Alex Paziotopoulos, MD

PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) therapy has been used for years in orthopedic medicine to help reduce pain and initiate a response to heal broken bones; reduce joint pain and increase joint mobility.  PRP treatment involves a blood draw in the office, and then the platelets from your blood are concentrated in a centrifuge and injected back in to your body where they will facilitate healing, tissue repair and regeneration.

While every medical treatment carries some risk, PRP involves the removal, concentration and re-injection of your own platelets into a specific area of your body.  The risks and potential side effects of this treatment are much lower than with surgery or pharmaceuticals.

For genetically inherited hair loss, (as opposed to hair loss due to Lupus or other medical conditions), PRP injected into the scalp has been shown to activate dormant hair follicles and improve the diameter of existing hairs.  If you have relatively recent hair loss or thinning, you may be an excellent candidate for PRP treatment, and likely to experience positive results.  If your hair loss is long standing, (more than 5 years or so), or if you have virtually no hair follicles on an area(s) of your head, PRP may not be effective for you.  

We often combine PRP treatments for hair loss with topical supplements that support healthy follicles and a light therapy device to be used at home twice per week.  We don't generally recommend pharmaceuticals to address hair loss because we treat many men for erectile dysfunction, and the drugs for hair loss often create or worsen symptoms of ED.    

Numerous clinical studies have shown that acoustic wave therapy, sometimes referred to as, shockwave therapy is very safe and effective at improving erectile functioning.  We have had great results at our clinic using acoustic wave therapy to treat ED and it is a cornerstone of the treatment protocols we provide.  We are glad to let men know that there are no known side effects of acoustic wave therapy; it will do no harm.  The same cannot be said for pharmaceuticals like Viagra or Cialis.

However, there are a number of factors to consider in deciding upon the treatment regimen that will give the best results.  For example, when men are generally in good health; not taking medications for high blood pressure or diabetes; are non-smokers with a relatively healthy body weight, often a course of acoustic wave treatments in conjunction with a pump to be used at home for 8 weeks or so after the treatments are concluded, to boost the healing response, can yield great results.  

When we work with men who have a more severe problem; are taking medications long term that can cause difficulties with achieving and maintaining an erection; have found that Viagra or Cialis which used to work initially, but now, after increasing the dosage, are finding that they no longer create an erection -  combining acoustic wave therapy with P shots and supplements can be a much more effective protocol, giving faster, better and more long lasting results.  

Whether you receive acoustic wave therapy on its own or in combination with P shots, we always recommend men use a pump twice daily for 10 minutes beginning when the treatment commences and for at least 8 weeks following the treatment.  The pump helps to bring blood flow to the area which optimizes the healing response and maximizes long term results. 

Using Acoustic Wave therapy to treat ED has been well studied and found to be completely safe, with no known side effects - and effective.  Please see a link to one recent article, below.

In general, Acoustic Wave therapy works by improving blood flow to the penis.  Better blood flow results in erections that are easier to achieve and sustain; results last 2 years or so.  After that time, men will often pursue a maintenance treatment once every year or so as needed, if / when they begin to notice the problem beginning to recur.

Unlike medications or injections which are designed to create an erection in the moment, but do not do anything to address the underlying problem, Acoustic Wave therapy actually creates a beneficial physiological change, the growth of new blood vessels, that provides lasting benefits. 

The specific treatment protocol that will give you optimal results depends on the severity of the problem. Men who have mild ED and don't have any other medical conditions; don't take medications; don't smoke, can often do well with 4 - 6 Acoustic Wave treatments.  For men with more more factors contributing to erectile functioning difficulties, we find that more treatments may be necessary, and combing Acoustic Wave therapy with P Shots can be more effective than either treatment alone. 

It is also recommended that you use a pump twice daily for at least 8 weeks following the Acoustic Wave and or P Shot treatments, to optimize results.  The pump brings blood flow to the area which accelerates the healing response.

Depending on the severity of the bend, and how long term this problem has been, we may start with acoustic wave therapy first, before recommending the P Shot.  We have found that in many cases we can reduce pain and discomfort of erections; have erections feel fuller and harder and be easier to achieve and sustain - with acoustic wave treatments.  The shock waves seem to soften up the scar tissue and make it easier for the body resorb. 

We also recommend that men use the pump twice daily during their treatment and for 8 weeks following.  

Combining the P Shot with acoustic wave treatment seems to give better results than either treatment alone.  

Surgery will likely result in a shortened penis and possibly other unfavorable outcomes.  The P Shot and acoustic wave therapy can give most men results they want with virtually no known side effects. 

We recommend using the pump twice daily for about 10 minutes, for 8 weeks, after the P Shot.  This helps to optimize the results of the P Shot.  Men often get more comfortable using the pump after a few times.  If used properly, there is really no downside to using the pump longer than a couple of months; however after that time, the healing process resulting from the P Shot will likely be completed.  

We have had great results combining the P Shot with the GAINSwave treatments; in fact we do not recommend the P Shot without acoustic wave therapy.   We find that the two treatments together give better results than either one alone.  And using the pump is beneficial for 8 weeks whether the treatment is the P Shot, GAINSwave acoustic wave therapy, or both. 

Using the vacuum erection device after a P shot is highly recommended to optimize treatment results. We encourage men to use the pump for about 10 minutes twice daily for 2 months. We teach our clients to use the pump to get a full, firm erection - but not to be overly aggressive with the pressure.  After using it a few times, most men are pretty comfortable with the process.

Using the pump helps to bring blood flow to the area, which can help to accelerate the healing and boost the impact of the platelets. 

We have had great results in our clinic helping men to restore sensitivity in their penis.  Our treatment typically includes acoustic wave therapy and P shots - sometimes in combination.  The exact treatment protocol would depend on a variety of factors, the severity of the problem, etc. 

One of the great advantages of these treatments is that they are completely safe - with no known side effects, and the results are lasting.  

The basic idea is that the both acoustic wave therapy and P shots improve blood flow and nerve conduction in the area which gives men improved sensitivity and better erections that are easier to sustain.

I understand your reluctance to use ED medications because of the side effects, especially given your past experience.  To improve your ability to achieve and maintain erections, you might want to consider a treatment protocol that combines Acoustic Wave Therapy with the P Shot.  We find that when we use these treatments in combination, the effect on new blood vessel growth and improved blood flow is stronger, and the results are better than either modality alone.  

Acoustic wave therapy helps boost erectile functioning and sensitivity partly by bringing platelets and other growth factors to the area in and around your penis.  When we administer the P shot we are collecting millions of your platelets from your blood, and injecting them directly back into the penis where they can turbo charge this healing process.  Men typically experience an improvement from acoustic wave therapy treatments, and then a more dramatic boost in performance and sensitivity after the P Shot.  

A big advantage of this treatment regimen is that it does not rely on any drugs.  The acoustic wave treatment is non-invasive; it is completely safe and has no known side effects - and the results are lasting.  The P Shot involves the injection of your own platelets back into your body - there is no risk of side effects - we are essentially concentrating your platelets and delivering them to where they can be most beneficial to you.  

You also mentioned a problem with neuropathy in your feet and legs.  We have had great results with using acoustic wave therapy to improve the pain and discomfort of neuropathy.  That might be a great option for you, to feel more comfortable -  again with no risk of side effects.