Loss of smell (anosmia) or reduced sense of smell (hyposmia) can result from nasal polyps, post-viral illness (including COVID-19), head trauma, or other causes. Prof Lubbe offers innovative platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy to help restore the sense of smell.
Causes of Smell Loss
- Post-viral (including Long COVID)
- Nasal polyps and chronic sinusitis
- Head trauma damaging the olfactory nerve
- Neurodegenerative disease
- Idiopathic (unknown cause)
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
PRP therapy involves drawing a small amount of blood, concentrating the growth factors in the plasma, and injecting this directly into the olfactory region of the nose. These growth factors stimulate regeneration of olfactory nerve cells.
What to Expect
- Outpatient procedure performed in clinic
- No general anaesthetic required
- Series of treatments typically needed
- Best results in patients who still have some residual smell function
Olfactory Training
PRP therapy is combined with structured olfactory training — a proven method of retraining smell recognition by repeatedly sniffing specific scents twice daily over several months.