PRP, also known as Platelet Rich Plasma, is a non-surgical treatment that uses a person’s own blood to treat a number of conditions. Some of the conditions it has been used to treat are arthritis, bone or spine injuries, hamstring or tendon injuries, hair restoration, and even wrinkling skin. PRP therapy starts with collection of the patient’s blood, which is then placed in a centrifuge where the platelet-rich plasma is separated from the other components of the blood. Platelets are the body’s natural supplier of growth factors, which stimulates soft tissue repair, increases blood flow, and promotes stem cell generation, which assists the body in healing itself.
What Is PRP?
Platelets are injected into the damaged area where they encourage and enhance the body’s natural healing processes. It is a fairly quick procedure, often taking less than an hour, and is usually just an outpatient treatment. Due to its success in repairing tendons, ligaments, and muscle damage, it has become increasingly popular in treating sports injuries. It has also shown to be effective in regenerating hair growth.
Stimulating Hair Growth
Once the PRP is obtained it can be used to promote hair regeneration in patients with thinning hair. The PRP is injected into the scalp at the area of concern. Typically 3-6 treatments are performed, and each one is done one month apart. It is often recommended to add another product called “A-cell” to an individual’s PRP, which enhances the regenerative product even more.
Even after a series of treatments is completed a patient can come back for maintenance injections to help enhance the overall procedure. The goal is to inject it into areas of the scalp to promote hair regrowth and thicken current hair. Diet and other lifestyle factors may play a role in hair loss, so it is important to go over all these variables before starting PRP, as it may not be as effective without a holistic approach.
Your PRP specialist, like a PRP specialist in Los Angeles, CA, should go over environmental factors, genetics, and diet before recommending PRP. PRP is not a one-time treatment and must be continued in order to see the best results. A typical PRP series is 3-6 treatments, but this can be longer for some, as it depends on the patient.
PRP is a safe treatment with very little downtime. You will be asked to avoid certain products for 48 hours, as well as excessive sun exposure. Other than some minor details there are no major side effects or recovery associated with this treatment.
Thanks to MetroMD for their insight into using PRP for hair restoration.