What Is PRP?
PRP (platelet-rich plasma) is a treatment made from your own blood, delivering a higher concentration of your body's own healing factors than what's normally present in the tissue. A small blood sample is drawn and spun in a centrifuge to separate and concentrate the platelets, healing factors, and growth factors, the parts of your blood responsible for clotting and driving tissue repair. That concentrated plasma is then injected directly into the injured or arthritic area.
How PRP Works
Once prepared, the concentrated plasma goes to work in the damaged tissue itself:
- Concentrated platelets and growth factors are placed directly into the injured area, signaling your body to begin repairing tissue at the site.
- Inflammation is calmed, addressing one of the underlying drivers of ongoing pain.
- Your body's own repair cells are recruited to the area, supporting the tissue's natural healing response.
This is different from a cortisone injection (which only reduces inflammation) or surgery (which physically repairs or replaces damaged tissue). PRP isn't meant to replace surgery when surgery is truly the right call, it's another legitimate option using material your body already produces.
What PRP Can Help With
PRP can be a valuable option for a range of orthopedic conditions. Here's where it fits into the treatment picture today:
Shoulder
- Rotator Cuff Tears — supporting healing in select tendon injuries as part of a broader treatment plan. [Learn more →]
- Shoulder Arthritis — helping calm inflammation and support joint health in appropriately selected patients. [Learn more →]
Knee
- Knee Arthritis — helping calm inflammation and support joint health in appropriately selected patients. [Learn more →]
- Meniscus Tears — used in select cases to support healing alongside a meniscus repair. [Learn more →]
Dr. Thon will tell you honestly whether PRP is a good fit for your specific condition, and if it's not, what the better option actually is.
The PRP Procedure
- Blood draw: A small sample of your own blood is drawn, similar to a routine lab draw.
- Preparation: The blood is spun in a centrifuge to separate and concentrate the platelets and growth factors into a small volume of plasma.
- Injection: The concentrated plasma is injected directly into the treatment area.
- Time: The entire visit typically takes 45-60 minutes, start to finish.
- Anesthesia: None required. You'll be able to walk out of the office the same day. No sedation or general anesthesia is needed, most patients feel only the discomfort of the injection itself.
- Recovery: Most patients return to normal daily activities the next day, with some soreness at the injection site lasting anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
What PRP Can Offer
- A natural approach, using your own blood rather than a synthetic drug or foreign substance
- Minimally invasive, with little to no downtime, no incisions, no hospital stay, no weeks of missed work recovering from surgery
- Low risk of complications, because PRP works with your body's own natural healing systems, not against them
What to Expect Honestly
- Results vary by patient and condition. How much damage there is to address is one of the biggest factors in how much relief you can expect
- A series of 2-3 treatments, spaced 2-4 weeks apart each, tends to produce better results than a single injection, with relief developing gradually over the following weeks rather than immediately
- PRP is not a cure for arthritis or a guaranteed alternative to surgery. It's one legitimate option among several, and Dr. Thon will tell you honestly if your case is a good fit
Straightforward pricing, physician-directed care.
PRP injections at Orchard Orthopedics are [$PLACEHOLDER] per treatment. As an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Thon can offer you every option, from PRP to physical therapy to surgery, and an honest recommendation on which one actually fits your case. Dr. Thon directs your care throughout, working closely with his care team; your injection itself is performed by his physician assistant.
Why Choose Orchard Orthopedics for This
You'll always see Dr. Thon personally for your initial evaluation, not a resident or rotating provider. Because he's a practicing orthopedic surgeon, not just a regenerative medicine provider, you're getting an honest recommendation from someone who can offer you every option, not just the treatment that happens to be on the menu.
That matters just as much for a PRP series as it does for surgery. With treatments spaced 2-4 weeks apart, you're not waiting weeks for an appointment between injections, and if your response to treatment changes your plan, Dr. Thon is the one making that call, not a different provider each visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding PRP
Results vary by patient and condition. Many patients experience relief for several months, and in some cases longer, especially when treated with the full recommended series rather than a single injection.
The injection itself tends to be more uncomfortable than a traditional corticosteroid injection, and soreness can linger for a few days to a few weeks afterward. No sedation or anesthesia is required, and you'll be able to walk out of the office the same day.
Deciding on Treatment
It depends on your specific condition and how much damage there is to address. Dr. Thon will evaluate your case personally and tell you honestly whether PRP is a good fit, or whether another option makes more sense.
Dr. Thon is a practicing orthopedic surgeon, not solely a regenerative medicine provider. That means you get an honest recommendation from someone who can offer you every option, physical therapy, PRP, or surgery, not just the treatment a clinic happens to specialize in.
PRP is minimally invasive, with little to no downtime, no incisions, and no surgical recovery. For the right condition, it offers a real middle path between doing nothing and a more involved procedure, though it isn't a guaranteed alternative to surgery when surgery is truly the right call.
Access & the Orchard Model
No. You can call and schedule directly, no referral or prior authorization required.
You'll always start with Dr. Thon on your initial evaluation, and he directs your care throughout. Your injections themselves are performed by his physician assistant, as part of that plan.
Logistics
Most patients can be seen same-day or next-day. Call the office and we'll get you scheduled quickly.
About 45-60 minutes, start to finish, including the blood draw, preparation, and injection.
A series of 2-3 treatments, spaced 2-4 weeks apart each, tends to produce better results than a single injection. Dr. Thon will recommend a specific number based on your condition and how you respond.
PRP injections are [$PLACEHOLDER] per treatment. We'll go over your full recommended treatment plan, including total cost, at your visit.
Get an honest answer about whether PRP is right for you, from a surgeon who can offer every option.
Already have a diagnosis or imaging from somewhere else? [ Get a second opinion ]