Reversing Hair Loss with PRP Treatments
Platelet Rich Plasma
The use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy in a variety of fields of medicine has led to much excitement about its potential. In fact, PRP therapy has quickly become a popular way of treating thinning hair, receding hairlines, and bald spots. Indeed, there is much anecdotal evidence that shows that PRP therapy can stimulate hair growth by regenerating the weakened hair follicles in the scalp.
What is Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy?
PRP therapy uses platelet-rich plasma that is collected from a person’s own blood to initiate this hair growth. This is a non-invasive and nearly painless process. Obtaining PRP is relatively simple—all you’ll need to do is let the doctor draw blood. Then, the blood is prepared and processed by using a centrifuge to concentrate and separate the elements necessary to stimulate hair growth.
The platelet-rich plasma contains proteins that promote healing, repair tissue damage, and stimulate the growth of the hair follicles. Once it’s processed, the platelet-rich plasma is put into a syringe and injected into the patient’s scalp. This process takes about one hour to 90 minutes from start-to-finish.
Treatment for hair loss typically takes at least a few months to complete. PRP treatments are initially given about once a month for the first few months and treatment frequency can be extended to intervals of three to six months from then on. The patient may be closely monitored during this time to ensure that the hair follicles are activated and functioning correctly. The number of PRP treatments needed depends on how much hair needs to be regrown.
Patients are advised to stay consistent with their treatments to achieve the desired results. Results can be seen within the first two or three months. For those who wish to up the ante on hair regrowth therapies, PRP therapy can be made a part of a comprehensive program to treat hair thinning and pattern baldness. Your PRP doctor can speak with you about other treatments that would be appropriate to use with PRP treatment.
PRP therapy is known to be quite safe because the treatments do not use any dangerous medicines, chemicals, or risky surgery. Unlike many topical hair growth treatments, there is only a very negligible risk of allergic reactions, since patients receive an injection of their own blood.
Who Can Benefit from PRP?
Anyone who is suffering from hair loss is an ideal candidate for a PRP treatment. People who suffer from early hair loss may see the best results. PRP is an attractive option for patients that have androgenic alopecia, which is a genetic condition that results in hair being lost in a well-defined pattern.
Both men and women are candidates to receive PRP therapy for thinning hair. People who have tried medications but were unhappy with the side effects are potential PRP patients as well. It can also be a smart and appropriate choice for those who do not want to undergo invasive hair transplantation procedures or who are not good candidates for them.
If you’re wondering whether you’d be a good candidate for PRP hair regrowth therapy, contact a qualified PRP professional in your local area to ask questions or schedule a consultation.
Resources:
Wikipedia, Hair Treatment
