Understanding Your Sense of Smell and Taste
Smell, taste, and flavor are distinct experiences. While the tongue detects basic tastes (sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and savory), true flavor is largely the result of our sense of smell. Smell is processed by specialized nerve fibers located high in the nasal cavity in an area called the olfactory cleft. These fibers send signals to the brain that allow you to identify scents and enjoy the full flavor of your food.
What Causes Loss of Smell and Taste?
While temporary loss is often caused by common colds, sinus infections, or allergies, persistent loss is typically the result of nerve damage. This damage can occur following:
- Viral infections (including COVID-19)
- Head trauma or concussions
- Aging
What is PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma)?
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a regenerative treatment that uses your own blood to support healing. After a small amount of blood is drawn, it is processed to concentrate platelets—cells that play a vital role in tissue repair.
Historically used for joint pain and skin rejuvenation, recent double-blind studies now indicate that PRP can be an effective treatment for nerve-related smell and taste loss by supporting the regrowth of olfactory nerve fibers.
The Treatment Process
If you are identified as a candidate for PRP, the treatment follows a specific, structured path:
Initial Evaluation: Your first visit includes a patient questionnaire, a complete nasal and sinus evaluation, nasal endoscopy, and smell testing. A CT scan or MRI may also be required.
The Procedure: The nose is anesthetized using a spray and small medicated gauze (pledgets) placed in the nose. Once numb, two injections of your prepared PRP are placed on each side of the nasal cavity near the olfactory fibers. There is no downtime or activity restrictions following the procedure.
Follow-up Schedule: The procedure is performed twice, with the second treatment occurring one month after the first. A third visit is scheduled at the three-month mark to evaluate your response to the treatment.
Important Considerations
Smell Therapy: Following PRP treatment, we recommend a structured smell therapy program, which involves repeated exposure to specific scents to help retrain your olfactory system.
Insurance and Costs: While initial evaluations and the three-month follow-up can often be billed to insurance as standard ENT visits, the PRP procedure itself is not currently covered by insurance carriers. The cost is $1,500 per procedure, payable at the time of the visit.
Research Participation: Data from these visits (de-identified) will be collected for potential research and publication purposes.
Getting Started
If you are suffering from persistent loss of smell or taste, we are here to help. Please contact our office to schedule your initial evaluation and determine if you are a candidate for PRP therapy.
The following documents provide information on our clinical approach and help you prepare for your evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Loss of smell and taste can be caused by temporary issues like common colds, sinus infections, or allergies. Persistent loss is often due to nerve damage from viral infections (including COVID-19), head trauma, concussions, or aging.
PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) therapy is a regenerative treatment that uses concentrated platelets from your own blood to support tissue repair. Recent studies show PRP can help regrow olfactory nerve fibers, improving nerve-related loss of smell and taste.
The treatment starts with an evaluation including nasal exams and smell testing. The procedure involves numbing the nose and injecting PRP near the olfactory nerves on each side of the nasal cavity. Two treatments are done one month apart, followed by a three-month follow-up to assess progress.
There is no downtime or activity restrictions following the PRP procedure, allowing patients to resume normal activities immediately after treatment.
Smell therapy is a structured program involving repeated exposure to specific scents to help retrain and stimulate the olfactory system. It is recommended after PRP treatment to enhance nerve recovery and improve smell function.
While initial evaluations and follow-up visits may be billed to insurance as standard ENT visits, the PRP procedure itself is not currently covered by insurance. The cost is $1,500 per procedure, payable at the time of the visit.
You can schedule an initial evaluation at the clinic, which includes questionnaires, nasal exams, smell testing, and possibly imaging. This comprehensive assessment determines if PRP therapy is appropriate for your condition.