Losing your hair is hard. It starts with more hair being stuck in your hairbrush. Then it’s followed by excessive hair falling on your pillow. Slowly you lose confidence because it takes away from your looks.
Is there a natural solution to hair loss?
Fortunately, there is a natural hair restoration treatment. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP). This treatment uses your own blood to inject hair growth factors into your scalp.
The difference between this treatment is that it doesn’t require any medication like Finasteride or devices like laser therapy hats.
In this guide, we will tell you everything you need to know about PRP injections from who it is right for and if the treatment will last forever. Keep reading along!
How Does PRP Hair Restoration Work?
PRP or platelet rich plasma injections are able to directly restore hair growth. PRP hair loss treatments are perfect for people who want a safe and natural option for hair regrowth.
The PRP treatment process includes your blood being drawn by a specialist, blood being spun to isolate growth factors, and then those factors being inserted into your scalp.
The reason why the PRP works is because of the growth factors found in your own blood.
When injected onto your scalp, these factors impact your cell health and regeneration of stem cells within hair follicles. All of these effects lead to healthy hair follicles and natural regrowth of your hairline.
Below are examples of factors in PRP:
- Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF): This compound facilitates skin and blood vessel growth and cell replication
- Transforming Growth-Factor-Beta (TGF-b): This compound aids the growth of the matrix between cells
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF): This compound supports the formation of blood vessels
- Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF): This compound stimulates cell growth, the formation of blood vessels formation and collagen production
- Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 (FGF-2): This compound supports specialized cell and blood vessel formation
- Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF): This compound helps regulate healthy and normal cell physiology
Is Hair Restoration With PRP A Comfortable Procedure?
The PRP procedure starts with an office visit to your dermatologist or cosmetic center. This is where your blood is drawn.
After enough blood is taken, the blood is put into a centrifuge device. In the device your blood is spun at a high speed to separate platelet rich plasma from other elements in your blood.
Finally, once the platelet rich plasma has been isolated, the medical professional will inject PRP into specific areas on your scalp that have hair loss.
In regard to safety, the process of drawing blood and injecting growth factors into the scalp is performed using fine needles. This makes the treatment easier to handle for patients.
Additionally, PRP treatments use sterilized equipment and use blood taken from your own body. This means there is virtually no risk of a negative reaction to PRP therapy.
Is Hair Restoration With PRP Permanent?
No, hair restoration results from PRP treatment are not permanent. However, the results do last very long. Patients can maintain results easily with annual follow-up treatments once they get an initial series of PRP treatments.
Keep in mind that each patient is different, so you might need more or less treatments to maintain a good level of hair regeneration.
To figure out a good hair care routine for your needs, speak to your dermatologist or hair restoration specialist.
How Many PRP Treatments Are Needed For Hair Growth?
As mentioned above, your dermatologist or hair restoration specialist can develop a hair care routine to match your needs. So, there is no single treatment plan for PRP therapy. This is also why your hair care specialist can tell you how long PRP will last for hair loss.
In general, hair restoration specialists recommend patients have three to four sessions every four weeks initially. After the initial series, you may need boosters after six months from your first session.
Once you understand how your body responds to the PRP treatments, you may only need one session every 12 to 24 months to maintain your results.
How Long Does PRP Last for Hair Loss?
Hair restoration patients can expect that results from PRP for hair loss will last for on average 12 months. However, results can depend greatly on your body’s healing ability.
You can improve and maximize the effects of PRP by maintaining healthy sleep, diet, and exercise habits.
Overall, the results from PRP therapy have been very positive. It is a great way to stop your hair loss and regain your confidence.
Who Is The Best Candidate For PRP?
According to studies, the best candidates for platelet rich plasma (PRP) are people whose hair loss is recent, for example early stage androgenetic alopecia or female pattern baldness. This is because it is difficult to review long dormant hair follicles.
The best patients will have scalp that has weak quality hair growth where the hair follicles are still functioning. Patients who are completely bald will likely not experience the full benefits of PRP therapy and complete restoration will not be possible.
When it comes to cosmetic procedures, men and women should set realistic expectations for PRP. For one the treatment is unlikely to restore a full head of hair. And the outcome really depends on the health of the patient.
Patients with underlying conditions like lupus, thyroid disease, or other conditions are less likely to have success with PRP treatment.
Furthermore, patients should be in good overall health and not have skin issues, diabetes, or blood and liver issues.
Finally, you should review your medical history with your hair restoration speciality before undergoing this treatment process.
How Does PRP Hair Restoration Compare Against Other Hair Treatment Methods?
PRP hair restoration uses your own body’s growth factors to stop hair loss and produce healthy hair. In other words, PRP is an autologous treatment.
On the other hand, other hair loss treatments include medications, topicals, DHT blockers, and low level laser therapy. However, these alternatives have side effects and risks that PRP does not.
Medications like Finasteride and Minoxidil have side effects such as decreased libido, headaches, and hair growth in unwanted places on your body. Finasteride can also adversely impact women expecting to be pregnant.
Potential PRP patients can avoid these risks when they opt for platelet rich plasma based hair restoration.
See Also: What Vitamins Are Good For Hair Growth?
Putting It All Together
PRP is a hair loss solution that can help men struggling with male pattern baldness to restore their hair.
The treatment involves getting your own plasma drawn from your red blood cells, the patient’s blood being spun to isolate growth factors, and then injected into your scalp.
According to case studies, the results of this treatment have been great. However not everyone is a good candidate. PRP is better for patients experiencing early stage hair loss.
If you want to improve your self-esteem and appearance, definitely consider PRP therapy.
Read More:
- Balding Around The Crown: What It Looks Like and How To Stop It
- Can Shampoo Block DHT?
- Best Laser Hair Caps For Hair Growth
- Lescolton Laser Helmet Review
- Hairmax 272 Powerflex Laser Cap Review
Fact Checked by our Director of Dermatology – We know that understanding how your skin and hair work can seem scary, so my team and I devote our time to thoroughly researching every single topic and product we write about. We hope you find our reviews helpful and informative.
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