Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy in Miami

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a regenerative treatment that harnesses the healing power of your own blood to reduce pain, decrease inflammation, and promote tissue repair. By concentrating your body’s natural growth factors and delivering them directly to the site of injury or degeneration, PRP supports your body’s ability to heal itself — without surgery.

At our Miami clinic, Dr. William Bonner performs PRP therapy as part of the Regenexx network — the world’s most advanced network of regenerative medicine physicians. Every PRP injection is performed under precise image guidance (ultrasound or fluoroscopy) to ensure the treatment reaches the exact structures that need it most.

What Is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)?

PRP is created by drawing a small amount of your own blood — similar to a routine blood draw — and processing it in a centrifuge to separate and concentrate the platelets. Platelets are best known for their role in clotting, but they also contain hundreds of bioactive proteins called growth factors that play a critical role in tissue healing and regeneration.

The concentrated platelet solution is then injected directly into the damaged area under image guidance. Because PRP uses only your own blood, there is no risk of allergic reaction or immune rejection.

How Does PRP Work?

When PRP is injected into damaged tissue, the concentrated growth factors help initiate and accelerate the body’s natural repair processes. The key mechanisms include:

Stimulating the recruitment of repair cells to the injured area
Reducing chronic inflammation that contributes to pain and degeneration
Promoting the formation of new blood vessels to improve tissue nutrition
Supporting collagen production for tendon, ligament, and cartilage repair
Modifying the joint environment to slow degenerative processes

The result is a treatment that works with your body’s own biology rather than simply masking symptoms the way corticosteroid injections or pain medications often do.

PRP vs. Cortisone Injections: What’s the Difference?

Cortisone (corticosteroid) injections have been used for decades to reduce joint inflammation and pain. While they can provide effective short-term relief, research has shown that repeated cortisone injections may actually accelerate cartilage breakdown over time. PRP takes a fundamentally different approach:

	Cortisone Injection	PRP Therapy
Mechanism	Suppresses inflammation	Promotes healing and tissue repair
Source	Synthetic steroid	Your own blood platelets
Duration of Relief	Weeks to a few months	Months to over a year in many cases
Effect on Tissue	May accelerate cartilage loss with repeated use	Supports tissue repair and regeneration
Repeat Treatments	Limited due to tissue damage risk	Can be repeated safely as needed
Best For	Acute flare-ups needing quick relief	Chronic conditions, tendon injuries, early to moderate arthritis

Dr. Bonner will discuss whether PRP, cortisone, or another approach is most appropriate for your specific condition and treatment goals.

When Is PRP Used vs. Bone Marrow Concentrate (BMAC) Stem Cell Therapy?

Both PRP and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) are autologous regenerative treatments offered at our clinic. While they share the goal of supporting your body’s healing, they differ in potency and are suited for different levels of injury:

PRP is often the first-line regenerative option for mild to moderate soft tissue injuries, tendinopathies, early arthritis, and as a complement to other treatments.
BMAC may be recommended for more advanced joint degeneration, bone marrow lesions, larger structural injuries, or cases where PRP alone has provided incomplete relief.
In many cases, PRP and BMAC are used together as part of a comprehensive treatment plan — for example, BMAC for the primary joint injury and PRP for surrounding soft tissue support.

Dr. Bonner will evaluate your imaging, symptoms, and goals to recommend the most effective approach for your situation.

Conditions Treated With PRP Therapy

PRP therapy may be appropriate for a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, including:

Knee Conditions

Hip Conditions

Shoulder Conditions

Elbow Conditions

Spine Conditions

Facet joint pain
Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction
Degenerative disc disease

Foot and Ankle Conditions

What to Expect During a PRP Procedure

The PRP procedure is performed in a single office visit and typically takes a few hours. Here is what to expect:

Step 1: Blood Draw

A sample of blood is drawn from your arm, similar to a standard lab draw, but a large quantity of blood is required. The amount varies depending on the area being treated but is typically between more than 150 milliliters. A high volume of blood drawn means that we have a high number of platelets available to help treat the issue. There is evidence related to PRP treatments showing that higher numbers of platelets lead to better results.

Step 2: Centrifuge Processing

Your blood is placed in a centrifuge, which spins at high speed to separate the platelets and growth factors from the red blood cells and other components. As a Regenexx network provider, Dr. Bonner uses advanced processing protocols that produce a more concentrated PRP than many standard commercial kits.

Step 3: Image-Guided Injection

The concentrated PRP is injected directly into the affected area using real-time ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance. This ensures the growth factors are delivered precisely to the damaged tissue — whether that is a joint surface, tendon, ligament, or other structure. Precise placement is one of the most important factors in treatment outcomes.

Why Choose a Regenexx Provider for PRP Therapy?

Not all PRP is created equal. The quality of your PRP treatment depends heavily on how the platelets are processed and how precisely they are delivered. As a Regenexx provider, Dr. Bonner offers several important advantages:

Advanced lab processing that produces higher platelet concentrations and customizable PRP formulations based on your specific condition
Every injection performed under real-time image guidance (ultrasound and/or fluoroscopy) — never “blind” injections
Extensive outcome tracking through the Regenexx patient registry, the largest in regenerative orthopedics
A physician network specializing exclusively in interventional orthopedics — not a general practice offering PRP as an add-on service
Evidence-based protocols refined through over a decade of clinical use and published research

Who Is a Good Candidate for PRP Therapy?

You may be a good candidate for PRP therapy if you:

Have chronic joint pain, tendon injuries, or early to moderate arthritis
Have not found lasting relief from physical therapy, medications, or cortisone injections alone
Want a non-surgical treatment option that supports actual tissue healing rather than only masking symptoms
Are an active adult or athlete looking to return to activity without the downtime of surgery
Have a soft tissue injury (tendon, ligament, or muscle) that has been slow to heal
Prefer a treatment that uses your own biologic material with no synthetic drugs or implants

During your consultation, Dr. Bonner will review your imaging, medical history, and symptoms to determine whether PRP — alone or in combination with other treatments like bone marrow concentrate therapy — is the right approach for your condition.

Recovery After PRP Treatment

PRP therapy is an outpatient procedure and all patients go home the same day. Recovery is generally straightforward, but it’s important to understand that PRP works by stimulating a healing response — so some temporary soreness or pain in the treated area is normal and expected. General recovery guidelines include:

Mild soreness or swelling at the injection site for 2–5 days is common
Most patients can resume light daily activities within 1–2 days
A post-procedure rehabilitation protocol is provided to optimize your recovery
Avoid NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.) for a specified period after treatment, as these can interfere with the platelet-mediated healing process
Initial improvement is often noticed within 4–6 weeks, with continued progress over 2–3 months
Some conditions may benefit from multiple PRP treatments, but this is determined on an individualized basis

Frequently Asked Questions About PRP Therapy

Is PRP therapy safe?

Yes. PRP uses your own blood, so there is no risk of allergic reaction, immune rejection, or disease transmission. As with any injection, there are minor risks such as temporary soreness, bruising, or swelling at the injection site. Performing the procedure under image guidance further reduces risk by ensuring accuracy.

How is Regenexx PRP different from PRP I can get at other clinics?

The quality of PRP varies enormously depending on the processing method and the physician performing the injection. Many clinics use simple, off-the-shelf centrifuge kits that produce relatively low platelet concentrations. As a Regenexx provider, Dr. Bonner uses advanced lab processing that allows for higher platelet concentrations and customized formulations. Additionally, every injection is performed under real-time image guidance — not blindly — which is critical for treatment effectiveness.

Will my insurance cover PRP therapy?

Most insurance plans do not currently cover PRP therapy. Our office can provide detailed pricing during your consultation. Many patients find that PRP is a worthwhile investment compared to the cost and recovery time associated with surgical alternatives.

How many PRP treatments will I need?

This depends on your condition. Some patients experience significant improvement after a single treatment, while others benefit from a series of 2–3 injections spaced several weeks apart. Dr. Bonner will create an individualized treatment plan based on your diagnosis and response to therapy.

Does PRP hurt?

The injection area is numbed with local anesthetic before the PRP is delivered. Most patients describe the procedure as involving mild pressure or discomfort rather than significant pain. Some soreness in the treated area over the following few days is normal and indicates that the healing process has been activated.

Can PRP help me avoid knee replacement or other surgery?

For many patients with early to moderate osteoarthritis or soft tissue injuries, PRP can provide meaningful pain relief and functional improvement that delays or eliminates the need for surgery. However, outcomes vary depending on the severity of the condition, overall health, and adherence to post-treatment rehabilitation. Dr. Bonner will give you an honest assessment of what PRP can realistically achieve for your specific situation.

Can I combine PRP with other treatments?

Absolutely. PRP is frequently used as part of a broader treatment plan that may include physical therapy, activity modification, bracing, and in some cases, bone marrow concentrate (BMAC) stem cell therapy. The combination of treatments is tailored to your specific diagnosis and goals.

Schedule a Consultation

If you are dealing with chronic joint pain, a tendon injury, arthritis, or another musculoskeletal condition and want to explore whether PRP therapy is right for you, we are here to help.

Contact our Miami clinic to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bonner, or book online through ZocDoc for available appointment times (if you do not see availability, please reach out to us directly at 786-522-4959).