PRP treatment has shown many promising results from increasing hair count to improving hair thickness.
It has even shown an increase in the actual growth phase of patients’ hair cycles.
If you have been struggling with thinning hair or hair loss, and are at odds with different solutions that do not seem to be working, platelet-rich plasma could be the perfect solution for you!
Quickly deemed the “vampire facial,” Platelet Rich Plasma rose in popularity after being promoted by Kim Kardashian.
Everyone was shocked to see Kim’s bloody face, while she claimed this treatment transformed her skin for the better.
But, glowing skin is not the only benefit of platelet-rich plasma, it has been proven to help with hair loss!
In this article we will discuss:
- What is PRP or Platelet Rich Plasma?
- Does platelet-rich plasma Work for Hair Loss?
- What Else to Know Before Getting a Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatment
What is PRP or Platelet Rich Plasma?
Platelet-rich plasma or PRP is a form of micro-needling, a treatment that involves puncturing the skin with very thin needles to stimulate collagen and elastin production for young, healthy-looking skin. In other words, these tiny ‘injuries’ signal the body to begin healing which involves producing collagen.
Platelet-rich plasma treatment begins by drawing blood from the skin, just as if the patient was getting blood drawn. The blood is placed in a centrifuge, separating the blood from the plasma. The enriched plasma is then prepared and injected into the skin or hair follicles. This is essentially what is depicted in that famous picture of Kim K covered in her blood.
Like many other microneedling treatments, PRP is non-invasive and requires little recovery time.
The entire process takes approximately 30 minutes to an hour to complete! That is the equivalent of your lunch break!
Microneedling with PLP is a highly effective technique, as the two treatments enhance each other, simultaneously revitalizing the skin and restoring a youthful glow.
Does Platelet-Rich plasma Work for Hair Loss?
There are a variety of reasons for hair loss, from situational factors like stress and rapid weight loss to being genetically predisposed to losing your hair or having health complications.
In regards to platelet-rich plasma treatment, it works best for patients struggling with androgenic alopecia, which is a genetically determined type of hair thinning that typically occurs along the top of the head.
Microneedling has quickly become a popular hair-loss solution, proving to be one of the best ways to jumpstart the body’s natural healing process, inducing collagen production.
Why is this so important? Collagen deficiency is linked to hair loss, therefore replenishing collagen levels in the body induces hair growth since collagen just so happens to exist in the same layer of skin as hair follicles.
Microneedling has already proved itself in the realm of hair re-growth, and PLP is solidifying this position further. The plasma separated from your blood “contains white blood cells and platelets, which are rich in growth factors,” explains New York-based dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, in an article for Allure.
In the interview, Dr. Zeichner continues to explain that the plasma helps “stimulate the activity of the hair follicles and promote new hair growth.”
What Else to Know Before Getting a Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatment
As with most cosmetic treatments, especially those aimed to mitigate hair loss, for the best possible results, PRP treatment must be done consistently and over a long period.
Although results appear quickly, within two to three months, when it comes to hair loss treatments, whether topical medications or microneedling, the hair will begin to fall out again once discontinued.
PRP is not a permanent treatment for hair loss, however, with touch-ups, platelet-rich plasma offers fairly long-term results. It may not be the easiest fix, but it has proven to be highly effective.
When first beginning PRP treatments, touch-ups are recommended once a month for the first few months. However, after a few consistent treatments, touch-ups can be done every three to six months.
Here at LaureateLA, platelet-rich plasma treatment costs from $500 a session, with microneedling, and $900 a session for the scalp treatment.