Platelets are small, potent blood cells.  They control bleeding and heal damaged tissues.  Platelets promote healing because they contain powerful, natural substances called GROWTH FACTORS.

Multiple growth factors (signaling proteins) are located in the alpha granules of platelets.  Growth factors stimulate and accelerate new cell growth and blood vessel formation.  They are released upon platelet activation.  Some of the many growth factors released include platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor-ß and insulin-like growth factor.
           
AUTOLOGOUS (one’s own) platelets from the patient’s blood are collected, anticoagulated (treated to prevent clotting) and spun down in a centrifuge to concentrate their numbers.  It is from these autologous platelets that we produce platelet rich plasma and platelet gel.