What is PRP hair restoration?
PRP for hair loss is a non-surgical procedure that utilizes the stem cells and growth factors from the patient’s own blood to trigger the growth of hair from resting or miniaturized hair follicles.
How does PRP for hair restoration work?
If the hair follicles or hair roots are healthy, the growth of the hair is healthy. Hair follicles survive on the nutrition they get from blood supply. PRP consist of your own blood plasma concentrated with 3-5 times the number of platelets found in normal circulating blood. These concentrated platelets contain protein and growth factors which:
- Attract stem cells
- Help stimulate hair follicles growth
- Increase circulation to hair follicles
- Decrease inflammation
What should I expect at the time of my treatment of PRP for hair restoration?
PRP therapy is a three-step process. Most PRP therapy requires three treatments 4–6 weeks apart. Maintenance treatments are required every 4–6 months.
Step 1
Your blood is drawn — typically from your arm — and put into a centrifuge (a machine that spins rapidly to separate fluids of different densities).
Step 2
After about 10 minutes in the centrifuge, your blood will have separated in three layers:
- platelet-poor plasma
- platelet-rich plasma
- red blood cells
Step 3
The platelet-rich plasma is drawn up into a syringe and then injected into areas of the scalp that need increased hair growth.
What are the side effects of PRP for hair restoration?
Because PRP therapy involves injecting your own blood into your scalp, you aren’t at risk for getting a communicable disease.
Still, any therapy that involves injections always carries a risk of side effects such as:
- Injury to blood vessels or nerves
- Infection
- Calcification at the injection points
- Scar tissue
There’s also the chance that you could have a negative reaction to the anesthetic used in the therapy. If you decide to pursue PRP therapy for hair loss, let your doctor know in advance about your tolerance to anesthetics.
How much does PRP for hair restoration cost?
The treatment costs $899 per treatment.