PRP therapy uses a concentrated dose of your own blood platelets, injected to try to support healing in a joint, tendon, scalp, or the skin of your face. Clinics market it for arthritis, hair loss, and skin rejuvenation. This guide explains what PRP is, how it differs from stem cells and exosomes, what it costs in 2026, and what the evidence does and does not show.
Medical Frontier does not sell PRP or any treatment. The aim here is a plain, cautious read so you can judge a clinic’s pitch before you pay.
What is PRP therapy?
PRP therapy is a treatment made from your own blood. A provider draws a small amount, spins it in a centrifuge, and separates the platelets from the rest. The result is platelet-rich plasma, which holds a higher concentration of platelets than normal blood.
Platelets carry growth factors, the signals your body uses during healing. The idea is that injecting a concentrated dose into an injured area may boost the local healing response. That is the theory. Whether it changes outcomes depends on the condition and the study you read.
PRP is autologous, which means it comes from you. Because you are not receiving donor cells or drugs, the infection and rejection risks are low when the blood is handled cleanly.
How a PRP session works
A PRP session takes about 30 to 60 minutes in a clinic. The steps are simple and the same across most uses.
- Blood draw. The provider takes 15 to 60 mL of your blood, similar to a lab test.
- Spin. A centrifuge separates the platelets, usually in 5 to 15 minutes.
- Injection. The provider injects the concentrate into the target site, often with ultrasound guidance for joints.
You go home the same day. Soreness at the site for a day or two is common. Most protocols call for two to four sessions spaced weeks apart, then maintenance later.
PRP vs stem cells vs exosomes
PRP, stem cells, and exosomes are three different products, and clinics sometimes blur the lines. The table below shows how they compare.
| Feature | PRP | Stem cells | Exosomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Your own concentrated platelets | Living cells (fat, marrow, or donor) | Cell-signal particles |
| Source | Your blood | Your body or donor tissue | Usually donor/lab |
| Typical US cost | $400–$2,000/session | $5,000–$25,000+ | $1,000–$5,000+ |
| FDA-approved for joints/hair? | No (off-label) | No (narrow approvals only) | No approvals at all |
| Evidence base | Mixed, largest of the three | Limited, early | Weak; safety warnings |
The short version: PRP is the cheapest and most studied. Stem cell therapy costs far more and carries thinner evidence. Exosome therapy is the riskiest, because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved no exosome products and has linked some to serious infections. Our exosome therapy guide covers that warning in full.
Common uses for PRP
Clinics offer PRP for three main areas, all of them off-label. Knowing the use helps you weigh the evidence and the price.
Joints and tendons. PRP is injected into knees, shoulders, hips, and tendons for arthritis and overuse injuries. This is the most-studied use.
Hair loss. PRP is injected into the scalp for pattern hair loss. Moderate evidence supports it, often alongside minoxidil. See our PRP for hair loss guide.
Skin and face. PRP is used in facials, sometimes called the “vampire facial,” and under-eye injections. Evidence here is the thinnest of the three.
What PRP therapy costs
PRP therapy costs roughly $400 to $2,000 per session in the US, and insurance almost never pays. Because most people need several sessions, real totals often land between $1,500 and $6,000. Joint PRP with ultrasound guidance sits at the higher end. Scalp and facial packages are usually sold as a bundle of three.
You pay out of pocket because insurers treat PRP as experimental for these uses. There is no billing code and no negotiated rate. For a full breakdown by body area and session count, see our PRP injection cost page.
What the evidence shows
The evidence for PRP is mixed, and it is strongest for mild knee arthritis. A 2026 meta-analysis of knee osteoarthritis trials found PRP often beat hyaluronic acid and placebo for pain, but results swung with how the PRP was prepared. Other reviews call the six-month benefit weak. Both can be true, because “PRP” is not one standard product.
For hair loss, a large 2025 systematic review of alopecia trials rated the evidence as moderate for improving hair density. For facial and skin uses, the evidence is thin and mostly short-term.
The real gap is standardization. Platelet dose, spin settings, and injection schedules differ between clinics, so one clinic’s results may not predict another’s. Ask any provider what platelet concentration their system produces and how many sessions their quote covers.
FDA status and safety
PRP therapy is not FDA-approved as a treatment, though the preparation kits are cleared as devices. This is a key distinction clinics often skip. A cleared centrifuge kit does not mean the FDA judged PRP safe and effective for your knee or scalp. These injections are used under the practice of medicine, off-label.
Safety-wise, PRP is low-risk because it uses your own blood. The main risks are injection-site pain, bruising, and rare infection. That safety profile is a real point in PRP’s favor compared with donor-based products like exosomes.
The bottom line on PRP therapy
PRP therapy is the most affordable and best-studied option in regenerative medicine, but it is not a proven cure and it is not FDA-approved for these uses. Budget several hundred to a couple thousand dollars per session, expect to pay yourself, and read the evidence for your specific condition rather than the clinic’s brochure. If you are comparing it with a pricier stem cell option, start with our PRP vs stem cell guide, then price your choice with real numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Is PRP therapy FDA-approved?
PRP therapy itself is not FDA-approved as a treatment for joints, hair, or skin. The FDA has cleared the tube-and-centrifuge kits that prepare PRP, but the injections are used off-label. That means a doctor can legally offer them, but the FDA has not judged them safe and effective for these uses.
What is the difference between PRP, stem cells, and exosomes?
PRP is concentrated platelets from your own blood. Stem cells are living cells that can turn into other cell types, taken from your fat, bone marrow, or donor tissue. Exosomes are tiny particles cells release to signal each other. PRP is the cheapest and most studied of the three; exosome products are not FDA-approved and have caused infections.
How much does PRP therapy cost?
PRP therapy usually costs about $400 to $2,000 per session in the US, and you pay it yourself. Most people need two to four sessions. See our PRP injection cost breakdown for prices by use.
Does PRP therapy actually work?
The evidence is mixed and depends on the use. For mild knee arthritis and some tendon injuries, several studies show pain relief, though results vary by how the PRP is made. For hair loss, moderate evidence supports it. No use is a proven cure, and quality studies still disagree.
Is PRP the same as a stem cell injection?
No. PRP contains no stem cells. It is a platelet concentrate that releases growth factors. Stem cell injections use living cells and cost far more. See our PRP vs stem cell comparison.
Medical disclaimer. Medical Frontier is an independent educational resource. This page is for general information only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and does not create a doctor–patient relationship. Most regenerative therapies discussed here are not FDA-approved for the uses described and may be offered under limited exemptions or in clinical trials only. Always consult a licensed physician before making any treatment decision.