If a patient is balding, suffering from hair loss, or struggling with thinning hair they might believe that their only options are chemical treatments, a hair transplant, or living with baldness. However, there is another approach, known as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment, which can encourage the creation of new hair. PRP therapy has been utilised for decades to assist sportsmen in recovering from injuries, but medical professionals have found it is also effective in treating a wide range of other conditions, including hair loss.
Whilst PRP therapy isn’t a miracle cure for hair loss, it can be an effective treatment in stimulating hair growth and saying goodbye to bald patches.
What is PRP?
A series of injections of platelet-rich plasma made from the patient’s own blood is known as PRP treatment – cell fragments called platelets are necessary for blood coagulation. About half of a person’s blood volume is made up of plasma, a yellowish liquid. Growth-stimulating proteins known as growth factors are found in platelet-rich plasma. These growth factors are thought to be what causes new hair growth when injected into the scalp.
The aim of the majority of currently available hair loss therapies is to reawaken the hair follicles since they do not die when you lose hair. Another way to “wake up” the hair follicles so they resume normal activity is using PRP treatment.
What the procedure involves
A qualified clinician will use a needle to extract blood from the patient’s arm when they arrive for their visit. A small quantity of an anticoagulant is included in the device to prevent blood clotting.
The blood will next be spun in a centrifuge by the doctor to separate the plasma & platelets only. The PRP is subsequently injected into several scalp regions. Typically, patients require 40 to 50 micro shots per session, obtained from that one blood sample.
While it may seem a little frightening, the doctor can numb the region beforehand with a topical anesthetic, although it is recommended to avoid any additional chemicals if possible.
The entire procedure takes between 30 -60 minutes, depending on the size of the affected area. Recovery occurs rapidly. Following treatment, the scalp may be somewhat red, but any redness quickly goes away. Additionally, patients can notice some scalp swelling for a few days.
How many procedures are required?
Three to six treatments, each roughly four weeks apart, make up a full course of PRP therapy for hair loss. After 2-3 treatments, patients may begin to start noticing fresh hair growth. Maintenance treatments every six to twelve months are often recommended or even requested by patients.
Does PRP work for hair loss?
In short, the answer is yes! Androgenic alopecia, commonly known as male-pattern and female-pattern baldness, is the most prevalent kind of hair loss that can be treated with PRP treatment. However, if patients begin therapy when hair loss is still in its early stages, it will be more likely to be successful. Sadly, individuals shouldn’t expect tremendous outcomes by showing up with a massive & long term bald area. Viable hair follicles must still be present.
Additionally, it may work for those who have alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that results in circular bald patches and hair loss that occurs in clumps.
If the individual’s hair loss is brought on by a disorder like lupus that results in scalp scarring, PRP treatment is less likely to be effective. Hair follicles may normally not be revived after scarring has taken place.
Although some individuals have great results with PRP therapy alone, some may be better suited to combining therapies – however, the Doctor should advise on this.
If an individual has a compromised or suppressed immune system or an inflammatory skin disease like psoriasis, PRP treatment may not be advised for them.
Risks and side effects
PRP is safe and effective since it uses the body’s own plasma. It is possible for an infection to spread, but the doctor will take precautions to stop it, such as washing the patient’s scalp with alcohol. Injuries to blood arteries or nerves, calcification at the injection site, and the formation of scar tissue are all additional potential concerns.
Clinicians should ensure they are properly trained and understand the therapy. The patient has a better chance of getting the outcomes they want since an experienced doctor can assess their suitability for PRP therapy more precisely.
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