The past 20 years have seen remarkable advances in non-surgical hair replacement therapies. With its high success rate and low risk of complications, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy has become a popular option to help regrow or thicken hair without drugs or surgery, using the healing power of your own body. It also works very well during the healing phase post-transplantation to help stimulate growth of the newly transplanted follicles.
What Is Platelet Rich Plasma Treatment?
Platelet Rich Plasma treatments improve hair and scalp health by using platelets from the patient’s own blood. After a quick blood draw, plasma is separated from the red blood cells and injected into the scalp. The growth factors in the plasma stimulate the hair’s growth and the robustness of the follicles, leading to thicker, longer, stronger hair. PRP treatments can help regrow thinning hair and slow the progression of several types of hair loss. This works best in areas of thinning (miniaturized) hair follicles, if they still exist.
What Can I Expect During PRP?
We will make you as comfortable as possible before doing a small blood draw from your arm, much like what you would experience for a simple lab test at your doctor’s office.
After collection, the blood is spun in a centrifuge to separate the platelets from the other parts of the blood. While you wait, the treatment area is treated with alcohol to prepare for the procedure.
Once the platelets are activated to release signaling proteins and essential growth factors, they are injected into your scalp in areas where your hair is thinning. Injections are typically done in half-inch areas of the scalp to ensure maximum coverage with a tiny needle. We typically use a vibrating device to confuse the nerve fibers during the injection.
PRP injections are usually done monthly for the first three months, then a booster three months later, and then every six months after that. This schedule works with your hair’s natural growth cycle and allows your scalp to heal adequately between treatments. For our patients who have had transplantation, we recommend four to six monthly treatments following the transplantation to maximally nourish the newly placed follicles with growth factors.
Advantages of PRP
PRP is an effective treatment for both men and women. Studies indicate that it combats hair loss in more than 70 percent of cases.
It is also very safe. PRP is non-surgical, requires no oral medication, and plasma is produced from one’s own blood… so there is little-to-no risk of side effects from treatment. Allergic reactions, rejection, and infection are extremely rare.
PRP injections involve only minor discomfort, and they are fairly quick. A session typically takes less than an hour, and patients can return to work and resume their regular activities immediately afterwards.
Results can be seen relatively soon, with visible improvement in hair thickness and growth within three to six months. Full benefits can be seen within six to nine months. All this at far less expense than hair transplant procedures.
Is PRP Right for Me?
Platelet-rich plasma treatment can be an excellent option for both men and women with thinning hair. PRP is used to treat hair thinning due to androgenic alopecia, telogen effluvium, alopecia areata, and other types of hair loss. It may be done in conjunction with other treatments or as a supplemental treatment after a hair transplant.
It also may be an option for those who are unable to undergo a surgical hair loss procedure or for individuals who cannot safely take medications like finasteride. An additional benefit is that it is more financially accessible than surgical hair replacement.
Begin Your Hair Replacement Journey Today
If you are experiencing thinning hair, PRP treatments may be right for you. We are happy to discuss your options at an in-person or virtual consultation. Contact us today to begin your journey to a thicker, fuller head of hair with PNW Hair Restoration.
*MODEL, NOT A REAL PATIENT
