What Is The Process For Getting PRP Treatment?

There’s nothing more devastating than looking into the mirror one day and realizing that you’re losing your hair permanently. Looking back at your old photos, you might notice how quickly you’re losing what you had and, maybe, took for granted. But you shouldn’t lose heart. That’s because there is something that can help – PRP injections.

Most importantly, when you’re experiencing hair loss, you should talk to your doctor. That’s because you need to understand why you’re losing hair in the first place. You may end up wasting a lot of money on different hair treatments that don’t actually resolve the underlying issue. So, make sure to get a check-up.

The thing about PRP injections is that they can help boost the health of your hair, in general. You don’t have to get this treatment only when you’re losing your hair. It is a very popular “natural” hair loss solution that many people get even after getting a hair transplant.

What is Platelet-Rich Plasma?

It’s in the name; plasma which is rich in platelets. Commonly, platelets are known for their ability to clot blood. Platelets come to the rescue whenever our skin experiences physical trauma. But that’s not all that platelets do. They also contain proteins and growth factors that help in the healing of the wound, repairing damage and cell growth.

This function of platelets is what gave birth to the idea that they might also be good for hair loss. It is believed that hair loss occurs because of damage to the hair follicles. Therefore, the injection of platelets would help repair the damage and promote the natural growth of hair. It also increases the blood flow to the roots of the hair follicles. This provides them with more nourishing nutrients and stimulates their growth.

Why Is PRP Treatment for Hair Loss Considered “Natural”?

That’s because it makes use of the patient’s own blood. After you arrive at the hair loss clinic, the surgeon will draw blood from you. S/he will then put it into a centrifuge machine to separate the components of the blood: red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma. The plasma that is rich in platelets is taken and injected into different areas of the scalp.

Since the treatment uses the patient’s own blood, it is unlikely that the patient will experience any serious side effects. However, they may still end up experiencing swelling, itchiness, tenderness and slight bleeding (on the site of the injection).

What Is The Process For Getting PRP Treatment?

After you arrive at the clinic, your practitioner might give you a numbing cream so that you don’t feel any pain or discomfort during the procedure. The procedure is minimally invasive, so at most, you’ll feel soreness and bruising for a few days. It has no downtime, so you can get the treatment and continue about your day. You’ll only have to be in the hair clinic for an hour since that’s how long it will take for the practitioner to administer the injections.

It is recommended that you get at least 4 PRP injections for your hair loss after every 4-6 weeks. After that, you should get PRP injections after every 4-6 months. You can then keep getting an injection once every year.

Like topical treatments for hair loss (minoxidil and Finasteride), you need to get the injections to see the results. One injection won’t give you lasting results. Depending on your hair loss and medical condition, your doctor will chalk out an injection plan for you. S/he will also inform you about the frequency of injections needed each year. Therefore, make sure to discuss it with your doctor.

Is PRP Therapy A Permanent Solution for Hair Loss?

Unfortunately, that’s not the case. PRP therapy can boost the natural growth of your hair. But it cannot treat permanent hair loss. Many people get this treatment for a few years after getting a hair transplant to support the hair roots and grow healthy hair. Since PRP injections are not a permanent cure for hair loss, if you have pattern hair loss, you can benefit from hair transplant surgery more. Still, combining PRP injections and hair transplants can further improve the results of the procedure.

Conclusion

PRP therapy certainly has promising prospects for hair loss. If you’re looking to give a healthy boost to your hair, you should consider PRP therapy. It might not work for permanent hair loss, but a hair transplant can support your hair growth.