What is PRP?
PRP is a non-surgical therapeutic option for patients who may not want, or be candidates for surgical hair restoration. It uses small injections of platelets from the patient’s own blood to help stimulate hair growth.
How Does PRP Work in Hair Restoration?
Human blood contains mesenchymal stem cells, and autologous blood products that contain essential and specific growth factors that assist in tissue regeneration and healing. For over two decades it has been used as therapy for skin and wound healing, dentistry and orthopedics but more recently been found to help stimulate hair growth.
In the field of hair restoration, evidence supports PRP therapy as a promising treatment option to promote hair growth. While Platelet-Rich Plasma is in the early stages of scientific research in hair restoration, Platelet-Rich Plasma is not meant to replace current FDA approved therapies such as DHT blockers and Minoxidil, but it is a promising non-surgical therapeutic option for those patients with hair loss.
The Platelet-Rich Plasma Procedure
The doctor will extract a vial blood from your arm, just as if you were receiving a blood test. This blood is then treated in a centrifuge to separate the enriched cells or platelets (PRP). We use Eclipse ProGen PRP and the Emcyte Pure PRP for this process.
The centrifuge systems allow for the preparation of pure Platelet-Rich Plasma with optimal platelet concentrations and cellular content. Virtually, all Red Blood Cells (RBC) are eliminated from Platelet-Rich Plasma and the concentration of pro-inflammatory Granulocytes (GRs) is dramatically reduced.
Once the Platelet-Rich Plasma has been separated from the blood, it is injected into the scalp, or areas needing treatment, using a tiny needle. The hair may be slightly damp after treatment but there is minimal redness or pain post procedure, and because PRP uses your own blood, you shouldn’t have any major side effects. The patient can go about their day as normal afterwards. There is no sedation or medication involved with this procedure that would inhibit driving or operating machinery.
PRP Benefits for Hair Loss
- A non-surgical treatment to improve hair density and fullness.
- Requires small sample of blood.
- Serum is autologous (from patient’s own blood) – you can not be allergic to the product.
- 800 bioactive molecules are secreted by platelets: cell adhesion molecules like fibronectin, cytokines like IL-1 and IL-4, anti-microbial peptides, and anti-inflammatory molecules.
- Upon activation, platelet-derived α granules release growth factors involved in cell proliferation, angiogenesis, Collagenesis and matrix remodeling (PDGF/ TGF/ VEGF/ EGF/ FGF/ IGF )
- Optimal Platelet Concentration is obtained through specific centrifuge protocols.
- End product is serum with supraphsiological concentration of platelets and their associated growth factors.
- Remnant of mononuclear cells present in the PRP assists in fighting infection and is thought to enhance the anabolic effects of PRP
PRP Before & After Photo
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