PRP Treatment

Platelet rich plasma, or often termed as PRP , is concentrated blood plasma (composition of blood) that contains approximately five times the number of platelets found in normal circulating blood. Apart from red blood cells and white blood cells, our blood also contains cells known as platelets. The function of platelets is to promote healing and aid in the clotting of blood at the site of a wound. Platelets contain growth factors that promote regeneration of the cells in the body. PRP has been used in medicine for the last two decades. The idea behind PRP therapy is that by increasing the platelet count in a wounded area, the body’s healing capacity in that area would be accelerated. Doctors incorporate its use for the growth of thinning hair, transplanted hair, wound healing and aging.

There are man y benefits of using PRP treatment to promote healing for hair growth. Highly concentrated growth factors in the form of platelets have been shown to generate new hair growth, thicken thinned out hair, and make hair transplants grow thicker and healthier.

However, not everyone is an ideal candidate to undergo this procedure. Patients who have an active infection in the scalp, history of a viral infection like shingles, diabetes, any clotting disorder, or patients who are on blood - thinning medications like as pirin and immunosuppressive drugs like cyclosporine are not candidates for this procedure. Also, if hair follicles are completely dormant, this procedure is less likely to help.

Hair Loss Procedure

What is involved in the PRP treatment for hair loss?

It’s very similar to having a routine blood test. The blood is collected by a nurse and placed in a special container. The container is then placed in a machine called a centrifuge where your blood is spun for approximately 9 minutes. When the centrifuge has stopped spinning, your blood components have now been separated. The concentrated platelets have been separated from your normal whole blood. The PRP that contains abundant growth factors and stem c ells is now ready to be applied to the scalp. The goal of this process is to increase the stimulation of the scalp, encouraging hair growth.

Then highly concentrated PRP is injected about 1cm apart in areas of hair loss.

Since an inflammatory process is initiated at the wound site, there may be mild pain or discomfort felt by the patient at the site where PRP is injected. Patients are advised not to take any anti - inflammatory medication since it may interfere in the natural healing process of PRP. Anti - inflammatories include: asa, celebrex, ibuprofen, alcohol, gingko biloba, ginger, garlic, fish oils, robaxecet, Advil, to name a few. Please check your medications with the nurses.