PRP Injections for Hair Loss
From measles to malaria to typhoid to tuberculosis, modern medicine has produced no shortage of cures for every manner of ailment.Yet when it comes to hair loss, many assume that there is nothing their doctors can do. Both men and women suffering from androgenic alopecia often resign themselves to the inevitable. Wigs and comb-overs may hide thinning hairlines, but there’s no way to get back to full hair growth.
Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, Treatment for Hair Loss
The answer lies in platelet-rich plasma, or PRP. Made from blood plasma with a high concentration of platelets, this substance has already proven effective in healing wounds. By applying it to areas of the scalp affected by androgenic alopecia and other common sources of baldness, doctors have been able to reverse thinning hairlines and spur new growth. As a plastic surgery and medical spa practice committed to finding safe, affordable hair loss solutions, NOVA Plastic Surgery takes full advantage of this new method. We offer safe, affordable PRP treatments in Northern VA, allowing patients of all ages to enjoy a full head of hair.
What is PRP?
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a substance made by taking a sample of the patient’s blood, removing red blood cells, and enriching the remaining plasma with platelets.
The concentration of platelets is increased by a factor of between 300 and 700 percent, leading to a final count of more than 1 million platelets for every mililiter of plasma. The platelets are then injected into the areas of the patient’s body that needs to be healed.
Because platelets stop bleeding and restore cell health, this method has long been investigated as a way to heal injuries. Researchers have investigated its effects on everything from tennis elbow to nerve damage to osteoarthritis to chronic pain. Though specific results vary based on the condition it is used to treat, the overall evidence strongly suggests that PRP is a safe, effective, and affordable source of healing.
Before & After
How Can PRP Treat Hair Loss?
This could cause hair to begin growing again where it had fallen out while strengthening it in areas where it was thinning.
Recent research on PRP indicates that it has a powerful, positive effect on hair growth. A 2015 study found that after only 3 PRP treatments, male patients saw their total hair density increase by 45.9 hairs per centimeter. A 2017 study found similar results in female patients suffering from androgenic alopecia. Likewise, a 2017 review of research on the efficacy of PRP for hair loss found that the treatment improved both the quality and density of hair. This strongly suggests that PRP is an effective solution for hair loss in both men and women.
In addition to its efficacy, PRP treatments do not suffer from many of the drawbacks associated with other hair restoration methods, such as:
- Dangerous Side Effects – Many existing hair restoration methods carry serious health risks for those who use them. Hair transplants, for example, can cause bleeding and scarring, and sometimes lead to infections. Similarly, hair restoration medicines like minoxidil and finasteride can cause cardiovascular problems, an increased prostate cancer risk, and other potentially deadly side effects. By contrast, studies on PRP have found no significant negative side effects.
- High Costs – Hair restoration is often an expensive procedure. Transplants, for example, can cost anywhere between $4,000 and $15,000, depending on the amount of hair you are replacing. By contrast, the total cost of PRP treatments is usually less than $3000.
Given these benefits and the widespread demand for effective hair loss solutions, NOVA Plastic Surgery has added it to our arsenal of PRP hair loss treatments in Virginia.
Who Can Receive PRP Hair Loss Treatments?
A good candidate for PRP hair restoration is anyone suffering from alopecia but otherwise in good health. Because the treatment is so safe, there are relatively few contraindications. Nonetheless, you should not receive this procedure if:
- You have trouble with blood clotting or other bleeding problems
- Your blood has low platelet counts
- You are suffering from or have recently suffered from a blood infection
- You are receiving cortisone therapy
- Your blood pressure is chronically low or unstable
- You currently have or recently recovered from cancer
In addition, PRP hair restoration is not recommended for people who smoke, as tobacco use contributes to many of these other conditions.
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How Do You Prepare PRP?
In order to prepare PRP, we begin by extracting between 25 and 30 milliliters of your blood.
We put this blood in a secure tube and then rotate it in a centrifuge to separate the plasma from the red blood cells. We then extract the plasma, place it in another tube, and put it through the centrifuge again to separate the plasma into platelet-rich and platelet-poor sections. We collect the platelet-rich section and place it in an insulin syringe along with calcium chlorides, which acts as an activator.
What Should I Expect During PRP Treatment?
- Initial Assessment – You begin by meeting with one of our providers. The provider will assess the cause and extent of your hair loss, come up with a treatment plan, and find a date to begin. You will then return on that date.
- Treatment Outline – When you return for treatment, the provider will outline the area of your head requiring treatment. They will then apply a cream to numb that area for injections.
- PRP Preparation – The provider will extract a sample of your blood and then put it through the PRP preparation process. This will take about half an hour, during which time we can give you a facial, a vitamin infusion, or some other health and wellness treatment.
- PRP Injections – We inject the PRP into the outlined areas of your scalp, using a zimmer chiller to make it as painless and comfortable as possible.
- Final Massage – We massage the top of your head in order to spread the platelets as evenly as possible.
After the procedure, you will likely experience mild bruising or swelling on the affected areas of your head. The treatment should not affect your ability to work or live an active lifestyle, however.
How Much Does This Treatment Cost, And How Frequently Will I Need It?
At NOVA Plastic Surgery, we believe that the most effective treatments are those that are introduced over time, providing subtle, natural improvements in hair growth.
As such, we offer a gradual treatment plan. For the first three months, you should receive procedures on a monthly basis, after which point you should receive them every 6 to 12 months. Each procedure costs between $600 and $1200, depending on the size of the affected area. By taking treatment slowly and combining it with proper skin care, healthy diets, and sun protection, you can maximize hair growth while minimizing any risks or discomfort from the procedure.