About PRP for Hair Thinning
The best candidates for PRP are those who have experienced hair thinning vs. actual hair loss over the years. Hair thinning is most commonly due to increased sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) as we age. This is also typically known as Pattern Baldness. DHT sensitivity naturally doesn’t manifest until our mid to late 30s, and it’s primarily an inherited condition.
DHT causes viable hair follicles to shrink. We call this “Follicular Miniaturization.” When follicles shrink, the diameter of the growing hair shafts subsequently decreases as well. A typical scenario is when our female patients state that the thickness of their ponytails has almost reduced in half over the last several years.
So it makes sense that the best candidates for PRP treatments are those who have viable hair follicles in the areas of treatment. Some of these hair follicles may be dormant while others are active but struggling. Although PRP will not fully reverse all hair thinning in patients, it has become one of the best non-surgical treatments to date to reverse follicular miniaturization resulting in hair growing more dense.
WHAT EXACTLY IS PRP?
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatments have become well established in the medical community as a safe and effective way to revive dormant hair follicles.
Plateletes are specialized cells in your blood that are well known to produce several important growth factors.
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Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) stimulates skin and collagen production
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Transforming Growth Factor (TGF) promotes growth of new blood vessels
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Fibroblast Growth Factor promotes new blood vessels and granulation , both of which are important in tissue repair
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Platelet-derived Growth Factor (PDGF) draws in macrophages and fibrobasts to injury sites and promotes collagen growth and proteoglycan synthesis
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Collagen Stimulating Growth Factor
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Keratinocyte Growth Factor (KGF) which optimizes conditions for healing and generation of new skin
HOW IS PRP PERFORMED?
PRP treatments involve the drawing the patients own blood (similar to a simple lab blood draw), centrifuging the blood to separate the platelets from the other blood componenents, and then re-injecting the high concentration of platelets back into the desired area of treatment (scalp for hair loss, facial skin for fine lines and wrinkles). Upon injection, the platelets are activated to release at least eight essential growth factors to help to revive dormant hair follicles (if used in hair restoration) or stimulate collagen production (if used in skin rejuvenation).
HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL IT TAKE?
Most patients will require 3-4 treatments spaced-out about 6 wks apart. Afterwards maintenance treatments are recommended 1-2 times a year.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SEE RESULTS?
Typically takes 3-6 months to start seeing results. However, some patients may not see noticeable results for 6-12 months.
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