From working in dermatology for the past 7+ years, a patient with hair loss was never my favorite. There was just not much I could do that would make the improvement that they were looking for. Topical minoxidil (rogaine) is no longer a prescription, so most of the time patients would leave the appointment feeling like there was nothing that I could do for them. Young men and women alike suffer from a thinning part, a receding hairline, or thinning hair on the crown of the scalp. More often then not this is genetic and there is little we can do to completely reverse it. However, in recent years PRP injections have been shown to have pretty decent improvement!
What is PRP?
Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is a portion of your own blood that contains growth factors that have been used to facilitate wound healing. More recently, PRP is being used as a safe and effective treatment option for male and female patterned hair loss. Orthopedics have been using PRP for years now to help with healing. We are starting to use it more in the field of aesthetics both to promote hair restoration and to help restore collagen. But more about that later đŸ˜€
This is a great treatment for patients who feel like there is nothing else they can do to aid in hair growth but are not ready for surgical treatments. They have tried over the counter supplements, maybe have even seen their dermatologist for pharmaceutical options, and are still not having much luck.
What to expect during treatment
During this treatment, a small amount of the patient’s blood is spun down to extract the platelets. This means you will be set up for a blood draw like you would for your yearly physical exam or like you are donating blood. A blood donation is about 500cc of blood. We will be taking about 20-30 cc. It is important to drink water two days prior to your procedure to ensure that you are adequately hydrated!
Your PRP is then injected into the scalp to promote new hair growth as well as thicken existing hair follicles. A small needle is used for injection and we utilize a vibrator to distract your brain so that the needle pokes feel less severe.
When will I see results?
Results can be seen within 4 weeks for males and 6 weeks for females. Treatments are once a month for 3-4 months and then twice a year thereafter for maintenance.
Alternatives for PRP hair treatments
Not everyone will see satisfactory results with PRP treatments. This treatment is not yet FDA approved as more studies need to be done to confirm its benefits. This treatment is not for someone with an underlying skin disease that is causing hair loss (IE systemic lupus) or for someone with scarring alopecia. PRP is not believed to treat complete baldness. Non-surgical alternatives are over the counter rogaine, prescription propecia, or other homeopathic treatments. Surgical alternatives include hair transplant procedures.
As I said above, I am very aware of premature hair loss from working in the field of dermatology. Looking forward to helping patients gain some confidence with positive results!