Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment is a safe and effective method for mitigating hair loss and hair thinning. Many patients who suffer from male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) and other causes of hair loss and/or thinning have enjoyed tremendous success with PRP treatments. Many respected hair transplant and hair restoration specialists – including Dr. Robin Unger – also perform PRP procedures for those patients who opt for non-transplantation hair therapies. If you’re curious about whether this hair loss mitigation therapy may be right for you, it is important to speak with a medical professional before crafting a treatment plan.
Who would be considered a good candidate for PRP treatment?
If your hair is thinning then you may be an excellent candidate for PRP treatment.
PRP treatment is not for everyone and so it’s important to check with a hair treatment doctor to verify whether it’s a viable option for you. It requires a certain number of active and healthy hair follicles to be an effective treatment. If you already lost a significant amount of hair, or if you are already bald, then you will not likely be considered a good candidate for PRP treatment, although other therapies (transplantation and transplantation alternatives) may be available to you.
In addition, if you have certain medical conditions, this treatment is not recommended. Examples may include chronic liver disease, certain skin diseases, systemic or metabolic disorders, platelet dysfunction syndrome, or cancer. Possible alternatives to PRP treatment include laser hair therapy, taking certain nutritional supplements, hairpieces, transplantation, etc. After talking with a PRP treatment doctor, you will have a better understanding of what may work best for your unique situation.
What are PRP treatments?
PRP treatment involves taking a small amount of the patient’s own blood. The blood is placed into a centrifuge to separate the platelets and plasma from the red blood cells. Platelets repair hair damage and injuries to the scalp as well as other areas of the body. Platelets are also associated with healthy growth, which PRP treatments rely on to stimulate hair growth on the patient’s scalp.
Some patients opt to have a localized anesthesia during the PRP injections into their scalp. The plasma formed from the patient’s blood is now rich in healthy platelets and is injected into predetermined areas of the scalp. Generally, these areas are where the patient has the greatest amount of thinned or lost hair.
PRP treatments stimulate inactive hair follicles as well as newly implanted follicles taken from other areas of the patient’s scalp. The platelets also accelerate the healing process for the newly transplanted hair follicles.