About

Dr. Aaron B. Montgomery graduated from medical school at the American University of the Caribbean in 1997. In 2002 Dr. Montgomery completed his residency in radiology at Case Western Reserve University, and in 2003 he completed his fellowship in cardiovascular and interventional radiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Dr. Montgomery is board certified in diagnostic radiology through the American Board of Radiology, and he is also board certified in vascular and interventional radiology. He obtained his license to practice medicine in Florida in 2003.
Dr. Montgomery has a strong interest in regenerative medicine which allows the body to heal itself.  This interest has also taken him to pursue age management and wellness as well as other avenues that slow the aging process as well as slow or reverse signs of aging in our appearence.

PRP treatments can enhance hair restoration and other cosmetic plastic surgery procedures. The platelets, one type of blood cells, contain growth factors that can trigger cell proliferation, speed healing and stimulate tissue regeneration in the treated area.

What you need to know?

• PRP treatment has been used to support wound healing in trauma and joint injury. The technique can address male pattern baldness, stimulate the growth of hair transplants and enhance other cosmetic procedures.
• The results of PRP treatment are most noticeable after at least six months, and are not permanent; patients may require touch-up injections at least once a year.
• Because the treatments use a patient’s own tissues, PRP injections are safe and can be administered alone or used in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures.

PRP Therapy: What to Expect

Preparation

The patient should ensure that the doctor is aware of any prescriptions and over-the-counter medications the patient is using.

It is especially important to follow the doctor’s instructions regarding medications that prolong bleeding, such as aspirin, naproxen, ibuprofen or blood thinners. The patient should not take aspirin unless a doctor has prescribed it, but acetaminophen is fine for a headache.

When PRP is used to treat hair loss, the patient should wash their hair the day of treatment, and not use any products on the hair. A clean hat should be brought to the appointment and worn after the procedure to protect the area.

Because PRP therapy involves drawing blood, it is important for the patient to eat a meal before the procedure to avoid lightheadedness.

The Procedure

First, the doctor draws blood from the patient’s arm and then separates the PRP from the rest of the blood’s components.

After injecting lidocaine to numb the treatment area, the doctor carefully injects the PRP into multiple places under the skin. The platelets break down and release their growth factors, which trigger the natural processes of cell proliferation and tissue renewal.

The procedure itself takes about 30 minutes, and most people can resume their normal activities immediately afterward.

After PRP Treatment

The patient should avoid washing the treatment area for 48 hours. After that, it is all right to use hair and skin care products and continue with topical medications.

The treatment area may be sore for two or three days, and the patient may notice some bruising. Acetaminophen can help ease discomfort. In case of severe pain, the patient should notify the doctor’s office right away.

Hair dye or coloring treatments can resume one week after PRP treatment.

The effect of treatment is most noticeable after at least six months. Repeat treatments may be necessary to maintain the improvement in hair growth and texture.

PRP Therapy, Hair Loss and Hair Transplants

PRP therapy is becoming a popular complement to hair transplants. PRP can help accelerate the growth of transplanted hair roots while also thickening existing hair.

Recent studies have suggested that applying PRP to the scalp can address androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness). Complex baldness problems may require getting once-a-month PRP treatments for four to six months.

For all patients addressing hair loss, consistent treatment with PRP therapy yields optimal results.

The Power of Platelet-Rich Plasma

The human body has a remarkable capacity to heal itself. Regeneration of new tissue is accomplished by the natural production of stem cells. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) involves the application of concentrated platelets rich in bioactive proteins, which release growth factors to stimulate cellular regeneration and accelerate tissue repair. PRP was initially used in wound healing, dentistry and the treatment of sports injuries, but its use for treatment has now evolved to address aesthetic concerns and physiological dysfunction. PRP is one of the most advanced, effective natural treatments for cellular rejuvenation throughout the body.

How Does PRP Work?

While the precise biological mechanisms that allow PRP to work are still being understood, the general consensus is that delivering an increased concentration of platelet-based growth factors at the site of injury helps to reduce pain and inflammation and may expedite the healing process. Animal studies have shown that PRP treatments can generate rapid collagen and blood vessel growth in surgically-created soft tissue lesions, but it should be noted that these results can not be directly extrapolated to humans. However, they can absolutely be used to support the theory that concentrations of platelet-rich blood have the potential to promote healing in damaged tendons, ligaments and muscles. Numerous studies are underway around the world aimed at better understanding the impact PRP injections have on healing and recovery, as well as the best ways to incorporate the procedure into clinical practice.

A PRP treatment begins with a simple blood draw and can be completed within an hour. Your blood is spun in a unique centrifuge that separates plasma and platelets from the rest of the blood. The plasma, now highly concentrated with rich platelets, is collected in syringes and is injected back into your tissues where it’s needed. The growth factors stimulate stem cells to create new, youthful tissue in areas like the face and scalp, and in sex organs, muscles and joints. It’s like turning back the clock, and what was old and damaged is repaired and made new. It’s the essence of regenerative medicine, and the beauty of it is the PRP procedure uses what your body has produced, so your body will readily accept the treatment without reaction or rejection. PRP procedures are minimally invasive and, typically, patients experience very little discomfort with no downtime.

Common Conditions Treated with PRP

There is a wide body of research currently being conducted to better understand how PRP works and what injuries it can be best used to treat. The general understanding is that PRP can play a vital role in recovering from the acute or chronic tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries; arthritis, particularly arthritis of the knee; and, to a very limited degree, fractures. While it is still much too soon to draw concrete conclusions from these studies, anecdotal evidence, particularly that emerging from the treatment of high-level athletes, indicates that the use of PRP injections is very effective in promoting healing and decreasing recovery time.

Who is a Candidate for PRP Treatments?

Anyone who is suffering from a musculoskeletal soft-tissue injury could be a candidate for PRP injections. Whether your injury is chronic or acute, your physician could recommend PRP injections to promote healing and shorten your recovery time. Even if your injury requires surgical intervention, there are PRP techniques being used today that allow physicians to “stitch” PRP into surgically repaired tissue. The only way to know for sure whether or not PRP could help you is to consult with your physician, as there are numerous factors that could affect your eligibility for the procedure.

Advantages of Using PRP

Because PRP is extracted from your own blood, it alleviates the risk of allergic reaction, rejection or skin sensitivity. More than 60,000 procedures involving the injection of PRP into various parts of the body have been performed with no side effects or complications reported.

PRP therapy is swiftly becoming one of the most popular treatment methods to address a variety of health and cosmetic issues, including:

• Wrinkled or sagging skin
• Frown lines, crow’s feet
• Acne
• Scarring
• Rosacea
• Erectile dysfunction
• Urinary incontinence
• Sexual wellness
• Hair regrowth

Research suggests that as the study of this treatment continues, PRP therapies eventually may be able to treat myriad other medical conditions in addition to the ones listed above.

Risks Associated with PRP

While there is a certain level of risk involved with any medical procedure, PRP is very safe when compared to traditional surgical treatments; generally speaking, the procedure is no riskier than receiving a steroid injection. There are no incisions required for the procedure, so the risk of infection is very low and recovery time is virtually nonexistent. Furthermore, there are no additives or chemicals involved in the preparation of a PRP injection, so there are no foreign substances being introduced to the body during the procedure. These factors all combine to make PRP a safe procedure for treating musculoskeletal pain.