How PRP Treatment is Effective for Hair Loss?

With the advancement of technology, doctors and experts have come up with a number of treatments that can be used to effectively treat hair loss. One such treatment, which has gained popularity in recent years, is PRP treatment.

Known as Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment, this technique is usually used to hasten the healing of bones, ligaments and joints. However, it is now also being used for hair restoration.

In this blog, we look at PRP hair treatment and how effective it is for hair loss. We also address the various potential side effects that you might encounter if you opt for PRP hair loss treatment.

What is PRP Treatment?

To understand PRP treatment, we need to understand the composition of blood. Blood consists of a liquid part, along with red and white blood cells and platelets. Plasma is the medium for blood cells to float in the body.

Platelets, on the other hand, are thrombocytes that help the blood to clot and the body to heal. These functions are crucial for tendons and muscles to heal and naturally repair themselves. However, scientists have discovered that platelet-rich plasma can also be used to regrow hair.

What this treatment does is that it injects platelet-rich plasma into the scalp that in turn increases the blood flow and helps in hair growth and hair thickness. Also, it is important to remember that PRP results for hair are not uniform for all people. Depending on the age, genetic and hormonal factors, PRP hair restoration results may differ drastically on a high number of factors.

PRP Treatment Process for Hair Loss?

PRP treatment for hair loss is a three-step process:

• Firstly, the doctor will draw blood from our arm. The blood will be put inside a centrifuge that will separate the various components of the blood, including plasma and the blood cells.
• After the centrifuge machine has separated the different components, the blood will be divided into three components. These include blood cells, platelet-rich plasma and platelet-poor plasma. The platelet-rich plasma will then be drawn out.
• The final step involves injecting the plasma, which is filled with platelets, straight on the scalp. This process is repeated over several sessions over a period of several months. Maintenance sessions are also required that typically last for about another three to six months. These cycles are repeated to maintain the results for a longer period of time.

However, many experts are still a bit skeptical about how exactly plasma works on the scalp for hair restoration and in what conditions. They say more research is needed on this subject matter.

Side effects of PRP Treatment

Some experts also point out that PRP treatment might have some side effects. Thankfully, communicable diseases are not among them. This is because in PRP treatment, it is your own blood that is getting re-injected into the scalp. Certainly, people would have been at risk had outside blood been injected. But in PRP treatment, this is not the case.

Nonetheless, there still might be certain other effects: There may be injury to blood vessels, infection, calcification at the injection points and scar tissues. You also might have a negative reaction to the anesthetic that is used in the therapy.

Therefore, it is imperative that you go to the right set of professionals possible in order to get your PRP treatment for hair loss. Ideally they should take all the necessary precautions that can prevent the manifestation of such side effects. In case these sessions do not work for you then you need to undertake better treatments for your hair loss.

Eligibility for PRP Treatment

In certain cases, you might not be eligible for PRP treatment. These include acute or chronic infections, chronic liver disease, chronic skin diseases, metabolic disorders, platelet dysfunction syndrome, sepsis, thyroid and low platelet count.

If you are suffering from any one of the diseases, then you should avoid getting a PRP treatment. If any of these is an underlying condition of which you are unaware of, then it is always better to get an appropriate medical opinion in order to consider whether this treatment is for you or not.

How far is PRP Treatment Effective for Hair Loss?

PRP hair treatment has been used since the 1980s for hair restoration. However, doctors are still doubtful regarding the efficacy of the PRP treatment process for hair loss. The treatment does not guarantee any results. Sometimes PRP treatment for hair growth must be combined with other procedures for effective results which in essence again making it difficult to understand if at all PRP treatment is doing any actual improvement or not.

In general, it may be concluded that PRP results for hair growth might vary from one person to another. There are a variety of other treatments available for hair restoration. These include surgical options like Follicular Unit Extraction.

Speak to your doctor or hair expert to know which one works the best for you. If you have an underlying disease, which is leading to hair fall, then consulting a doctor becomes even more crucial. You should first get treated for the underlying cause before you start with a PRP hair growth procedure.

Conclusion

This article looked at PRP treatment for hair growth. This therapy is being used to not only fix tendons and ligaments but to also restore hair. PRP hair restoration, as we have seen, involves the application of platelet-rich plasma to the hair follicles in order to help hair to regrow.

PRP hair growth may vary from one person to another and there is no proper evidence to suggest its efficacy. It is therefore better to consult a hair expert to understand whether or not PRP treatment should be undertaken in your specific case.

Advanced Hair Studio provides a range of safe and clinically proven hair restoration treatments, including surgical and non-surgical options. Our hair experts conduct an Advanced Hair Check and then advise you about the best hair loss procedure to go for.

FAQs on PRP Treatment

How Long Does PRP Hair Treatment Last?

PRP treatment for hair growth tends to last for about four to six weeks minimum. In addition, it requires repeated treatments for three months or more with shots being provided once a month. On an average, however, most patients will require at least 6-12 months of repeated treatment to see any noticeable results.

Is PRP Hair Treatment Painful?

Apart from a slight pain of the needle, PRP hair restoration is more or less relatively painless. However you should have your expectations minimalistic in order to not get emotionally swayed in the event of a failed attempt. However, if an amateur doctor handles the procedure, there are chances of side effects, such as injury to blood vessels, infection, calcification at the injection points and scar tissues. Therefore, it is important to go to a professional doctor or an expert who will be able to handle the PRP hair treatment effectively.

How Many PRP Treatments Are Needed for Hair?

PRP results for hair do not last for a lifetime. Therefore, hair experts and doctors suggest repeated PRP hair treatments for at least four to six weeks to see effective results. The same process needs to be repeated at regular cycles. Not just that, some doctors might suggest combining PRP hair loss treatment with other procedures for better, more long-lasting effect which may include surgical or non surgical methods also. Usually, after the first three months of treatment, it is recommended that you go for a maintenance program lasting for another three months on a continuing period as long as results last.

Does Hair Fall After PRP Treatment?

Any hair that grows naturally will fall out. PRP hair growth is a natural process, which simply encourages hair growth more promptly by promoting blood circulation in the hair follicles. Hence in the event of a shiny scalp there may be any results. However, hair will continue to fall out at a normal pace as before the treatment. If you have an underlying cause that is causing hair loss, then it is important to get it treated first before you proceed with PRP hair treatment.