process. PRP amplifies this natural response by delivering a concentration 3–8 times higher than normal blood platelet levels directly to the target tissue.

Dr. Qureshi performs all PRP injections under ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance to ensure the concentrated growth factors are delivered precisely into the damaged structure. Because PRP uses your own blood, there is no risk of allergic reaction, disease transmission, or rejection.

The Science of PRP

Platelets contain hundreds of bioactive molecules stored in granules. When activated, platelets release a complex mixture including:

• Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF) — stimulates cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix production
• Transforming Growth Factor-Beta (TGF-β) — promotes collagen synthesis and tissue remodeling
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) — stimulates angiogenesis, improving blood supply to healing tissue
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) — promotes cell survival, proliferation, and matrix synthesis
• Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) — stimulates cell growth and differentiation
• Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) — promotes proliferation of fibroblasts and endothelial cells

These growth factors collectively orchestrate the recruitment of mesenchymal stem cells and fibroblasts to the injury site, their proliferation, and their differentiation into new tissue-specific cells that synthesize collagen and other structural proteins needed to restore tissue integrity.

Conditions Treated with PRP

• Knee osteoarthritis — multiple high-quality randomized trials demonstrate PRP produces superior outcomes to corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid at 6–12 months, with potential cartilage-protective effects
• Hip and shoulder osteoarthritis — growing evidence for intra-articular PRP as a longer-duration alternative to corticosteroid
• Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) — one of the most evidence-based PRP indications; 2–3 injection series produces superior long-term outcomes to corticosteroid across multiple RCTs
• Rotator cuff tendinopathy — PRP outperforms corticosteroid for partial rotator cuff tears and chronic tendinopathy in comparative studies
• Patellar tendinopathy (jumper's knee) — strong evidence for PRP combined with eccentric loading program
• Achilles tendinopathy — both insertional and mid-portion Achilles respond to PRP, particularly in chronic cases
• Plantar fasciitis — ultrasound-guided PRP provides significant improvement in chronic cases unresponsive to conservative measures
• Sacroiliac joint dysfunction — PRP for ligamentous laxity-related SI joint instability
• Partial muscle tears — Grade II hamstring, quadriceps, and calf tears respond to PRP-accelerated healing

The PRP Procedure: Step by Step

1. Blood draw: 15–60 mL of blood is drawn from a peripheral vein, similar to a standard lab draw
2. Centrifugation: Blood is placed in a sterile centrifuge tube and spun at calibrated speed and duration to separate blood components by density
3. PRP extraction: The platelet-rich layer is extracted under sterile conditions. Dr. Qureshi uses preparation protocols that yield appropriate platelet concentration and leukocyte content for the specific target tissue
4. Guided injection: Under ultrasound or fluoroscopic visualization, Dr. Qureshi delivers the PRP precisely into the target structure — confirming placement before injection
5. Recovery: Brief observation, discharge instructions including activity modifications for the first 48–72 hours, and follow-up scheduling

Expected Timeline and Results

PRP works through biological healing — a gradual, durable process. Most patients experience:

• Days 1–5: Post-injection flare (increased soreness) as the healing cascade is initiated — this is expected and normal
• Weeks 2–4: Beginning of gradual improvement as initial tissue repair commences
• Weeks 4–8: Meaningful improvement becoming apparent in most patients
• Months 3–6: Continued improvement as new tissue matures and remodels; peak effect typically at 3–4 months
• 12–24 months: Long-term results consistently superior to corticosteroid in comparative studies