The Skin & Joint Injection ClinicRegenerative injection · Wirral
Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) Injections in Wirral
A blood-derived injection from your own sample, considered for selected tendon and joint problems after assessment.
What is Platelet Rich Fibrin?
A regenerative injection made from your own blood
Platelet Rich Fibrin, or PRF, is a regenerative injection prepared from a small sample of your own blood. It concentrates the platelets and growth factors that your body naturally uses to repair tissue, then delivers them directly into the area causing pain. For patients with stubborn tendon problems, soft-tissue injuries or early to moderate osteoarthritis, PRF can be a considered next step when rest, exercise or medication have not provided the relief you were hoping for.
Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) injection
From£400
Includes consultation, the blood draw, the PRF preparation, the injection itself and aftercare advice. Anterior hip PRF is £600.
Stubborn pain that hasn't responded to the usual route
Joint and soft-tissue pain rarely shows up cleanly on a scan or in a single diagnosis. What matters more is how it shapes your day, the walks you cut short, the sleep you lose, the exercise you start to avoid, the loss of confidence in a knee, shoulder or tendon that used to feel reliable.
Most patients we see for PRF have already worked through the usual route: rest, anti-inflammatory tablets, physiotherapy, sometimes a steroid injection. That history is genuinely useful. It tells us which structures have settled, which have not, and whether PRF is a sensible next step or whether something else fits your case better.
When PRF is unlikely to help your particular pattern of pain, we will say so plainly. We will talk through the alternatives, including targeted rehabilitation, a steroid injection, hyaluronic acid options, or — for knee osteoarthritis specifically — Arthrosamid, further imaging, GP review or onward referral.
How PRF differs from other injections
Using your body's own healing signals
Unlike steroid or hyaluronic acid injections, which deliver an external substance into the joint, PRF uses what your body already produces. A small sample of your blood is processed in a centrifuge to isolate a fibrin matrix rich in platelets and the growth factors involved in natural tissue repair. That preparation is then placed precisely into the joint or soft-tissue area identified during your assessment. The aim is to support healing locally rather than only to mask pain.
Where PRF is commonly considered
Best fit for stubborn tendon problems and selected joint pain
PRF is generally most useful where blood flow to the affected tissue is naturally limited — stubborn tendinopathies and early-to-moderate joint changes. The diagnoses below are the ones we most often see in clinic. Suitability is decided after a full musculoskeletal assessment.
Chronic tendinopathies
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis). Persistent outer-elbow pain at the common extensor origin, particularly where steroid injection and rehabilitation alone have not settled symptoms.
Achilles tendinopathy. Mid-portion or insertional Achilles pain in runners, walkers and active patients where structural change is identified on ultrasound.
Patellar tendinopathy (jumper's knee). Anterior knee pain at the patellar tendon affecting load-bearing activities such as running, squatting and stairs.
Rotator cuff tendinopathy. Chronic, low-grade rotator cuff tendon irritation where ongoing physiotherapy has plateaued.
Soft-tissue and joint conditions
Plantar fasciitis. Persistent heel pain at the plantar fascia origin, considered after structural rehabilitation and footwear changes have not resolved symptoms.
Early-to-moderate osteoarthritis. Mild to moderate cartilage change where a non-steroid, regenerative-style approach is preferred — often as an alternative or complement to hyaluronic acid options.
Selected sports and overuse injuries. Chronic soft-tissue injuries that have not progressed with conventional management, considered on a case-by-case basis after imaging.
A simple three-step process
What happens during a PRF session
From arrival to leaving, a typical PRF appointment takes around 45 minutes. A small blood sample is drawn from your arm while your clinician reviews the diagnosis, the target area on ultrasound and what to expect afterwards.
01
A small blood draw
A small blood sample is taken from your arm, just as it would be for a routine blood test. The process is quick and well tolerated by most patients.
02
Centrifuge preparation
The sample is processed in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets and growth factors into a fibrin matrix ready for injection.
03
Targeted PRF injection
The PRF preparation is injected precisely into the target tissue, with ultrasound guidance where appropriate to support accurate placement.
Why patients consider PRF
A thoughtful option for the right diagnosis
Targets the underlying tissue
PRF aims to support the body's own repair response in tendons and joints rather than only suppressing inflammation, working with your biology instead of overriding it.
Made entirely from your own blood
Because nothing synthetic is added, the risk of allergic reaction is very low. Other procedural risks are explained in detail before any treatment goes ahead.
Part of a wider plan
PRF works best alongside rehabilitation and follow-up. Some patients report meaningful improvement; others do not respond, and we are upfront about that from the first visit.
Your Journey With Us
Assessment, treatment and aftercare, clearly explained.
We know it can feel difficult to book a procedure when you are not sure what will happen next. Your clinician will explain suitability, risks, recovery and aftercare before treatment goes ahead.
Book
Choose a consultation online or speak to the clinic if you are not sure which service fits. Most appointments are available within seven days.
Assessment
An in-person review with Dr Mugerwa: he will listen to your story, examine the area and walk through what is going on.
Plan
An honest recommendation. If treatment is suitable we will explain the options, risks and likely outcomes. If it is not, we will tell you and refer you on.
Treatment
The procedure itself, followed by tailored aftercare guidance and a clear contact route if anything changes during recovery.
“After two PRP injections my knee has vastly improved, it's not back to normal but I'm fully confident that it will be soon. The injection is totally pain free, and Dr. Mugerwa explained fully the procedure. Well worth the money.”
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about PRF
Honest answers to the questions patients most often raise about PRF — how it differs from PRP, how many sessions to expect, and what conditions it suits best.
Because PRF is prepared from a small sample of your own blood, with no synthetic additives or foreign drugs, the risk of allergic reaction or rejection is very low. As with any injection, there is a small risk of bruising, infection or short-lived pain at the injection site, which we discuss with you before treatment. We use sterile technique and ultrasound guidance where appropriate to support safe, accurate placement.
Some patients notice meaningful improvement after a single session, but clinical experience generally favours a course of two to three treatments spaced four to six weeks apart for tendon and joint conditions. A staged approach allows the regenerative response to build over successive sessions. We agree the likely number of sessions with you at consultation, and review progress as we go rather than committing to a fixed course up front.
Both are blood-derived regenerative treatments, but PRF and PRP are processed differently. PRP is prepared at higher centrifuge speeds and usually involves chemical anticoagulants; PRF uses a lower-speed spin with no additives, which preserves a higher proportion of white blood cells and creates a natural fibrin matrix that releases growth factors more gradually. In practice, the choice depends on the diagnosis and the structure being treated; we will explain which approach fits your case.
PRF is most commonly considered for chronic tendon problems (tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, Achilles tendinopathy, patellar tendinopathy, rotator cuff tendinopathy and plantar fasciitis) and for early to moderate osteoarthritis where a regenerative, non-steroid approach is preferred. It is not suitable for every painful joint or tendon. Suitability is decided at consultation.
PRF works with your body's own healing processes, so the response is gradual rather than instant. Most patients begin to notice change over the first four to six weeks following treatment, with continued improvement reported over the following months. This is one of the key differences from a steroid injection, which suppresses inflammation more quickly but does not directly support tissue healing.
A typical PRF appointment takes around 45 minutes. A small blood sample is drawn from your arm — similar to a routine blood test — and immediately processed in our centrifuge to separate the PRF matrix. The prepared injection is then placed precisely into the target tissue under ultrasound guidance. Written aftercare guidance is provided before you leave.
PRF for musculoskeletal conditions is currently a privately-funded treatment in the UK. The Skin & Joint Injection Clinic is an independent, CQC-registered private clinic; you can refer yourself directly. The fee includes consultation, the blood draw, PRF preparation, the ultrasound-guided injection and aftercare advice.
Related treatments
Useful next steps if you are comparing treatment options at our Wirral clinic.
