What to Expect at Your PRP Appointment in Charlotte
Most patients arrive at their first PRP appointment with a mix of optimism and uncertainty. They understand the concept — a concentrated preparation of their own platelets, injected into a damaged joint or tendon to stimulate healing — but they have no mental picture of what the actual day looks like. How long will it take? Will it hurt? Can they drive themselves home? Will they need to take time off work?
This guide walks through every stage of a PRP appointment at our Charlotte and Huntersville locations, from arrival to discharge, so you know exactly what you’re walking into.
Reviewed by the clinical team at Stem Cell Carolina. All procedural details reflect current practice at our Charlotte and Huntersville locations.
Quick answer
A standard PRP appointment for a single area at Stem Cell Carolina takes approximately one hour to one hour and fifteen minutes, from arrival to departure. It involves a blood draw, around thirty minutes of centrifuge processing, an image-guided injection into every problem structure in the treated area, and a brief post-injection review. Most patients drive themselves home the same day. There is no general anesthesia, no hospital admission, and no requirement to take time off work — though avoiding strenuous activity for a few days post-injection is standard guidance.
Before your appointment
What to do in the days leading up to it
Stop taking anti-inflammatory medications at least seven days before your procedure. NSAIDs — ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), and aspirin — directly suppress the inflammatory healing response that PRP relies on. Taking them before or after injection actively works against the treatment’s mechanism, which is why this is the most important pre-appointment instruction.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a safe alternative for pain management in the days before your appointment. If you take blood thinners or prescription medications, raise this with the practice team when you book — some require a longer washout period or a conversation with your prescribing physician.
Eat and drink normally on the day of your appointment. There is no fasting requirement for PRP. Staying well hydrated makes the blood draw smoother and supports recovery.
What to wear
Wear clothing that gives easy access to the area being treated. Loose shorts for a knee, a loose or easily adjusted top for a shoulder, comfortable stretchy clothing for a hip or lower back. The team will position you correctly — but the right clothing makes the process faster and more comfortable for you.
Arrival
Both the Charlotte location (Providence Road, near the Arboretum) and the Huntersville location (Kincey Avenue, Lake Norman area) have free on-site parking. The entire appointment — blood draw, processing, and injection — takes place at the practice. There is no hospital component.
Step 1: Consultation and pre-procedure review
The treating physician reviews your case before any procedure begins. If this is your first treatment visit following your free consultation, this review confirms the structures to be treated, the procedure steps, and any questions you have. For returning patients, it is shorter but always happens. The physician does not hand you off to a technician or delegate the injection to support staff at any point.
This step also confirms you have completed the medication washout, checks your hydration, and captures any changes in symptoms since your consultation — a new imaging result, a different pain location, anything relevant to the day’s treatment plan.
Step 2: Blood draw
A trained team member draws a measured volume of blood from a vein in your arm, using the same type of needle as a standard blood test. The volume is larger than a routine lab draw but well within comfortable limits. The process takes five to ten minutes and is performed in the treatment room or an adjacent preparation area.
The blood goes directly into specialized collection tubes that are loaded into the centrifuge immediately. If you have a history of difficult blood draws or needle sensitivity, mention this when you arrive — the team can take additional steps to make it more comfortable.
Step 3: PRP processing — the centrifuge
The processing step takes approximately thirty minutes, during which you remain comfortably at the practice. Unlike standard PRP centrifuge systems that rely solely on spin speed and density separation, we use the advanced Arthrex Angel System, which combines centrifugation technology with optical sensing to more precisely isolate and concentrate healing components from your blood. This system is able to produce a higher concentration of platelets while also allowing customization of the leukocyte (white blood cell) concentration based on the specific condition being treated. The resulting platelet-rich plasma is then carefully prepared for injection.
During this window, the treating physician may review your imaging, mark injection sites under ultrasound, or simply let you rest. There is nothing you need to do. The centrifuge system at Stem Cell Carolina produces a high-concentration PRP preparation — significantly higher platelet concentration than standard systems — which is why most patients at this practice are treated in a single session rather than the series of lower-concentration injections some other clinics recommend.
Step 4: The injection
The injection phase takes fifteen to twenty minutes, depending on the number of structures treated. Here is an honest, step-by-step account of what happens during that time.
Positioning
You will be positioned on the treatment table to give the physician optimal access to the target area. For a knee, this is typically lying flat with the leg slightly bent. For a shoulder, seated or lying on your side. For a spine or hip, prone (face down) or in a lateral position. The physician explains the position before you move into it.
Skin preparation
The injection site is cleaned with an antiseptic solution to minimize infection risk. A sterile drape may be applied. This takes two to three minutes.
Local anesthetic
A small amount of local anesthetic is injected at the skin entry point to numb the area before the PRP needle is placed. This is a brief sharp sensation lasting one to two seconds — most patients describe it as the most uncomfortable moment of the entire procedure. After that, the area is numb and the PRP injection is felt as pressure rather than pain.
Ultrasound guidance
Every injection at Stem Cell Carolina is performed under real-time image guidance — ultrasound for soft tissue, tendons, and most joints; fluoroscopy for spinal procedures. The physician positions a sterile ultrasound probe adjacent to the injection site, and the live image is visible on a monitor throughout, showing exactly where the needle is at every moment. This is standard procedure at every injection, on every patient, at every visit — not an add-on or an upgrade.
The injection itself
The PRP preparation is delivered into each problem structure individually, one at a time. A shoulder with arthritis, a labral tear, and rotator cuff tendinopathy — three distinct targets — is treated with three separate, precisely placed injections under continuous ultrasound visualization. The quoted price at Stem Cell Carolina covers all problem structures in the treated joint, not just the primary one.
Most patients feel mild pressure and a brief sense of fullness or aching in the joint. Some feel very little. Significant pain is uncommon with proper anesthetic and precise needle placement — communicate immediately with the physician if it occurs.
Step 5: Post-injection review and discharge
You remain at the practice for approximately fifteen minutes after the injection. The team confirms you are comfortable, answers any remaining questions, and reviews post-procedure care instructions directly with you before you leave.
You leave with written guidance covering: activity levels for the next several days, when to expect the initial inflammatory response to settle, which medications to keep avoiding, and when to look for early signs of tissue response. A follow-up appointment is typically scheduled several weeks out to assess your response and determine whether any additional treatment is warranted.
After you leave: recovery by phase
Days 1–3: the inflammatory phase
Increased soreness for the first two to four days is normal and expected — it is the inflammatory healing response PRP is designed to trigger, not a sign something went wrong. Continue avoiding NSAIDs. Use acetaminophen if needed for pain. Apply heat every few hours for fifteen to twenty minutes at a time.
Days 4–14: gradual settling
The initial soreness typically subsides within three to five days. Most patients return to normal daily activity — light walking, desk work, driving — during the second week, without significant restriction. Avoid heavy loading of the treated joint during this period: running, heavy lifting, high-impact sport.
Weeks 2–6: early tissue response
PRP results develop over weeks to months, not days. The underlying biological process — platelet activation, growth factor release, collagen synthesis, tissue remodeling — unfolds gradually. Most patients begin noticing meaningful improvement in pain and function between four and eight weeks post-injection, though this varies by condition severity, age, and the specific structures treated.
For soft tissue conditions like tennis elbow or Achilles tendinitis, results are often significant and long-lasting. For arthritis in larger joints, the expected relief window is eighteen to twenty-four months, after which patients may choose to repeat the procedure.
Returning to work and driving
Most patients drive themselves home from the appointment. If your procedure involves a lower extremity and you are uncertain about operating pedals comfortably, arrange transport as a precaution and assess at the practice before leaving. Desk work can typically resume the same day or the next. Physical labor, prolonged standing, or heavy lifting may require two to three days of modified duty — discuss your specific demands with the treating physician before your appointment.
How long does the full appointment take?
A single-area PRP appointment at Stem Cell Carolina takes approximately one hour to one hour and fifteen minutes from arrival to departure. Multi-joint sessions or fluoroscopic procedures run longer — the team provides an estimated time for your specific case at booking.
- Blood draw: 15–20 minutes
- Centrifuge processing: approximately 30 minutes
- Preparation and injection: 10–15 minutes
- Post-procedure observation and review: 15 minutes
Ready to book?
The consultation at Stem Cell Carolina is the right starting point — a physical examination by a board-certified specialist who will identify which structures are involved, confirm whether PRP is appropriate for your case, and build a realistic treatment plan specific to your condition. Charlotte and Huntersville locations, free on-site parking, same-week appointments typically available.
Book your free consultation or call (704) 542-3988
Frequently asked questions
How long does a PRP appointment take in Charlotte?
A standard PRP appointment for a single area takes approximately one hour to one hour and fifteen minutes, including blood draw, centrifuge processing, image-guided injection, and post-procedure review. Complex or multi-joint sessions run longer.
Does a PRP injection hurt?
A local anesthetic is applied at the skin entry point before the PRP needle is placed. Most patients feel a brief sharp sensation from the anesthetic — typically the most uncomfortable moment of the procedure — after which the area is numb and the injection is experienced as pressure rather than pain. Significant pain is uncommon.
Can I drive myself home after a PRP injection?
Most patients drive themselves home. If your procedure involves a lower extremity and you have any uncertainty about operating pedals comfortably, arrange transport and assess at the practice before leaving.
How long will I feel sore after PRP?
Increased soreness in the treated area for the first two to four days is a normal part of the inflammatory healing response PRP triggers. This typically settles within three to five days. Avoid NSAIDs during this period — they counteract the treatment mechanism.
When will I notice results from PRP therapy?
Most patients begin noticing meaningful improvement between four and eight weeks post-injection. Full tissue remodeling unfolds over months. For arthritis in larger joints, the expected relief window is eighteen to twenty-four months. For soft tissue conditions like tendinitis, results are often significant and long-lasting.
What medications should I avoid before and after PRP?
Avoid NSAIDs — ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin — for at least five to seven days before your appointment and for several weeks after. These medications suppress the inflammatory healing response PRP relies on. Acetaminophen is an appropriate alternative. If you take prescription blood thinners or other medications, discuss these with the practice team before your appointment.
What should I wear to a PRP appointment?
Wear clothing that allows easy access to the area being treated. Loose shorts for knee treatment, a loose or easily adjusted top for shoulder treatment, and comfortable stretchy clothing for hip or lower back treatment.
How many PRP injections will I need?
With a high-concentration PRP system, most patients are treated in a single session. Patients with more advanced degeneration or complex multi-structure presentations may benefit from a follow-up injection, determined by their individual response. For a full breakdown of what drives session recommendations, see our guide on why PRP pricing requires a physical exam.