Do you have patients that are struggling with hair loss? PRP is one of the most effective treatments on the market to help stimulate hair growth and restore confidence.
What causes hair loss?
Commonly known as androgenic alopecia, hair loss is a very common condition that affects up to 85% of men and 40% of women. In some cases, hair loss could result in significant thinning of the hair, and for others, it may result in visible bald patches on the surface of the scalp.
Now, hair loss can be attributed to several contributing factors, and before recommending treatment, you should discuss these causes with your patient to rule out any underlying medical conditions that may require medical attention.
Some of the leading causes of hair loss include:
• Natural aging
• Medication
• Stress
• Environmental factors
• Lifestyle (including hair styling)
• Hormonal imbalances
• Vitamin deficiencies
What is PRP?
Known as one of the safest aesthetic treatments on the market, PRP uses vital components found within human blood to trigger the body’s natural healing response.
Human blood contains platelets, plasma, and growth factors which combined play a pivotal role in healing, forming new healthy tissue, stimulating collagen production, and boosting cellular activity beneath the scalp to encourage hair growth.
The first step in PRP for hair restoration is to extract blood from the patient’s arm, then separate it from the plasma, platelets, and growth factors using a special centrifuge. The left-over nutrients can now be injected directly into the scalp to target the hair follicles and stimulate growth.
In hair loss indications, patients typically require 40-50 shots of PRP per session. For best results, patients may require approximately three treatments spaced eight weeks apart. This gives the hair follicles a chance to heal and begin producing new hair.
For continuous results, maintenance treatments every six to twelve months may be required.
How effective is PRP for Hair Restoration?
PRP therapy is known to be one of the most effective treatments when hair loss is still in its early stages. It has also been proven to help patients suffering from alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that results in circular bald areas on the scalp.
Now, when it comes to results it is important to remember that hair follicles can take a little time to produce hair, so results are often not instantaneous. It could take several weeks for your patients to start seeing signs of new hair growth.
If your patient is suffering from significant hair loss or is presenting with lupus-related hair loss, PRP may not be considered a suitable treatment option.
Is it safe?
PRP uses nothing but components found within the patient’s own blood meaning it is one of the safest treatments on the market, with little to no risk of infection or complication. Of course, as with all medical treatments, it should always be carried out by a trained professional.
Following treatment, it is normal for your patients to experience slight swelling, redness, tenderness, and bruising around the treatment area. This is completely natural and should clear within a few days.
For more information on hair loss and PRP, or to get started with PRP in your clinic contact RegenLab.
