PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) treatment for lichen sclerosus
Lichen sclerosus is a skin condition that makes patches of skin look white, thickened and crinkly. It most often affects the skin around the vulva or anus.
It can be itchy, painful and cause permanent scarring. Four in 100 (or four percent of) women with this condition go on to develop vulvar cancer.
Lichen sclerosus affects around one in 80 women. It can happen at any age but is most common in middle-aged and elderly women. For most women, it is a lifelong condition.
We use PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) Injections to treat Lichen Sclerosus. We take approx 10ml of your blood (per vial) and spin it around in a centrifuge. We do this to separate the unwanted red and white blood cells from the plasma, which contains the platelets and growth factors. It is this plasma that we will then inject into the affected tissue. We do 3 treatments, 4 weeks apart, and then again at 12months.
When the body injures itself, it is the platelets and growth factors within the blood that work to allow healing to occur. There is a process called the Healing cascade that occurs, and it is this Healing Cascade that is triggered when the body is injected with PRP. When we inject the platelets and growth factors into the affected tissue, it tells the body to heal itself, and the Healing Cascade commences.
As the treatment involves the use of your own blood and blood products, there are minimal to no side effects.
We apply a topical anesthetic gel to the treatment area, which makes the treatment quite comfortable. Some people might still feel a little bit of a pinch during treatment and may experience a very mild pulsating sensation after the treatment has been done. This lasts for a very short period of time.
PRP is a very safe and effective treatment. Because we are using your own blood, there is no risk of a reaction to the injection. As there are needles and injections involved, there is a possibility of some bruising and swelling.
The treated area may feel a bit tender and be a bit bruised for a day or so after treatment, but there are no restrictions on what you can or can’t do. You would base activities on your level of comfort.
Disclaimer: Individual results may vary. Surgery and all health regulated services may carry some risks which you can discuss with our doctor.
The cost will depend on how extensive the area is that requires treatment. The larger the area, the more vials of blood we will need to take to ensure there is enough plasma to cover the area to be treated.
Pricing starts at $350 per treatment for 1 vial. Most people will require 1-2 vials per treatment.
Most concerns have more than one course of treatment. Feel free to contact us so one of our team can discuss options for your unique concern.
