close
Health

What Is PRP Hair Regrowth Therapy? Its Process and Side Effects

Platelet rich plasma or commonly known as PRP is a therapy that uses your own blood to treat chronic pain and medical conditions. Even loss of hair is treated with PRP or your own Platelet. Human blood has two major components plasma and red blood cells. Plasma contains platelets and white blood cells. The platelets are loaded with growth factors.

In plasma riche en plaquette [platelet-rich plasma] therapy, the growth factor acts as messengers and signals the skin cells to restart functioning. The hair follicle activity is stimulated and new hair growth is promoted.

What is PRP hair regrowth therapy?

In PRP hair loss therapy, the patient’s blood is drawn and processed. Ultimately, it gets injected in the scalp. The PRP injections trigger the growth of natural hair and maintain sufficient blood circulation across the hair follicles. The roots get strengthened and hair thickens in volume. Sometimes hair loss medication is combined with this therapy.

PRP therapy is used to resolve healing issues associated with ligaments, muscles, and injuries. Even though the therapy was introduced in 1980s, its effectiveness in treating hair loss, hair thickness needs long-term research.

Three step PRP therapy process

1st step

Blood is drawn from your arm. The phial with blood is then placed inside a centrifuge. Centrifuge is a rapid spinning machine used to separate fluids with different densities.

2nd step

In ten minutes, the blood spinning in the centrifuge will be separated in 3 layers.

  1. Red blood cells
  2. Platelet rich plasma [PRP]
  3. Platelet poor plasma

3rd step

The PRP is drawn inside a syringe and injected in scalp areas, which needs stimulation to grow hair or where there is no visible hair.

There is sufficient theoretical scientific support for using PRP to regrow hair but there is very little clinical evidence.

Side effects of PRP for hair regrowth

Any injectables carry side effect risks like –

  • Blood vessel or nerve injury
  • Scar tissue
  • Calcification at injected spots
  • Infection

In addition, discuss with the doctor about your anesthesia tolerance issue if any. Even talk clearly about any medications and supplements you take.

During initial consultation, you may be rejected for PRP treatment, if you –

  • Have alcohol or addiction history
  • Are heavy smoker
  • Are on prescribed blood thinners
  • Have cancer, skin disease, chronic infections
  • Systemic disorder, hypofibrinogenemia, sepsis
  • Hemodynamic instability, thyroid, low platelet count

The cost of PRP for hair regrowth will depend on geographic location, equipment quality, and adding nutritive components. Typically, three sessions are needed within a 4 to 6-week period. There will also be a requirement for maintenance treatment twice or thrice in a year.