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Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy Specialist

Gardner Tarlow, MD -  - Family Practice Physician

Gardner Tarlow, MD

Family Practice Physician located in Anaheim, CA

With a clientele full of athletes and weekend warriors, Dr. Gardner Tarlow is dedicated to offering the latest treatments for musculoskeletal injuries and conditions, including Platelet Rich Plasma therapy, at his practice in Anaheim, California.

Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy Q&A

What is Platelet Rich Plasma therapy?

Platelet Rich Plasma therapy, or PRP, is a game-changing regenerative medical treatment used to speed recovery from a wide scope of musculoskeletal injuries. PRP is a substance made by taking a small amount of your own blood and then spinning it in a centrifuge to create a formula that’s concentrated with healing platelets. This substance is then injected into injured areas to jumpstart the body’s natural healing process. Blood platelets contain growth factors that are vital to initiate and accelerate the repair and regeneration of tissue and bones, blood vessels, and stimulate wound healing. By concentrating these growth factors and injecting them at the site of injury, the body's own stem cells are drawn to the injured area and differentiate to form new, healthy and robust regeneration of damaged ligaments and tendons. To be considered PRP, the platelet count must be 4x or greater above baseline, but can be as high as 10x.

What injuries can be aided with PRP treatment?

PRP is used to accelerate healing and reduce pain caused by a wide assortment of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions, as well as speed recovery from surgeries. It’s especially popular in treating sports-related injuries. In fact, scores of professional athletes swear by the benefits of PRP, including Super Bowl winning football star Hines Ward, and basketball’s Kobe Bryant and Steph Curry. Some of the most common injuries PRP therapy is used to heal are: ligament tears, tendonitis, tendinopathy, muscle pulls and sprains, all kinds of joint pain, osteoarthritis, chronic back pain due to ligament laxity, achilles tendonitis, medial and lateral epicondylitis (tennis and golf elbow), and plantar fasciitis (foot and heal pain) to name a few.

What does the PRP procedure entail?

PRP procedures are performed in our office, and typically take about one hour. Some patients may require multiple injections, although most enjoy relief of symptoms and start healing after just one session.

Will insurance cover PRP treatments?

Currently, PRP treatment and Amnion tissue allograph therapy is considered alternative medicine procedure, and, as such, is presently not covered by most insurance plans. However, this treatment is available at a reasonable cost that can be discussed during your initial consultation.

Major Insurance Providers Accepted

We accept most major PPO and select HMO insurance plans. Here is a short list of just some of the most popular plans we accept. Please contact our office if you do not see your insurance provider listed. For more detailed information, please contact your insurance provider regarding coverage details.

Contact us!

Aetna
Blue Cross
Blue Shield
Cigna
HealthNet
Medicare
United Healthcare