PRP and stem cells: what's the difference? Which one to choose?

The main difference between PRP and stem cells lies in their origins : stem cells come from the patient's own fat or bone marrow and regenerate damaged tissues to promote deep repair . PRP, extracted from the blood, reduces inflammation and accelerates repair by boosting the body's natural repair mechanisms.

PRP, or Platelet-Rich Plasma, is a concentrate obtained from centrifuged blood taken from a patient's arm. It can (among other things) stop bleeding, but also: 

• To repair damaged fabrics, 

• To stimulate collagen, 

• To heal wounds, 

• To reduce inflammation 

• To repair fabrics. 

Once collected and centrifuged, the blood is reinjected into the dermis. This procedure can be performed on the entire face, or on specific points

such as crow's feet, nasolabial folds or the forehead. 

aimed at fighting arthritis, restoring intimate balance, or improving hair growth. Once injected, the platelets activate and release their repairing molecules, the effects of which can last from 6 to 12 months on average .

Stem cell therapy is among themost advanced and effective treatments in modern medicine. It is invasive and generally requires general anesthesia and a short hospital stay. 

It involves taking fat or bone marrow from a patient in order to extract mesenchymal stem cells . After being extracted, the material is purified and then reinjected . 

By acting deep within the tissues, it multiplies and stimulates the production of collagen and elastin while regenerating damaged tissues. Stem cells not only provide stimulation but also achieve genuine regeneration of skin tissue, tendons, cartilage, and muscles. 

This is precisely why this method can be used in the

but also in various medical fields such as cardiology, orthopedics or traumatology. 

PRP releases growth factors that promote tissue repair. Stem cells, for their part, act by secreting growth factors and bioactive substances that participate in the formation of new cells in damaged tissue . But they can also orchestrate deep repair by releasing repair molecules called paracrine factors.

PRP is a much faster process because it works by immediately stimulating the body's natural repair mechanisms. This results in an acceleration of tissue regeneration processes, within the limits of existing tissue. 

The repair achieved with PRP is rapid and homogeneous , but it generally does not last more than a year , and this treatment shows its limitations when the tissue architecture is severely altered.

Stem cells, on the other hand, offer slower but more lasting and powerful effects because they take longer to integrate into tissues and communicate with local cells. The resulting quality of recovery is therefore more profound, as it affects the very structure of the tissue.

• For tissue with little alteration (micro-lesions, loss of elasticity, moderate inflammation) : PRP is preferred to stimulate cell renewal and obtain rapid results.

• Moderately damaged tissue (persistent inflammation) : PRP will be of interest to improve repair activity while stem cell treatment is useful to achieve deeper regeneration.

• Damaged tissue (altered tissue quality) : stem cell treatment is best suited to restore the microenvironment, while PRP will only be useful as a complement.

• Damaged tissue (significant structural loss) : PRP alone is insufficient, stem cells are preferred for the long-term restoration of tissues.

PRP is a minimally invasive procedure because the blood is drawn as in a standard blood test. It is then filtered using a centrifuge to isolate the Platelet-Rich Plasma, which is then reinjected into the targeted area. 

Stem cell therapy is more invasive because the procedure requires harvesting fat (via a small liposuction) or bone marrow (most often from the pelvis). The harvested material is then filtered to separate the stem cells from other components before being reinjected.

You should expect to pay around €695 per PRP session and per area treated. 

Stem cell therapy is more profound, complex, and comprehensive. It is therefore more expensive and involves a hospital stay determined by each individual patient's profile. The cost will thus depend on each patient and their specific needs.

Both options are possible and can be combined outside of any

. It is important to know that despite hair loss (even significant hair loss), the scalp retains its dormant stem cells. 

Stem cells represent an excellent way to combat moderate to severe androgenetic alopecia in a sustainable manner. This method restores a biologically favorable environment around the hair bulb by stimulating existing cells, reducing chronic inflammation, and improving local vascularization. 

PRP can quickly reduce hair loss and stimulate stem cells in the hair follicle, including those in the dermal papilla. It's the ideal method if your alopecia is in its early stages or mild, or if you want to support stem cell injection treatment.

PRP is the most commonly used treatment in orthopedics and traumatology . It is offered when other medical treatments such as physiotherapy, viscosupplementation, or cortisone injections have not yielded conclusive results. 

PRP injections then allow for:

• To slow down the progression of diseases, 

• To reduce pain, 

• To avoid stiffness in the joints. 

The benefits of these injections last an average of 6 months and they can be combined with

. 

These benefits were also proven by a study published in 2021 on PubMed. According to the scientists, patients treated with PRP showed significant improvements in pain (VAS scores) and function for 6 and 12 months, compared to placebo or other injections (hyaluronic acid, corticosteroids).

Plantar fasciitis and tendon pathologies such as tendinitis are ailments that can affect many people during their lifetime, resulting in persistent pain and functional limitations. 

Today, PRP has emerged as the most effective therapeutic option for addressing these issues. It stimulates tendon fiber repair, modulates inflammation, improves tenocyte proliferation, accelerates type I collagen synthesis, and promotes a more functional organization of the repaired tissue. This method was initially proven effective with elite athletes who require rapid and efficient tissue and tendon repair.

To improve skin appearance and combat skin aging, both options are possible. PRP is more suitable for someone wishing to boost radiance, improve skin texture, and stimulate collagen and elastin production by promoting cell renewal. 

But it is also an excellent way to treat acne scars because Platelet Rich Plasma has great regenerative properties. 

If you're looking for a more long-term solution, stem cell injections may be the ideal option. According to a study published on PubMed, they are the best option for: 

• a restoration of facial volumes and contours; 

• a deeper and more lasting regeneration of skin tissues;

• an overall improvement in skin quality;

• a replacement of abnormal elastic fibers caused by solar aging with a normal network of elastin fibers.

It all depends on the stage of osteoarthritis. PRP is the most effective treatment for combating the earliest stages of the disease . It stimulates local stem cells in cartilage and surrounding tissues, has anti-inflammatory properties , and offers relatively rapid results. 

On the other hand, if the osteoarthritis is advanced, it will be preferable to opt for the injection of stem cells which allow deeper tissue regeneration and participate in the repair of connective tissue. 

A diagnosis validated by a study published in March 2025 in the journal Stem Cell Research & Therapy, in which the scientists concluded : “Intra-articular injection of mesenchymal stem cells alone allows for a significant improvement in pain and knee dysfunction in patients with non-operated osteoarthritis. MSCs appear as a promising therapeutic option for the treatment of osteoarthritis, with the potential for increased efficacy through better optimization of their administration.”