Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for Hair Loss: What You Need to Know
Platelet-rich plasma or PRP, is becoming increasingly popular as a treatment for hair loss. Interestingly, until a few years ago, many doctors openly dismissed its usefulness for hair loss since they were unfamiliar with, or unaware of the extensive research on PRP in medical literature. Research, and clinical data has proved its efficacy in boosting hair growth.
Many doctors, including those who were openly dismissive, are now offering PRP injections in their practices. Although I realize that PRP can stimulate hair growth, I advocate an alternative technique based on regenerative medicine technologies that is more effective, and more convenient for people with genetic pattern hair loss.
Prior to 2011, I was an early adopter of PRP technology for aesthetic medical treatments such as reducing under eye dark circles, stimulating collagen in the skin to reduce wrinkles and acne scars, and increasing overall face radiance. In addition, I have been a reasonably public go-to media source for a specific approach of mixing PRP with hyaluronic acid filler known as the Vampire Facelift®.
Why PRP for Hair Loss Success Rates Differ for Each Practitioner
Although PRP has been shown in several studies to stimulate hair growth, when you ask many doctors about PRP alone for hair loss treatment, you will get different answers about how often the treatment is required, how long the treatment should be continued, and actual examples of how effective the treatment is in their hands.
PRP scalp injections can be done every two weeks, once a month, or every two to three months. Some doctors will also tell you that after the first few months or a year of treatment, you may need to have treatments every 4-6 months.
Limitations and Challenges with PRP
Most doctors will be unable to answer one question: how long would these therapies take? This is due in part to the fact that few doctors have performed PRP for hair loss for long enough to provide a reliable answer. If you ask a doctor to show you PRP outcomes from one to five years in the future, they will most likely be unable to do so. In addition, numerous providers claim to have superior PRP with higher platelet concentrations, better centrifuges, or more modern PRP kits, and may charge extra for these characteristics.
This, in my experience, is not clinically relevant. Like any cosmetic procedure, the doctor’s specialization and experience are crucial. A claim of extensive knowledge and experience should be verified by their own before and after photos of their patients. Unfortunately, some unethical doctors take shortcuts and steal photographs, claiming them as their own.
Does Plate-Rich Plasma Work for Hair Loss?
In my experience, PRP alone can stimulate hair growth, but in reality this hair growth is typically short-term, and does not sustain growth for periods which go into years. Some people with longer hair growth cycles may see benefits that sustain longer than people with shorter growth cycles, such as those with more advanced hair loss.
In practical terms, I believe that any treatment requiring regular scalp injections is unsustainable. Time restrictions, and discomfort may swiftly discourage even the most motivated person. I often encounter patients who have discontinued PRP after around four treatments because they observed little effects, spent a lot of time and money booking and waiting in the doctor’s office for their next appointment, and decided that the cost and pain were too much for them.
Speaking of discomfort, PRP scalp injections are routinely performed in doctors’ offices without anesthetic, and some experts believe that the anesthetic influences the results. As a cosmetic oculofacial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, my goal is to make my patients as comfortable as possible. For many years, our practice has been known for the innovation that resulted in TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration.
TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration (PRP + Acell) for Hair Thinning
In 2011 we started using PRP and a wound healing material called Acellular matrix to help hair transplant patients heal faster, specifically to increase donor site healing and hair graft survival. Extracellular matrix is a cutting-edge wound healing substance derived from pig bladder, which is known for its regenerative qualities. A remarkable side effect was observed: one year following surgery, several of these patients’ native hair that had not been transplanted appeared thicker.
Benefits of TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration
In TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration, PRP is not the main active ingredient. PRP is part of the injection with Acellular matrix, or extracellular matrix.
While the exact mechanism is not quite defined, we believe that the wound healing mechanism has a restorative effect on a deteriorating hair growth mechanism. The results are that hairs that were present but not growing become reactivated, thinning hair becomes thicker, and the longevity of the hair growth cycle increases.
TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration vs PRP Alone
There are significant differences between TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration, and PRP alone, including: the number of sessions required, the efficacy of the treatment, the predictability of results, and the longevity of results. Furthermore, I often underline that the genetic patterns of hair loss in men, and women are not the same.
Our treatments are tailored to your specific hair loss profile, which includes: gender, age at commencement of hair loss, rate of hair loss, severity of hair loss, other medical disorders, and previous therapies are all factors in customization of the treatment.
In our office, you receive a treatment plan following a thorough evaluation using microscopic and very comprehensive digital photos. We support the specifics of the treatment plan by presenting our patients instances of our own patients, allowing them to grasp what their specific hair loss scenario demands. Every day since 2011, we have treated individuals from all over the United States and the world with TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration.
With just one session of TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration treatment, over 99% of men and women experiencing pattern hair loss will experience visible results. In certain patients, we perform a second treatment after 15 to 24 months. We closely monitor our patients every three to six months for the first 2 years, with benefits of treatment lasting 3-5 years, or even more.
TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration vs. Hair Transplants
In comparison, doctors who undergo PRP alone for hair loss believe that approximately 50% of patients will benefit from it. What prompted me to take this approach was the knowledge that as long as hair follicles are still intact and functional, the TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration procedure can outperform a hair transplant.
Hair transplantation is restricted by the volume of donor hair available, as well as the safe hair transplant density of roughly 20 hairs per square centimeter required for optimal blood supply and hair graft survival. Natural hair density is about 50 hairs per square centimeter. This means that If enough thinning hair is present for the treatment to thicken, then the resulting scalp coverage with TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration can exceed the results of not just one, but two hair transplants.
How TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration Help in Hair Loss
The treatment starts with drawing blood for PRP. I apply an algorithm based on the individual’s hair loss profile to customize the combination of PRP with the ACellular matrix. A topical and local anesthetic is used to numb the scalp so that the treatment is as comfortable as possible. The prepared TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration serum is dosed by me, and injected into the scalp. While preparation can take 1 to 2 hours, the treatment is performed in a few minutes.
There may be some tenderness in the scalp after the treatment, and most patients return to work the day after. We treat many patients who fly in from around the world every day for the TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration treatment, and some actually fly back home the same day as treatment. Genetic pattern hair loss is hardwired in the DNA and will still progress. Neither what we do, or any other hair loss treatment is a cure. I highlight to my patients that hair loss is manageable, and I use different methods to help them in the long run.
Final Thoughts
TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration can show results as early as 1 to 3 months. In our experience, scalp coverage improves for 15 to 18 months before reaching a steady appearance. PRP treatment for hair loss is scientifically validated. Since 2011, our TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration system with PRP and ACellular matrix has been consistently successful, requiring only one to two treatments and providing long-term results.
Based on my significant experience and study of each patients’ clinical data, I created a hair loss profile system with customized treatment plans. I believe that PRP on its own is not the best option for hair loss due to practitioners’ existing knowledge and experience limitations, as well as issues with treatment frequency, discomfort, expense, and predictability. I hope this information was helpful.
TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration (PRP + ACell) for Hair Loss Manhattan, NYC; Long Island, New York; and Vienna, Virginia
Dr. Amiya Prasad is a Board-certified cosmetic surgeon and a Fellowship-trained oculoplastic surgeon. He’s been in practice in Manhattan, and Long Island for over 25 years. He is also the founder of TrichoStem Hair Regeneration Centers, based on a system he originally developed with PRP and ACellular matrix to help improve the healing and outcomes of hair transplants. Based on this experience, he developed a system that has become a non-surgical hair loss treatment, which has impacted the treatment of hair loss throughout the world. Dr. Prasad’s success with this treatment since 2011 has inspired much of the current enthusiasm for PRP.
To schedule a consultation, fill-up the contact form below, or you may call any of our offices at (212) 265-8877 for Manhattan, New York City; (516) 742-4636 Garden City, Long Island; or (703) 356-1336 for Vienna, Virginia.
