Can You Reduce Microplastics in Your Body? New TPE Research Suggests You Can

Microplastics are prevalent in our environment, and if they are inhaled, ingested, or absorbed by the body, they can travel through the bloodstream and affect your health. Research estimates that people in the U.S. ingest between 39,000 and 52,000 microplastic particles each year. However, a landmark new study has found that therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) reduced microplastic levels among patients with moderate to high levels.

The study was conducted by Seattle-based Circulate, and PHASE Plastic Surgery was one of the participating clinics. We are the only facility in the area offering the specific and patented protocol from Circulate.  If you are wondering if you can reduce microplastics in your body, read on to learn more about the TPE research that suggests you can.

Understanding Plasma Exchange

Therapeutic plasma exchange, or TPE, is an FDA-approved procedure that has historically been used to treat certain autoimmune and neurological conditions. 

During plasma exchange, IVs are used in each arm to remove the majority of the cell-free portion of your blood and replace it with albumin, saline, and antibodies to boost immunity. A plasma exchange session usually takes two to three hours to complete.

What The Study Found

The findings mark the first time a patented medical intervention has been shown to successfully remove microplastics from the body.

Participating researchers, including PHASE Plastic Surgery’s Dr. Baxter, measured microplastics in blood samples before and after plasma exchange procedures performed on 114 patients.

The results saw a drop from 52.2 to 21.1 particles per 100 microliters of blood after one treatment, among patients with the highest levels of circulating microplastics.

However, patients who had very low levels of microplastics sometimes saw small increases after treatment, which researchers attribute to plastic tubing and IV equipment used during the procedure.

Call Us to Learn More About Reducing Microplastics in Your Body

These findings come alongside increased concerns about the long-term effects of microplastics on health. Other recent studies have found fragments of plastic in the placenta, lungs, liver, and bloodstream. Circulate Health’s work, which includes patients from PHASE Plastic Surgery, provides the first clinical evidence that medical technology can reduce the amount of microplastics in the body. 

For more information about the TPE research that suggests you can reduce microplastics in your body, get in touch with PHASE Plastic Surgery today. Our provider, Dr. Baxter, was a participant in the study, and we are the only facility in the region to offer Circulate Health’s TPE procedure.