PRP (platelet-rich plasma) is a concentrate made from your own blood and injected into a painful joint. Many people try it before surgery or other treatments because it is quick and uses their own blood.
The research is mixed. In a 2021 randomized trial of 288 adults with knee osteoarthritis, PRP was no better than a saltwater placebo injection at 12 months.[2] This page explains what joint PRP is, where it falls short, and what to consider if it did not help you.
New Patient Inquiries (Call or Text), Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5 PM. PRP injections and stem cell therapy are not FDA-approved for treating joint pain or arthritis. Individual results vary.
Platelets are tiny blood cells known mainly for helping blood clot. They also carry growth factors involved in tissue repair. PRP therapy concentrates those platelets and places them where you hurt.
PRP contains no stem cells. There is also no single standard recipe: platelet concentration, white blood cell content and preparation steps vary widely between commercial systems, which makes studies hard to compare.[1]
PRP is often offered after rest, physical therapy, medication or a steroid shot have not given lasting relief. Common reasons people choose it:
Some studies report less pain after PRP, and others find little or no difference compared with a placebo. Here is a plain-language summary of key studies, including what is still unknown.
In the 2021 RESTORE trial, 288 adults with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis received PRP or saltwater placebo injections. At 12 months, there was no significant difference in knee pain or cartilage volume.[2] The authors noted that most clinical guidelines do not recommend PRP for knee osteoarthritis.
A 2021 review of 18 randomized trials in knee osteoarthritis found better average scores after PRP than after hyaluronic acid injections.[3] For hip osteoarthritis, a 2022 review found PRP and hyaluronic acid gave similar short-term results.[4]
A Cochrane review of 19 small trials in muscle, tendon and ligament injuries found insufficient evidence to support platelet-rich therapies and called for standard preparation methods.[5]
Because PRP systems produce very different products,[1] it is still unclear which preparation, how many injections and which patients are most likely to benefit. No one can promise an outcome from PRP. Individual results vary.
Not at this time. Innovations Stem Cell Center does not currently offer PRP injections for joints, muscles or tendons.
Our only PRP treatment is PRP ear injections for selected patients with hearing loss or tinnitus, under the care of Dr. Bill Johnson. Care starts with an in-office hearing test.
VISIT OUR HEARING & TINNITUS RECOVERY CENTER
PRP for hearing loss and tinnitus is investigational and not FDA-approved for this use. Individual results vary.
Many patients who contact us have already tried PRP, steroid shots or gel injections for joint pain. If those gave little or short-lived relief, stem cell therapy is an option some patients consider next.
The two are different. PRP delivers platelets and growth factors and contains no cells. Our treatment uses living mesenchymal stem cells from your own fat: typically 100 million cells or even more (counts may vary), tested for count and viability, and used the same day. They are never frozen.
Research on fat-derived stem cells for joints is still early. A small randomized trial in knee osteoarthritis reported less pain and better function at 12 months after adipose-derived stem cell injections, compared with usual care.[6] Larger trials are needed. Stem cell therapy is not FDA-approved for these uses, and Dr. Johnson will tell you if it is not a reasonable fit.
Cost: one flat fee of $16,500 for the joints that need treatment (up to 4) plus the IV dose, with acoustic wave therapy (AWT) included. Spine treatment is $19,000. Consultations are free, financing is available, and out-of-town patients receive a complimentary hotel stay.
Dr. Johnson has been featured on TV for 20+ years. To hear from stem cell patients in their own words, watch our patient stories.
Patient experiences are individual. Individual results vary.
New Patient Inquiries (Call or Text): (972) 893-9849
Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5 PM
Innovations Stem Cell Center was named a “Top Stem Cell Therapy Treatments Company” by Life Sciences Review in 2025 and again in 2026.
An award reflects the publication’s editorial review. It is not a prediction of any individual patient’s outcome.
PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, is made by drawing a small amount of your blood, spinning it in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets, and injecting that concentrate into a painful joint. It contains growth factors but no stem cells.
The evidence is mixed. Some studies report less pain than with gel injections, but a 2021 randomized trial of 288 adults found no significant difference between PRP and a saltwater placebo at 12 months. Individual results vary.
When PRP helps, relief may last for months and then fade, and many people have repeat injections. Studies have mostly followed patients for a year or less, so long-term effects are not well known.
No. The devices used to prepare PRP are regulated by the FDA, but PRP injections are not FDA-approved for treating arthritis or joint pain. Stem cell therapy is also not FDA-approved for these uses.
Usually not. Most people pay out of pocket, so ask for the total cost, including the number of injections, before you start.
PRP uses platelets from your blood and contains no cells that can become tissue. Stem cell therapy at our clinic uses living mesenchymal stem cells from your own fat, typically 100 million cells or even more (counts may vary), tested and used the same day. Neither is FDA-approved for joint pain, and individual results vary.
Talk with a physician about your imaging and history. Options may include physical therapy, other injections, surgery or stem cell therapy. Our free consultation reviews whether stem cell therapy is a reasonable fit for you. Call or text New Patient Inquiries at (972) 893-9849.
At our clinic, joint treatment is a flat $16,500 for the joints that need treatment plus the IV dose, with acoustic wave therapy included. Spine treatment is $19,000, a second treatment if needed is $10,000, and consultations are free.
Tell us what you have tried and how your joint feels now. We will explain the options honestly and let you know whether stem cell therapy may be a fit. Not sure yet? See who may qualify.
PRP injections and stem cell therapy are not FDA-approved for treating joint pain or arthritis. This page is for general information and is not medical advice. Individual results vary. Medically reviewed by Dr. Bill Johnson, October 2026.