PRP for Hair Loss

PRP Hair Loss Treatment Process

PRP is the process of extracting platelets from your blood and injecting them into your scalp to help stimulate hair growth. This process is typically performed together with FUE to accelerate recovery.

How Red Blood Cells Work

Each component of blood has a different purpose. Red blood cells transport oxygen throughout the body inhaled via the lungs, and dispel carbon dioxide as waste with each exhale.

How White Blood Cells Work

White blood cells are essentially the basis for our immune response and are stored in your lymphatic system. White blood cells help your immune system fight off infections, viruses, and anything your body deems foreign. 

How Platelets Work

Your platelets clot your blood so that you stop bleeding. For instance, if you accidentally cut your finger, the damaged blood vessels signal your body that it needs platelets to secure the wound.

These platelets grow “sticky tentacles” to cling to each other and form a barrier over the cut. After that, they will also send signals to other platelets to gather at the cut and strengthen the clot.

How Plasma Works

Plasma is the final and largest component, making up about 55% of our blood. Plasma has many jobs in our body system, such as carrying nutrients, proteins, and hormones to various cells. Additionally, plasma helps maintain blood pressure and volume and dispels cell waste.

What Are The Benefits Of PRP Treatment?

PRP is a great alternative for people who have not had success with other hair restoration treatments. PRP is an option for those who do not want to take medications, like Minoxidil, due to its known side effects, such as itching, burning, and skin irritation. 

The benefits of PRP can include the following.

• Non-invasive, so no surgery involved.
• Time-saving with just a quick in-office procedure.
• Less risk of adverse side effects since we’re using your own platelets.
• Faster recovery and healing time.

Choosing PRP for Your Hair Restoration

PRP treatment is not the most commonly sought-after hair restoration treatment. Few people are aware that platelet-based therapy can address hair loss problems.

Your first option for hair loss is usually topical Minoxidil (Rogaine) because it is widely available over the counter. In case it fails, your next step is to consult a doctor. More often than not, they’ll suggest oral Finasteride (Propecia).

If these medications do not work for you, your hair specialist may consider surgical options for treatment, including:

• Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)
• Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

For non-surgical hair restoration, PRP therapy is available.

How Does PRP Treatment Work?

When you undergo this procedure, your doctor extracts plasma from your blood. The plasma isolates certain components that promote cell regeneration to create a concentrated “PRP” solution that the doctor injects into the area that needs treatment.

PRP therapy includes three steps: 

1. First, the platelet-poor plasma is spread over the extracted in a petri dish. 
2. The plasma stimulates hair growth by stimulating healthy hair cells. 
3. Then, the surgeon injects PRP and buffy coat into the balding area. 

PRP for hair loss involves several sessions over a few months.

PRP Recovery & Results

There’s no recovery time for PRP, and our hair specialists recommend you avoid vigorous exercise for a few days after your therapy. Additionally, because PRP is non-surgical, you’ll have no scarring and can immediately return to your daily routine. 

While individual results vary from person to person, you can generally expect to see visible results six months after your PRP procedure. You may need multiple sessions to achieve your aesthetic goals. 

Is PRP Treatment Effective At Regrowing Hair?

In theory, our body operates more effectively when there’s better blood flow. Thus, PRP helps energize vital organs and allows them to perform more effectively. Studies have shown that activated platelets can release numerous growth factors as part of the healing process that may promote hair growth. 

These growth factors include:

• Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF)
• Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)
• Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF)
• Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)
• Interleukin (IL)-1

Growth factors can promote new follicle development and blood vessels, called neovascularization. PRP therapy in balding areas of the scalp can heal the shrinking strands and produce hair more efficiently. 

In a 2014 pilot study of PRP, researchers injected 2 to 3 mL of PRP four times, scheduled at two weeks apart. The 11 participants had not seen results from topical Minoxidil and oral Finasteride. 

The researchers found that hair loss slowed down between PRP’s first and fourth injections. They concluded, “A PRP injection is a simple, cost-effective, and feasible treatment option for male pattern baldness. Hence, with high overall patient satisfaction.”

This study offers some hope, but it still needs more research and further clinical studies with larger participant groups before it can be proven effective as a stand-alone treatment. 

Although the efficacy is still debatable, PRP therapy has been proven very effective in wound healing, which is why we almost always use it alongside FUE. After harvesting the hair follicles from the donor site, the PRP is injected back into the scalp to promote faster healing. 

After FUE treatment, proper care plays a major role in the success of the hair restoration procedure, so you need to follow your doctor’s post-op hair transplant instructions by your doctor.

These instructions include:

• Spraying the scalp with water and letting it air dry.
• Avoiding washing or brushing your hair for the first week.
• Refraining from dyeing your hair for the first month.

Following these instructions ensures the transplant site accepts the relocated follicles and allows the donor site to heal properly. PRP treatment also promotes a faster healing time and better results for FUEs. 

Is PRP For Hair Loss Safe?

Often, the question we hear most is: “Is PRP for Hair Loss Safe?” The answer is yes — if you go to a reputable provider.

PRP treatment for hair loss is safe because the plasma comes from the patient’s blood, and there’s no need to run it through a wide variety of blood compatibility testing.

Currently, plasma use for medical treatment is fairly common, and PRP therapy is used in treating immunodeficiency diseases, genetic emphysema, and burns. 

For hair restoration, the safety precautions are like any other possible use cases. The risk of infection in the PRP procedure is minimal as the process requires a sanitary syringe and needle.

Our hair transplant surgeons at The Hair Transplant Center – New Jersey will inject your own PRP into your scalp using a thin needle. The growth factors in your blood cells do their job, stimulating natural hair regrowth. 

How Much Does PRP Hair Treatment Cost?

PRP treatment for hair loss can be a great way to deal with male pattern baldness. The procedure is typically used by people who have tried other treatments, like Rogaine and Propecia, without success. It’s also a good option for those looking for something more natural than surgery. 

PRP therapy for hair loss typically consists of three treatments within four to six weeks. Aside from that, it also requires maintenance treatments every four to six months. Here at The Hair Transplant Center – New Jersey clinic, we can add PRP treatment to any hair restoration procedure. Additionally, PRP therapy can be a minimally invasive stand-alone solution.

PRP pricing depends on many factors, including:

• Your geographical location.
• Quality of equipment used in the treatment.
• Addition of nutritional components to boost the plasma.
• Number of injections used.
• Expertise of the doctor.

Will My Insurance Plan Cover PRP Hair Treatment?

Many insurance companies do not cover any of the costs of hair loss treatment, as they consider PRP a cosmetic procedure. However, you can still check with your insurance provider to see if they cover all or part of PRP therapy.

Who Is A Good Candidate For PRP Hair Treatment?

Have you already tried oral Finasteride and topical Minoxidil and have yet to see any meaningful results? PRP therapy may be a good treatment option for you.

That said, there are some conditions which may make you ineligible for PRP, including:

• Cancer
• Low platelet count
• Liver disease
• Sepsis
• Infection
• Metabolic disorders
• Blood and bleeding disorders
• Anemia
• Pregnant

Additionally, a patient undergoing anticoagulation therapy may not be a good fit for PRP. You must consult a doctor to determine whether you are a good candidate for PRP.