Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a plasma that is created from your own blood to harness the incredibly rich supply of platelets and their natural growth factors to both heal and regenerate human tissues, including hair. PRP is created by taking a small sample of blood, centrifuging (spinning at high speed) it in order to remove the unwanted blood components thus leaving us with an ultra-concentrated layer of growth factor rich platelets.

The highly concentrated platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is then injected into the scalp or other targeted areas that are in need of regeneration. PRP contains many natural growth factors that stimulate the hair follicle’s growth. Because PRP consists of your body’s natural healing platelets, it provides a safe and effective treatment for hair restoration.

As the term «platelet-rich plasma» suggests, platelets are generally about five times more concentrated in PRP than in regular blood. This concentration of platelets is useful, because platelets secrete growth factors than are thought to assist in wound healing and tissue regrowth.

When it comes to hair loss, the theory is that platelets, injected deep into the scalp to reach the bottom of the hair follicle, may stimulate a specialized population of cells named dermal papilla cells, which play a critical role in hair growth.
PRP injections are not suitable for everyone. These injections can be painful, for both your scalp and your wallet. One session can cost around $1,000, with a series of three treatments needed before improvement may be seen. These treatments are generally not covered by insurance.

PRP injections are considered safe when performed by a trained medical provider. Mild risks include pain, redness, headaches, and temporary hair shedding. PRP may not be appropriate for those with a history of bleeding disorders or autoimmune disease.

What is Platelet Rich Plasma?

PRP Hair Restoration

PRP for hair loss side effects

Because PRP therapy involves injecting your own blood into your scalp, you aren’t at risk for getting a communicable disease.
Still, any therapy that involves injections always carries a risk of side effects such as:

  • injury to blood vessels or nerves
  • infection
  • risk of injection points
  • scar tissue

PRP for hair benefits

1. Non-invasive hair restoration. With PRP injections, you can get your treatments conveniently in the office without the need for extensive procedures or a long recovery process.

2. PRP therapy for hair loss looks natural. Treatment with PRP for hair loss is also virtually undetectable; no one can tell you’re undergoing therapy. Injections cause few side effects — any minor bruising or redness at the injection site resolves within just a few days of treatment.

3. Treats hair loss from the inside out. One of the biggest benefits of PRP therapy for hair loss is that treatment addresses the root cause of your issues. Stimulating the inactive hair follicles promotes hair growth now and in the long term. You can have peace of mind knowing your results look completely natural because it’s all your own hair that’s growing.

How long does it last?

PRP is not a cure for conditions that cause hair loss. For this reason, a person would need to receive multiple PRP treatments over time to maintain hair growth results. 4-6 treatments.

PRP for hair loss treatments involve three steps:

A medical professional draws blood from a vein in the arm and places the blood sample in a centrifuge.
The centrifuge spins the blood, separating its components.
A medical professional extracts the platelets using a syringe and injects the platelets into targeted areas of the scalp.

PRP contains a range of grows factors and proteins that speed tissue repair. As some types of hair loss result from damage to hair follicles, researchers initially hypothesized that PRP could help regrow hair by reversing the process that occurs in androgenetic alopecia.

Since then, PRP has become a popular method of restoring hair growth. Doctors have also used PRP to treat injuries to the tendons, muscles, and ligaments, such as those that people sustain during sporting activities.

Who is a good candidate for PRP?

A good candidate for PRP hair restoration is anyone suffering from alopecia but otherwise in good health. Because the treatment uses your own blood and plasma, it is a safe option. However, you should not receive this procedure if:

You have trouble with blood clotting or other bleeding problems
You have a history of skin cancer on the scalp
Your blood has low platelet counts
You are nursing or pregnant
You are suffering from or have recently suffered from a blood infection
You are receiving cortisone therapy
Your blood pressure is chronically low or unstable
You currently have or recently recovered from cancer

Achieve a full head of hair with Annapolis Plastic Surgery today. Whether you combine PRP with other treatments or decide to follow through with just this treatment, our team will work with you to determine the best possible solutions to achieve your goals.

Is there a recovery period following PRP?

Patients who undergo a hair restoration procedure with PRP may return to their normal activities the same day, as it’s done under local anesthesia and no sedation is required. There can be minor side effects at the site of injection such as bruising, swelling, and tenderness.

How can Platelet-Rich Plasma help hair loss?

PRP is a great solution for both men and women looking to stimulate hair growth with little downtime. These injections of PRP can stabilize hair loss and in many cases stimulate new hair growth for those who suffer from hair loss or thinning. Because of the injection methods, we are able to specifically targets the areas of the scalp where you are wanting new hair growth.

PRP has cell-renewal properties that stimulate the scalp to encourage hair growth. PRP therapy increases the blood supply to hair follicles and may also increase hair thickness. Most patients require 4-6 treatments that are spaced several weeks apart. Once you reach your desired results, maintenance treatments can be done every few months.
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