After a PRP injection, your main job is to protect the healing process your body just started. The platelets injected into your tissue release growth factors that trigger inflammation on purpose, and that inflammation is the first step of repair. Most of what you do (and avoid) in the coming days and weeks is designed to let that process run its course without interference.
The First 48 Hours
Expect soreness, swelling, and possibly some warmth at the injection site. This is normal and actually a good sign. PRP works by kickstarting an inflammatory response similar to what happens after a fresh injury, and that swelling is the beginning of healing. These symptoms typically last a day or two.
During this window, keep activity to a minimum. Rest the treated area and avoid putting unnecessary strain on it. If the injection was in a weight-bearing joint like a knee or ankle, consider using crutches or limiting how much you walk, especially if it’s painful. No weight training, no running, no high-impact movement.
Avoid showering for 24 hours after the procedure. After that, showers are fine, but skip hot baths, hot tubs, and saunas for the first few days. Heat can increase swelling beyond what’s helpful.
Managing Pain Without Ruining the Treatment
This is the single most important thing to get right: do not take ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, or any other anti-inflammatory painkiller (NSAIDs) for at least two weeks after your injection. These drugs work by suppressing inflammation, which is exactly the process PRP is trying to create. Taking them can undermine the entire treatment.
If you need pain relief, use acetaminophen (Tylenol). It reduces pain without interfering with the inflammatory healing cascade. You can also apply ice to the area for 15 to 20 minutes every 2 to 4 hours during the first few days. Some protocols limit ice use after the first week, since prolonged icing can also dampen the inflammatory response. Your provider may have a specific preference here, so follow their guidance if it differs.
Also stop any supplements that affect platelet function, things like fish oil, turmeric, and vitamin E, for one week before and after treatment.
Weeks 1 Through 6: Gradual Return to Activity
The first week is about relative rest. No weight training, no intense cardio, no activities that load the treated area heavily. Light movement is fine and can help with stiffness, but the goal is to avoid stressing the tissue while the initial healing phase is underway.
Starting around week two, you can begin gradually increasing activity. Low-weight, high-repetition exercises are a good starting point, keeping your pain level below a 3 out of 10. Open-chain exercises (where your hand or foot moves freely rather than being planted) are generally safer at this stage. Avoid eccentric exercises, the type where you’re slowly lowering a weight or controlling a lengthening muscle, until later in recovery. These put significant load on tendons and joints and can be too aggressive early on.
Continue avoiding NSAIDs through this entire phase. Many people don’t realize the restriction extends well beyond the first few days. The inflammatory and tissue-building stages of healing overlap during these weeks, and anti-inflammatory drugs can still interfere.
What the Full Recovery Timeline Looks Like
PRP isn’t a quick fix. The body goes through a limited window of active healing after an injury or treatment, and that window spans roughly three to six months. After that period, the body largely stops actively repairing the tissue. This is why PRP is sometimes given as a series of injections spaced weeks apart: each round restarts or extends that healing window.
Most people notice gradual improvement starting around four to six weeks after injection, with continued progress over several months. Don’t be discouraged if you feel worse before you feel better. The initial inflammation phase can make the area more sore than it was before treatment, and that’s expected. The real results come later.
If You Had PRP for Your Face or Scalp
PRP isn’t only used for joints and tendons. It’s increasingly common for facial rejuvenation and hair restoration, and the aftercare has some differences. Sun protection becomes critical: skipping sunscreen after facial PRP can reduce your results and increase the risk of pigmentation issues. Stay well hydrated and avoid smoking, which impairs the blood flow and oxygen delivery your skin needs to respond to the treatment. You won’t see the same improvements if you smoke, skip water, or neglect sun protection.
For scalp PRP, your provider will tell you how long to wait before washing your hair, typically at least several hours. Avoid harsh chemical treatments or coloring for at least a few days.
Signs Something Isn’t Right
Normal post-PRP symptoms include moderate soreness, swelling, mild bruising, and stiffness at the injection site. These should peak within the first day or two and gradually fade over the following week.
Contact your provider if you develop a fever, if the injection site becomes increasingly red and hot after the first couple of days (rather than improving), if you notice spreading redness or streaking, or if pain gets significantly worse instead of better after 48 to 72 hours. Infection after PRP is rare since the injection uses your own blood, but it’s not impossible, and catching it early matters.
Quick Reference: What to Avoid and For How Long
- NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin): avoid for at least two weeks after injection
- Supplements affecting platelets (fish oil, turmeric, vitamin E): avoid for one week before and after
- Showering: wait 24 hours
- Hot baths, saunas, hot tubs: avoid for the first few days
- Weight training and high-impact exercise: avoid for at least one week, then reintroduce gradually
- Eccentric exercises: avoid for roughly six weeks
- Smoking: avoid throughout your recovery period, as it impairs healing