PRP for Hair Loss – Getting to the Root of It All

If you’ve been finding more strands than usual in the shower drain and are seriously concerned about hair loss, there is a minimally-invasive, safe solution that is proven to help give you a head start on your hair restoration journey.

Whether you’re a guy experiencing male pattern baldness or a woman noticing thinning tresses due to hormonal changes, such as menopause, hair loss is becoming increasingly common between both men and women. Sometimes hair loss is part of the normal aging process, as it is with most men – and even women. Other times, unforeseen hair fall is linked to an underlying medical condition, such as alopecia.  Whatever the reason, hair loss can be an undeniably alarming and devastating condition for anyone irrespective of their age. Traditionally, hair loss patients had very little options to address their hair loss, often turning to more aggressive, surgical hair restoration treatments, such as the timely and costly hair transplants. But, today, there is a much better option that’s turning heads in the medical industry – and beyond.  

PRP: The Bloody Truth
Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP), colloquially referred to as “vampire treatments,” involves drawing blood from a patient’s arm, then spinning it in a centrifuge device at very high speeds, separating its components. Once the blood is spun, the plasma rises to the top, with the lower portion of the plasma being essentially “platelet-rich.” Platelets are one of the four primary components of blood, aside from red blood cells, white blood cells, and plasma, and promote cell growth and regeneration throughout our bodies, giving our skin, hair, nails their youthful beauty. PRP is typically five times more concentrated in platelets than unspun blood and touted for its plethora of growth factors responsible for wound-healing, tissue regeneration, and follicle-friendly hair growth. When it comes to hair loss, experts theorize that when the platelets are injected deep into the scalp, reaching the bottom most portion of the hair’s follicle, they stimulate a concentrated population of cells called dermal papilla cells, which play a crucial role in healthy, consistent hair growth.

Am I a Good Candidate for PRP Injections?
Hair’s the deal. The best candidates for PRP injections to stop hair loss are men and women who are in the earlier stages of hair loss, as the cutting-edge treatment is designed to strengthen the remaining active hair follicles. Most PRP injections addressing hair loss are used to treat AGA (androgenetic alopecia), commonly referred to as hormone-related baldness that can affect both men and women.  

Syringe to Scalp:  How is PRP Performed?
Going “under the needle” to address hair loss is surprisingly quite simple. PRP for hair loss is usually performed using a three-step approach:

• Blood is drawn from the patient’s arm
• Drawn blood is spun at high levels within a medical centrifuge for apt separation 
• Using a syringe, the platelet-rich plasma portion of the spun blood is strategically re-injected into area(s) of the scalp suffering visible hair thinning/loss

Hair experts believe the PRP injections trigger natural hair growth by stimulating rich blood supply to the hair follicles on the scalp, while thickening and volumizing the hair shaft. The entire process is performed in-office using local anesthesia to minimize discomfort and is usually completed in under an hour. Depending on the patient, 3 sessions spaced approximately 1 month apart, followed by maintenance sessions every 3-6 months to retain head-turning results, is required. For some patients, results can last up to a year or longer before maintenance treatments are necessary. 

The Mane Event:  Benefits of PRP for Hair Loss
Initially used as an intense, cosmetic skin treatment to promote youthful, complexion-plumping collagen, as well as fight aging, fade acne scarring, diminish hyperpigmentation, and solve other skin woes (aka “the vampire facial” made famous by social media sensation and beauty mogul, Kim Kardashian), PRP is also being celebrated as one of the most beneficial, effective, and safe hair restoration solutions for patients unwilling to go under the knife. No cutting, no scars, no problem! Patients have enjoyed the following hair-raising benefits of PRP:

• Proven to be highly-effective, as most patients will begin to see visible results/measurable improvements within 3-6 months from the initial treatment
• Minimally-invasive procedure means no dreaded downtime
• Patients experience little to no pain/discomfort, as a very small amount of blood is taken
• Quick, easy, and straightforward process, taking mere minutes from start to finish
• PRP injections can help support blood vessels surrounding hair follicles, promoting thicker, fuller, healthier hair growth

Learn to Love Your Locks…Again!
If you are a man or woman struggling with thinning hair or it seems your once-lush locks are coming out in clumps, we can help. Please contact our office today to speak with any one of our highly-specialized team members and get a head start on your hair restoration journey.