Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a popular new and non-surgical method of hair loss treatment and hair restoration for women and men. What PRP does is use your own blood cells in a way that only the enriched cells that contain various types of proteins remain. The blood is spun in a centrifuge and the PRP is separated and then removed from the rest of the blood.

These platelets are then concentrated to 3x the normal blood value. This is then followed by an injection of the blood cells into your scalp area. No medications are required pre or post procedure. PRP contains many growth factors that stimulate hair follicles and can be performed up to every month based on how much hair growth is required.

PRP is a great solution for both men and women, especially when hair transplant surgery is not an option. PRP injections can stimulate new hair growth in men who suffer from androgenetic alopecia (known as male pattern baldness) and women who suffer from female pattern baldness.The procedure will take approximately 30 minutes from the time your blood is drawn until the PRP is injected into your scalp.

PRP is a very modern procedure that has been used elsewhere as a method of healing injuries. It is often also used as a cosmetic treatment for the face too, with PRP treatments often called the “Vampire Facelift” and the male hair procedure referred to as “PRP Vampire Hair Raising.”

Another factor in why PRP has become so popular for patients looking to restore hair, is that this is a “natural” way to restore hair. Most medications used to restore hair, such as Propecia, have significant side effects in men (such as erectile dysfunction). These medications are also contraindicated in women, especially those of child-bearing age. PRP treatments can be used in tandem with hair transplantation to help accelerate hair growth. PRP treatments should be performed on average, every 4 to 6 weeks for three sessions. Further treatments will be evaluated by the end of the fourth month.

What does PRP consist of?

The Platelets in the PRP contain proteins that are needed in order to promote the rate of tissue healing and regeneration within inactive hair follicles. Inside these platelets are a variety of intracellular structures such as glycogen (a form of glucose), lysosomes (which break down the proteins) and alpha granules (which contain clotting and growth factors that get released during the cell repair process).

In particular, the PRP specific cells that cause hair growth include:

• Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF): for blood vessel, cell and skin formation
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF): For blood vessel formation
• Transforming Growth-Factor-Beta (TGF-b): For a growth matrix between cells, bone metabolism
• Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF): Cell growth, collagen and blood vessel formation
• Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 (FGF-2): Blood vessel and specialized cell growth
• Insulin Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1): Also known as Somatomedin C, a protein regulator of normal physiology in nearly every type of cell in the body and has anabolic effects in adults