Results of PRP for Hair Loss

What happens when you brush your hair? If you see a handful of strands coming off your head, leaving behind an empty scalp, it is safe to assume that you have been affected by androgenetic alopecia.

Although going bald doesn’t have any health implications, it can be detrimental to your self-esteem and confidence. A study has reported that 29% of hair loss-affected women show symptoms of depression. Several other studies have shown an almost similar impact on men.

Hair loss and its undesirable effects on appearance and psychological health can be prevented with hair restoration treatments. One of the most popular hair restoration treatments is a hair transplant, which involves taking active hair follicles from a body area, usually from the back of the head, and grafting them into the bald spots.

Nonetheless, many people interested in treating their hair loss do not like the idea of undergoing surgical procedures like a hair transplant, mainly due to a lengthy post-operative recovery duration and numerous risks.

The good news for them, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment has emerged as a promising solution for hair loss. It is quite popular among people experiencing hair loss, even though more research is required to prove it to be a viable alternative to hair transplantation.

What is PRP for Hair Loss?

PRP hair therapy is a procedure during which a practitioner extracts a sample of your blood, processes it to separate the platelet-rich plasma from red blood cells, and then injects PRP into your scalp. The theory behind this treatment is to supply a balding scalp with growth factors to rejuvenate its cells. It also helps revive tissues in hair follicles – tiny sacs that produce and hold hair strands.

It is worth mentioning that balding occurs when hair follicles shrink and lose the ability to anchor hair. Injecting PRP into the bald area of the head promotes tissue revival by encouraging better blood circulation. This process rejuvenates hair follicles in the area, enhancing their ability to produce thick hair.

This is because PRP improves the tissue structure when injected into the scalp. It helps increase basal keratinocytes of the epidermis, helping to form new hair follicles. This treatment has also been found to help create new blood vessels around hair follicles.

What Results Should I Expect From My PRP Treatment?

When administered to the scalp, PRP stimulates inactive hair follicles, promoting hair regeneration. At the very least, this treatment improves existing hair’s health and quality by increasing the diameter of strands and slowing hair loss. PRP works even better when combined with nutrients, medications, and extracellular matrix.

After treatment, you will notice an improvement in hair texture and thickness in two weeks. Noticeable results may occur in three to six months, depending on how fast your scalp’s tissues respond to the injected PRP.

How Long Does PRP Last For Hair Loss?

According to a study, the effects of a PRP hair loss treatment session may last 14 months. The treatment starts losing its impact once this period is over. This is because PRP treatment doesn’t change anything related to your genetic predisposition to losing hair.

Since PRP results of this treatment are not permanent, experts usually suggest a maintenance session every few months to maintain good results. They analyze factors like your response to PRP therapy, the degree of hair loss, genetics, and whether you are using other treatments to restore hair to determine the frequency of repeated sessions.

Does PRP Grow Hair In Bald Spots?

Due to its ability to stimulate hair follicles by promoting tissue regeneration, PRP therapy is seen as a potential mainstay procedure to regrow hair in bald spots. However, more research is required to establish whether this treatment can help regenerate hair in balding areas of the scalp. At the moment, the efficacy of this treatment can vary among candidates due to several factors.

In general, it is imperative that you discuss your candidacy criteria for this treatment with a qualified practitioner. They will look into several factors like the degree of hair loss, your scalp health, and goals to formulate a treatment plan.

What Is The Success Rate Of PRP Hair?

Various reports from different parts of the world have shown PRP to be a successful treatment among 70-90% of candidates. However, this treatment is generally provided along with other therapies and medications for hair loss. In many cases, PRP injections are administered immediately after a hair transplant to promote faster tissue healing.

Is One Session of PRP Enough for Hair?

No, you will need 2-3 treatments 4-6 weeks apart. After that, you will need maintenance sessions every 4-6 months to retain good results.

Final Thoughts

To sum up, PRP for hair has a significant potential to become a revolutionary treatment for hair loss. While not enough evidence is available to suggest whether this treatment can help reverse baldness, it is undoubtedly a promising non-surgical method to improve hair thickness and slow hair loss’s progression.

Since this treatment uses a patient’s own platelet-rich plasma, it doesn’t carry side effects like the treatment site rejecting the injected PRP. However, the effectiveness of this treatment comes down to the practitioner’s expertise.