Suffer from hair loss or male pattern baldness? Female pattern baldness? Not getting the results from other hair loss products? If so, consider PRP therapy for hair restoration and rejuvenation at Colorado Springs Dermatology Clinic, PC.
While hair loss sufferers once just had to accept their ‘new do,’ that is no longer the case. There are a number of different treatments available today, but one of the most effective is PRP (platelet rich plasma) therapy. This unique hair loss treatment is effective for both men and women and isn’t just a quick fix – it actually restores the natural growth of the hair. And the results are fantastic with 90 to 95 percent of patients experiencing improvement.
Learn more about what PRP actually is and determine if it might be the right option for you. Schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified dermatologists today.
What Is PRP Therapy?
PRP therapy is a unique, non-invasive cosmetic procedure designed to restore hair growth for men and women alike. It is an all-natural technique that is used to:
- stop the shedding of hair
- thicken the hair
- stimulate the growth of new natural hair follicles
The treatment relies on the common growth factors within platelets. Typically seven growth factors are found in normal blood platelets. These factors enter into the hair bulb circulation and stimulate the production of stem cells, which leads to changes in the follicle itself.
This process of restoring natural hair growth involves injecting the scalp with vital growth proteins or platelet rich plasma (PRP). These proteins stimulate the follicles to regrow your hair.
Watch the video below by Dr. Nate Trookman explains how PRP therapy is the ‘Miracle Grow’ of hair loss restoration and rejuvenation:
How Is the Procedure Performed?
The procedure itself is convenient and non-medically invasive. To begin, you will be required to visit the clinic and have blood drawn by a certified medical professional. Once the draw has been made, a technician will place the blood in a centrifuge to separate the PRP from the rest of the blood.
A highly advanced gel technology is used to spin and remove the PRP molecules from the blood. Once the centrifugation process is complete, the vital growth proteins are separated from the blood.
Following this initial step, you will undergo a second phase of treatment. During this step, you will be placed under topical anesthesia and then the doctor will inject the platelet rich plasma (PRP) directly into your scalp. This PRP will naturally stimulate the growth within your follicles and allow regrowth to occur.
How Many Treatments Are Required?
While your exact round of treatment will be determined by you and the doctor and based on your personal needs, most patients choose a standard round of treatment. In most cases, PRP therapy is performed monthly for a period of four months to deliver the most advanced results. This frequency of treatment allows the follicles to be effectively stimulated so that the hair growth progresses as it should.
Who Is a Candidate for PRP?
Like many other hair loss treatments available today, PRP does not work for all types of hair loss. It is important that patients are thoroughly evaluated by a knowledgeable dermatologist or hair expert prior to beginning therapy to determine if they are a good candidate for this treatment. In general, this option is not intended for those individuals with a history of Telogen Effluvium or scarring Alopecia.
Are There Any Side Effects?
While PRP therapy is quickly gaining more popularity as an effective and non-invasive treatment, like most medical treatments, it is not without potential side effects. Although not overly common, side effects of which to be aware include:
- Slight pain at the injection site: It is not uncommon to experience an acute ache or soreness at the site of the injection.
- Infection: Extreme precautions are taken to maintain a sterile procedure before, during, and after injection; however, in some cases, an infection may arise.
- Skin discoloration: In some cases, individuals experience skin discoloration or bruising around the site of the injection. While this is often normal, if the bruise appears unusually deep or dark or if you don’t typically bruise easily, you should contact your doctor.
- Allergic reaction: Although rare, some patients’ bodies do reject their own serum and react negatively to PRP therapy.
- Blood clot: Typically a blood clot forms due to damage of the lining of a blood vessel, such as a cut. However, because a PRP injection uses a needle, there is a chance that it could affect a vein or artery. If this occurs, your doctor will treat the clot as such.
What Does PRP Therapy Cost?
In most cases, each PRP therapy session takes roughly 30 to 60 minutes and costs approximately $600 or more per session. In most cases, after the four initial monthly treatments are complete, two maintenance treatments are then recommended each year.
PRP therapy is not covered by insurance at this point; however, the price point makes it a more viable option for most patients. In comparison hair transplant surgeries typically vary widely in terms of cost and may range anywhere between $5,000 and $20,000, so $500 is often more doable.
How Well Does It Work?
PRP therapy is still considered a relatively new treatment. As such, the clinical studies that have been conducted regarding the effectiveness and longevity of the treatment are inconclusive at this point. Even so, one study of 11 patients revealed a significant reduction in hair loss between the first and fourth injection and identified an increase in the average number of follicles per square centimeter on the scalp. Additionally, a study of 20 patients deduced that the treatment may have a “positive therapeutic effect” on both male and female pattern hair loss without major negative side effects.
Below are more before and after treatment results (source: prphairmd.com):
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not reviewed PRP as an effective hair loss treatment yet. But the therapy option has already established a reputation among cosmetic surgeons, sports medicine physicians, and orthopedic professionals as a viable tool. At Colorado Springs Dermatology Clinic, our success rate is in the 90 to 95 percent success range, which is a very high success rate with tremendous patient satisfaction.
Is PRP Therapy Right for You?
PRP therapy is an effective treatment option for several men and women who are looking to restore their youthful head of hair and regain their confidence. It is important, though, to conduct careful research and to consult a trustworthy physician regarding your choice prior to having the treatment. Nonetheless, PRP therapy is considered a safe, natural hair loss treatment option for several individuals.
It is important to note that PRP is also still being analyzed as an effective measure to minimize hair loss and reverse hair thinning in both men and women. With that, it cannot be said that PRP therapy is a 100 percent guarantee to restore hair growth. Likewise, the FDA has not yet approved the treatment itself.
Have you been struggling with hair loss and grappling with what to do? Consider PRP therapy and discuss this option with your doctor. In many cases it is a viable option for those individuals who do not want to have surgery or are otherwise not a candidate for surgery. Don’t believe that you just have to deal with early hair loss. There is something you can do, and PRP therapy is likely one of your best options.