OVERVIEW
Widely popular since the mid-1990’s, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a concentrated mix of platelets and growth factors separated from whole blood by centrifugation. Containing 3 to 5 times the platelet concentration of normal blood, PRP injections are known for their advanced healing properties in general, and have also been used specifically for the purpose of restoration of hair due to their abundance of growth factors. Taking the market by storm, this new trend in hair restoration has been greatly publicized and offered by many, so careful selection of a well qualified doctor should be made when deciding to undergo the procedure.
Procedure
Hair restoration by PRP is an in-office, non-surgical, hour-long procedure where platelet-rich plasma acquired from the patient’s own centrifuged blood is used.
After evaluation, the scalp is numbed and disinfected. Small doses of PRP are injected at the level of weak follicles in areas with balding or thinning hair. This delivers powerful growth factors that have the potential to stimulate hair regrowth by strengthening the follicles. After a session of subsequent electronic mechanical microneedling and some laser therapy, the patient is sent home.
Multiple sessions of PRP injections are required for maintenance of hair in the long term, except in cases or alopecia. Each patient is unique in the number of sessions required.
PRE- AND POST-PROCEDURE
Before the procedure, you must inform your doctor about your medical history and if you are taking any medications, since PRP is contraindicated in certain cases like blood disorders, chronic liver disease, severe infections or anti-coagulant therapy.
Apart from a few hours of inflammation post-procedure, any discomfort is rare after a PRP session. Swelling around the forehead and eye area is rare, and typically resolves within the next two days if present.
OUTCOME
Results of hair treatment with PRP are evident in the course of 6 to 12 months. With regular follow up, increase in hair mass is tracked, and a decline in further improvement indicates another PRP session. Patients with hereditary hair loss patterns on an average require an annual session of PRP for maintenance.
A promising procedure, PRP has provided many with the dense hair they desired. Choosing a qualified doctor who specializes in PRP treatments for hair is a must, since the method is different when performed on other parts of the body for medicinal purposes.