Hair loss is a major concern for many men and women, whether it is caused by age, genetics, hormones, medical conditions or even due to styling practices and/or products. With recent advances in research in the field of hair restoration, new treatments have been created to help combat the condition. Platelet Rich Plasma, or PRP, is an emerging nonsurgical based treatment for both men and women that is showing remarkable results in slowing down, stopping and even reversing hair loss. PRP has also shown promising outcomes in patients with alopecia areata and thinning eyebrows.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is a medical procedure which uses your cells to attempt to achieve specific therapeutic results. PRP is thought to work by producing growth of new tissue from the stimulation of stem cells. Platelets are a component of blood that contain specific growth factors. These growth factors, once introduced into the scalp, activate your own stem cells and help generate new hair growth by stimulating dormant hair follicles, and preserve and thicken hair.
Are There Risks?
Because PRP is made from your own blood, there is no reported risk factors or allergies.
Recovery & Results
There is no downtime following this procedure, with virtually no limitations or restrictions. Most commonly, patients may develop some redness, minimal swelling and mild tenderness to the treated areas. These symptoms may last up to 48 hours. While results differ for each patient, cosmetic benefits are typically seen around 4 to 6 months after the first set of treatments, and will continue to improve after eight months and even more so after 12 months.
As PRP is not a permanent solution for hair loss, repeat treatments are recommended based on individual results. It is important to note that PRP does not grow new hair follicles in areas where you are already bald. It is used to help reverse the miniaturization of hair follicles so they will produce healthier, thicker, longer hair fibers.
Follow-Up
Routine follow up visits are an important part of individualized Hair Plan to preserve and restore hair with any form of non-surgical therapy. The latest data indicates 3 initial PRP therapy treatments has the greatest effectiveness for hair growth stimulation. By tracking each patient’s hair growth progress (length, thickness, density—how much hair is present in an area of scalp) provider can determine whether the specific treatment(s) is effective and tailor treatments according to each patient’s response
