PRP Therapy

PRP therapy is a three-step process. Most PRP therapy requires six to eight treatments 4–6 weeks apart.

Maintenance treatments are required every 4–6 months.

Step 1
Your blood is drawn — typically from your arm — and put into a centrifuge (a machine that spins rapidly to separate fluids of different densities).

Step 2
After about 10 minutes in the centrifuge, your blood will have separated into in three layers:

• platelet-poor plasma
• platelet-rich plasma
• red blood cells

Step 3
The platelet-rich plasma is drawn up into a syringe and then injected into areas of the scalp that need increased hair growth.

Risks of PRP for hair loss

Be sure to report all medications you’re on before the procedure including supplements and herbs.
When you go for your initial consultation, many providers will recommend against PRP for hair loss if you:

• are on blood thinners
• are a heavy smoker
• have a history of alcohol or drug misuse

You might also be rejected for treatment if you’ve been diagnosed with:

• acute or chronic infections
• cancer
• chronic liver disease
• chronic skin disease
• hemodynamic instability
• hypofibrinogenemia
• metabolic disorder
• platelet dysfunction syndromes
• systemic disorder
• sepsis
• low platelet count

Results

For best results, consistency is key. Treatments are typically performed once a month for the first three to four months, and then every three to six months thereafter, depending on the individual patient’s response and results. Following this protocol, anticipated results can first be seen within two to three months, says Sadick.

“The first result that patients usually note is decreased hair shedding, followed by early regrowth and increased length of hair,”. “The general consensus is that receiving treatments every three to six months on a long-term basis are optimal for continuing to stimulate the growth factors and stem cells that are associated with regrowth and stopping hair fallout.”