Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a treatment for hair loss. PRP injections are more commonly known for their ability to treat damaged tendons, muscle and ligaments, but research shows PRP can boost hair growth and prevent premature hair loss [1]. According to a 2022 study, 84% of research into PRP for male and female pattern baldness showed a positive result [1].
In this article, we’ll explore how PRP treats hair loss, what PRP hair treatment can help with (such as a receding hairline), the benefits of PRP, and the potential side effects to be aware of. We’ll also discuss how our expert clinicians can help you get the thickest, healthiest hair you’ve ever had.
PRP hair treatment requires a concentrated sample of platelets from your own blood, which is then injected into the skin of the scalp. This process stimulates inactive or weakened hair follicles, causing them to produce healthier, thicker hair.
To start with, 10-60 millilitres of blood [1] is taken from your arm and placed in a centrifuge machine to separate the platelets from the red blood cells. A centrifuge is a machine that rapidly spins to separate different densities of fluid.
After spinning for around 10 minutes, your blood will separate into three layers. These are [1]:
The platelet-rich plasma is harvested and injected into your scalp with a thin needle to exactly where it is needed – the areas affected by hair loss. The greater the concentration of platelets in the injected plasma, the more pronounced the effect on hair growth and hair density will be [2].
PRP contains numerous growth factors that contribute to hair regeneration and promote healthy hair growth [3]. Treatment usually lasts between three and six months, with PRP injection sessions every 2-4 weeks [1]. Take a look at some before and after results from 3 months of PRP for hair loss.
PRP has proven successful as a treatment for hair loss. Here are some studies that show the effects of PRP on hair loss:
Yes, research shows PRP can help regrow hair in people experiencing hair loss. Here are some studies that demonstrate this:
This image shows a 29-year-old man affected by hair loss. As you can see, PRP treatment has significantly improved hair growth on his scalp.
The clinical result of the areas of one patient’s scalp treated with PRP, 2 weeks after the last treatment.
(ref: https://academic.oup.com/stcltm/article/4/11/1317/6387852 )
PRP therapy can boost hair growth for a range of conditions. Here are some of the conditions in which PRP hair treatment may be beneficial.
Alopecia areata occurs when your immune system attacks your hair follicles (the structures in your skin that form hair), causing hair loss. This can affect your entire body but usually results in hair loss from the head and face.
PRP has been shown to improve hair growth and hair density in people with alopecia areata [4]. 45 patients with alopecia areata received either PRP, a steroid cream for hair loss called triamcinolone acetonide (TrA), or a placebo on half of their scalp.
Three treatments were given for each patient at monthly intervals and they were then followed for 1 year. Compared to TrA and placebo, the PRP group had significantly increased hair growth and reduced scalp burning, itching, and hair breakage.
Hair transplant surgery is used to treat severe hair loss. After the procedure, you’ll want your hair to start regrowing as soon as possible.
PRP injections after a hair transplant can stimulate the newly transplanted hair follicles. A study of 40 patients who received a FUE hair transplant suggests that PRP improves recovery time and increases final hair density [8].
6 months after surgery, 65% of the PRP-treated group had new hair growth over 10mm in length. Only 10% of the non-PRP-treated group had over 10mm of new hair growth [8].
Androgenetic alopecia is the medical term for male or female pattern baldness. This is a genetically predetermined condition that results in a predictable pattern of thinning hair or hair loss. It is caused by an excessive response to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Female AGA is particularly common after menopause. Research shows 13% of premenopausal women and 37% of postmenopausal women have symptoms of female pattern baldness [9].
PRP is an effective treatment for both male pattern baldness [10] and female pattern baldness [11].
PRP for hair loss has been shown to result in a high level of satisfaction and improvement to patients’ quality of life [12]. After 3 monthly PRP treatments for female pattern baldness, 86% of people said they would recommend the treatment.
PRP hair treatment has a whole host of benefits. Here are some of the main advantages of using PRP injections for hair loss:
Prices vary for PRP hair treatment depending on the number of sessions required, the location of the clinic, and the experience of the practitioner. At Wimpole Clinic, PRP injections are administered by our highly skilled consultants and prices start from just £295.
Although PRP hair treatment can have great results, it is only a temporary solution for hair loss that requires regular maintenance sessions. Even then, results are unlikely to be as extensive as treatments such as minoxidil or a hair transplant. Unlike a hair transplant, which usually requires a single procedure, ongoing sessions will need to be scheduled to maintain results after the initial round of treatment.
This often looks like a single maintenance session every four to six months. For some people, this provides a successful long-term solution. For others, a hair transplant is a preferable long-term solution.
Because hair transplants are permanent, PRP can offer lifelong effects when combined with a hair transplant. The hair transplant addresses the root cause of hair loss, while PRP therapy promotes quicker recovery with better outcomes. It can also prevent or slow down continuing hair loss in other areas of the scalp.
PRP hair treatment should always be administered as part of a holistic treatment plan. This may include complementary therapies such as medications, lifestyle changes, and hair transplant surgery.
Wimpole Clinic offers two types of hair transplant surgery — FUE (follicular unit extraction) and FUT (follicular unit transplantation). Both types offer excellent results that last a lifetime, but there are some differences between the two.
FUE is the less invasive method. In this method, individual hair follicles are harvested from an area of your scalp with lots of healthy hair growth and inserted into an area of your head affected by hair loss.
FUT requires strips of skin to be removed from a donor area of your scalp, usually at the back of your head. These contain a high volume of follicles. The strips are then separated into smaller groups of hair follicles and distributed across the area of your scalp that is affected by hair loss.
For most types of hair loss, the first line of treatment is usually oral or topical medications. Some of these are creams, foams, gels or solutions that you can buy without a prescription. Most of these products contain an active ingredient called minoxidil.
Finasteride is a prescription medication that your clinician may recommend to slow down hair loss, particularly in male pattern baldness. Many people even experience increased hair growth when taking finasteride daily.
Spironolactone is another prescription medication that can help with male and female pattern baldness. It works by slowing down the production of androgens, the hormones responsible for hair loss in androgenetic alopecia. This slows hair loss and can even encourage hair to regrow.
If your hair loss is related to an inflammatory condition, your clinician may prescribe corticosteroids or steroid injections to reduce inflammation.
Vitamins and minerals play an important role in follicle development and hair growth [13]. There’s limited evidence to support supplementation with vitamins and minerals as an effective treatment for hair loss, but it may be effective if your hair loss was caused by deficiencies in the first place.
A severe deficiency of zinc, biotin, niacin, or iron can lead to hair loss, but this is very rare. If you have a vitamin deficiency that’s causing hair loss, you will almost certainly need medical treatment, and you should consult your general practitioner (GP).
Multiple lifestyle factors can contribute to hair loss. Our trichologists can conduct a full assessment of your lifestyle and factors that may be influencing hair loss. Here are some of the most common factors:
Research suggests there are limited side effects of PRP hair treatment [1]. However, you may experience a few mild side effects during and after treatment.
These potential side effects include a headache and itching or swelling around the treatment area. You may also experience some pain during treatment and temporary discolouration of the treated area.
Because everyone reacts differently to hair loss treatments, it’s important to speak to a healthcare professional about the potential side effects of PRP hair treatment. You can then make an informed decision about whether you’d like to try PRP hair treatment.
Several risk factors can increase your chance of side effects from PRP hair treatment. Absolute contraindications for PRP hair treatment include [1]:
Relative contraindications include [1]:
If you have any of the relative contraindications, it doesn’t necessarily mean that PRP hair treatment is off-limits for you. Our consultants and trichologists work closely with you to create a personalised treatment plan, taking into account any medical conditions or lifestyle factors that may affect treatment.
If you’d like to gain fuller, thicker hair but don’t like the sound of chemical or surgical procedures, consider PRP. PRP hair treatment harnesses your body’s natural healing ability to increase hair count, thickness, and growth.
Our expert clinicians are highly experienced in delivering PRP hair treatment and will put you at ease throughout the process. If you’re struggling with hair loss, book a consultation with one of our trichologists. They’ll complete a comprehensive assessment, provide a diagnosis, and work with you to create an individualised treatment plan to restore your hair.
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