Regenerative Orthopedics
PRP Therapy San Diego — Platelet-Rich Plasma
Your body’s own concentrated healing factors — delivered precisely where you need them. No surgery. No downtime. Back to light activity the next day.
What is PRP?
Harnessing your biology — not overriding it
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy in San Diego — performed by Dr. Scott Hacker using the EmCyte PurePRP system — concentrates your own platelets and growth factors and delivers them precisely to damaged tissue under ultrasound guidance. A small blood sample is drawn in the office, processed in a centrifuge, and injected the same visit. No surgery. No downtime.
When platelets are activated at the injection site, they release a cascade of growth factors — PDGF, TGF-β, IGF, VEGF, and others — that modulate inflammation, recruit repair cells, stimulate collagen synthesis, and support tissue regeneration. This is fundamentally different from cortisone: a steroid injection suppresses inflammation and reduces pain but does nothing to promote healing and may weaken tissue over time. PRP works with your biology rather than against it.
I integrated PRP into my practice more than a decade ago, initially through FDA clinical trials in which I served as Principal Investigator. The evidence base has grown substantially since then, and PRP is now one of the most well-studied biologic interventions in orthopedic medicine. Done correctly — with the right concentration, the right system, and delivered to the right tissue under imaging guidance — it is a meaningful tool for reducing pain and supporting healing in a range of musculoskeletal conditions.
Conditions Treated
PRP for musculoskeletal pain and injury
PRP is used across a range of musculoskeletal conditions where reducing inflammation, stimulating repair, and avoiding surgery are priorities.
Knee
- Osteoarthritis (mild to moderate)
- Meniscus tears (non-surgical candidates)
- Patellar tendinitis (jumper’s knee)
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome
- Post-operative healing support
- Cartilage damage
Shoulder & hip
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy
- Partial rotator cuff tears
- Shoulder arthritis
- Hip osteoarthritis
- Gluteal tendinopathy
- Hip labral irritation
Elbow, ankle & tendon
- Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
- Medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow)
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Plantar fasciitis
- Ankle arthritis
- Chronic tendon injuries
What to Expect
Same-day, in-office — no incision, no downtime
The PRP procedure takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes from start to finish. Blood is drawn from your arm using a standard venipuncture — the same process as a routine blood test. The sample is then placed in the centrifuge for the double-spin processing cycle. While the centrifuge runs, the injection site is prepared and a topical anesthetic is applied to maximize comfort.
The injection itself is performed under ultrasound guidance — meaning I watch the needle and the target tissue in real time on a monitor, ensuring the PRP is delivered precisely where it will do the most good. There is no incision, no stitches, and no general anesthesia. Most patients return to light activity the following day.
Improvement timeline
Most patients begin noticing meaningful pain reduction at 4 to 6 weeks after injection. The full effect develops over 3 to 6 months. A series of 1 to 3 injections may be recommended depending on the condition and your response.
Avoid NSAIDs before injection
Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen should be stopped 7 days before PRP treatment and avoided for several weeks after, as they interfere with the platelet activity that drives the healing response.
No-burn protocol
The EmCyte system uses a buffered processing protocol that minimizes injection site pain — the “no burn” approach. Most patients report only mild pressure during the injection, not the stinging discomfort associated with some other systems.
Why the System Matters
Not all PRP is equal — not even close
The PRP literature has been confused for years because different studies use completely different systems — and platelet concentration varies enormously between them. A single-spin system (used by most clinics) produces a 2 to 4 times concentration of platelets. That often is not enough to achieve a clinical benefit. You need a meaningful biological dose.
I use the EmCyte PurePRP system — a double-spin closed processing protocol that achieves 12 to 22 billion platelets per treatment, representing up to 16 times the baseline concentration. Red blood cell contamination is reduced to less than 1%. The leukocyte (white blood cell) content is fully customizable, which is important because the optimal formulation varies by tissue type — joints benefit from a leukocyte-reduced formula, while tendons respond better to a leukocyte-rich preparation. The system is FDA 510(k) cleared.
A 2024 study published in the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine found that superdose PRP — high-concentration formulations in the range produced by the EmCyte system — outperformed corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid for long-term pain relief in mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis. Higher platelet concentration correlates with better outcomes. This is why the system you choose matters as much as the procedure itself. If you are considering PRP elsewhere, ask: What system do you use? How many platelets does it produce? Can you customize the leukocyte content?
Credentials
Experience that goes deeper than injections
I am board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and fellowship-trained in sports medicine and reconstructive surgery. I hold a Master of Science in Bioengineering — a degree that informs how I evaluate the science behind emerging biologic therapies rather than adopting every trend uncritically. I have been an FDA Principal Investigator in clinical trials involving biologic orthopedic treatments since 2010, with a clean audit record. I have performed more than 6,000 orthopedic procedures over my career.
PRP is not magic and I do not present it as such. It is a scientifically grounded treatment with a meaningful evidence base that continues to grow. When it is appropriate for your condition — and applied correctly with the right system and right guidance — it is an excellent tool. My job is to help you understand whether it is the right tool for you.
Take the next step
Ready to move forward?
Request an appointment, ask a question, or get a second opinion. We’ll get back to you within one business day.