The platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment for hair loss is becoming quite popular these days. It should come as no surprise, given that multiple studies on PRP and its potential as a treatment for various forms of alopecia continue to yield amazing results. Multiple clinical trials have shown that PRP may stimulate hair follicles to grow new hair.
So, the question arises: How effective is it, and are there any side effects? Scroll down to read this article to understand everything about the PRP hair treatment and its aftereffects.
What is PRP Hair Treatment?
PRP, or Plasma-Rich Platelets treatment, is a non-surgical way of stimulating new hair growth. In this treatment, a small amount of blood is taken from your body, typically your arm. This blood is put inside a centrifuge to separate all the platelets from other components of the blood. Then, the platelet-rich plasma is ready to be used on the target body area.
The reason why platelets are selected in PRP is because they contain growth factors that help accelerate tissue regeneration in the body.
In the case of hair, PRP is injected directly into the scalp, where you need to grow hair. This process stimulates the hair follicles and encourages new hair growth. However, you need to take PRP treatment in combination with other methods of hair growth to see promising results.
Benefits of Platelet Rich Plasma Hair Treatment
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) hair treatment can have several benefits in preventing hair loss or thinning:
Stimulates Hair Growth:
PRP contains growth factors that stimulate the dormant hair follicles, which helps promote new hair growth and improve hair thickness.
Non-surgical:
PRP hair treatment does not involve any surgery, so you need not worry about the recovery time, and it is generally well-tolerated by people.
Natural Treatment:
Plasma rich platelet hair treatment does not use any chemicals. It utilizes your own blood, which reduces the risk of allergic reactions or rejection (commonly seen in hair transplants).
Improves Hair Density and Thickness:
Patients often report increased hair density and thicker hair strands after undergoing PRP treatment.
As per a trial of 117 patients, it was reported that an average of 17.90 more hairs per cm² were observed after the treatment.
Quick Procedure with Minimal Downtime:
The PRP treatment sessions are usually quick, and people can continue with their normal lives soon after the treatment process.
Complementary to Other Treatments:
PRP hair treatment can be used alongside other hair restoration treatments for enhanced results. Overall, PRP hair treatment is valued for its ability to stimulate the growth of natural hair while also improving the quality of your existing hair. It also offers a promising option for those seeking to combat hair loss.
Efficacy of Treatment with Platelets Rich Plasma for Hair
A comparative study was done to check the effects of platelet rich plasma prp hair alone and with microneedling. When microneedling was compared to PRP alone, more patients in the microneedling group had better results, such as a negative hair-pull test, and they also perceived an improvement in their hair loss.
In comparison to the PRP-alone group, the microneedling + PRP treatment group showed a noticeably larger percentage increase in mean hair count.
These results suggest that, when compared to PRP alone, microneedling with PRP may produce better results in terms of hair growth and improved perception of hair loss.
Side Effects of PRP Hair Treatment
Although a plasma rich hair treatment is safe and has no risk of allergies, it may still lead to some side effects. Some of them are as follows:
- Bacterial Infection – may happen in the case of using a non-sterile syringe
- Damage to the nerves – may happen if injected by an untrained practitioner
- Tissue injury – if injected improperly at one area of the scalp repeatedly
- Pain in the targeted area – can be caused by multiple needlings.
How Long Does the PRP Treatment Last?
After you go through the treatment of PRP in hair, you can expect hair growth at the beginning of the third month. Although most studies did not follow up with the patients for more than 6 months, it was found in some studies that patients experienced a decrease in hair density.
For example, as per a study, 4 out of 20 male patients noticed their hair loss worsening, particularly noticeable by 16 months after treatment.
Another study noted a temporary decrease in hair density at 6 and 12 months post-treatment with plasma rich protein for hair, although overall hair density remained higher than before treatment.
The most commonly reported side effect was temporary pain at the injection site. Fortunately, no major adverse effects were reported in any of the studies reviewed.
To Sum Up
PRP can be an effective treatment for regrowing hair when done with other hair growth treatments like microneedling. The procedure is non-invasive and hardly ever leads to allergies. The effects of PRP hair treatment are not permanent, and some people may eventually begin to notice a decrease in hair density after a year or two.
