PRP - Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy for Hair Growth
PRP HAIR LOSS PROCEDURE
PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) is a non-surgical, non-invasive treatment for male or female pattern hair loss (androgenic alopecia) or Alopecia Areata. PRP is sourced from your own blood supply. Platelets repair damaged or injured cells via growth factors. Plasma carries the nutrients, vitamins etc. PRP is a concentration of healing platelets and nutrient rich plasma. At the 7th Annual World Congress for Hair Research held in Edinburgh, Scotland UK, information was presented on several occasions which supported the current theories about why PRP platelet rich plasma offers improvement in hair growth in many patients. Cytokines and growth factors locked within the platelets can be concentrated and released, then injected into the areas of alopecia (hair loss), stimulating hair regrowth.PRP FAQ
WHAT IS PRP?
PRP was first developed in the 1970s and has since been used for years for various medical applications. PRP involves having a blood draw as though you were getting lab tests performed. The whole blood is treated with centrifuge to separate the red blood cells from the plasma, the portion of your own blood that contains a relatively high platelet concentration. Platelets are the part of the blood that stops bleeding by clotting and clumping. Medical Directors then separate the plasma along with the platelets, activate the platelets and inject the serum into the area of your body that is being treated. Medical Directors have been using this technique for years to stimulate wound healing and improve the appearance of skin.
HOW DOES PRP WORK?
The growth factors that are released from the activated platelets can theoretically stimulate cells in your hair follicle to grow, which is great for inactive or implanted hair follicles.
ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS WITH PRP?
Since PRP uses your own blood, you should not have a reaction to it. Studies have noted that PRP has been found to have a positive effect on male and female pattern hair loss without major adverse side effects. You may experience minimal pain, pinpoint bleeding, and redness when the injections are being delivered. Patients often comment on a “full” or “tight” feeling in their scalp immediately after injections that can last up to about 1 day. Rarely, some patients will complain of a mild headache the next day.