PRP hair loss therapy is a three-step medical treatment that involves drawing a person’s blood, processing it, and then injecting it into the scalp. However, if you are looking for PRP for hair loss in Cincinnati, you can take the help of any search engine by searching “PRP hair loss therapy near you.”
Some in the medical society believe that PRP injections trigger natural hair growth and preserve it by increasing blood supply to the hair follicle and raising the thickness of the hair shaft. Sometimes, this method is combined with other hair loss techniques or medications.
There needs to be more studies proving whether PRP is a beneficial hair loss treatment. Nonetheless, PRP therapy has been in help since the 1980s. It’s been used for issues such as recovering injured tendons, ligaments, and muscles.
Platelets and hair growth: What’s the connection?
Platelets are one of four primary blood components (the other three are red blood cells, white blood cells, and plasma). Platelets promote cell growth and regeneration. As the word “platelet-rich plasma” means, platelets are usually about five times more concentrated in PRP than normal blood. This concentration of platelets is advantageous because platelets secrete growth factors that are thought to oblige in wound recovery and tissue regrowth.
Regarding hair loss, the theory is that platelets, injected deep into the scalp to reach the bottom of the hair follicle, may stimulate a specialized population of cells named dermal papilla cells, which play a critical role in hair growth.
Who Might Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy Help?
Reports say PRP has been shown to benefit both men and women, especially those with androgenetic alopecia, which is known among men as male-pattern baldness and among women for leading to combat hair loss, thinning hair all over the scalp is a common occurrence says the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Some individuals who may find PRP beneficial include:
- Balding men
- Women who’ve encountered hair loss or thinning hair as a consequence of menopause
- For those who have experienced hair loss in the last five years, promoting growth may be effective. However, after five years, hair follicles may become too small and thin for any significant difference to be made.
PRP therapy process
PRP therapy is a three-step process. Most PRP therapy needs three treatments 4–6 weeks apart.
Maintenance treatments are required every 4–6 months.
Step 1
Your blood is drawn from a vein in your arm and then put into a centrifuge, a machine that spins rapidly to separate the fluids of different densities.
Step 2
After approximately 10 minutes in the centrifuge, your blood will have divided into three layers:
- Platelet-poor plasma
- Platelet-rich plasma
- Red blood cells
Step 3
The platelet-rich plasma is pulled into a syringe and then infiltrated into areas of the scalp that need improved hair growth. There needs to be more investigation to prove whether PRP is useful. It’s also unclear for whom — and under what cases — it’s most influential.
PRP hair loss therapy side effects
Because PRP therapy involves injecting your blood into your scalp, you aren’t at risk of getting an infectious disease. Still, any therapy that applies injections always carries a chance of side effects such as:
- Injury to blood vessels or nerves
- Infection
- Calcification at the injection points
- Scar tissue
There’s also the chance that you could have an adverse reaction to the anesthetic used in the therapy. If you select to pursue PRP therapy for hair loss, let your doctor comprehend in advance your tolerance to drugs.
Risks of PRP for hair loss
Be sure to report all medications you’re on before the course, including supplements and herbs. When you go for your initial consultation, many providers will advise against PRP hair loss therapy if you:
- Are on blood thinners.
- Are a heavy smoker.
You might also be denied treatment if you’ve been diagnosed with the following:
- Acute or chronic infections
- Cancer
- Chronic liver disease
- Chronic skin disease
- Hemodynamic instability
- Hypofibrinogenemia
- Metabolic disorder
- Platelet dysfunction syndromes
- Systemic disorder
- Sepsis
- Low platelet count
- Thyroid disease
How much does PRP for hair loss cost?
PRP therapy typically consists of three treatments in 4–6 weeks, with maintenance treatments every 4–6 months. The cost generally ranges from $1,500–$3,500 for the initial three treatments, with one injection at $400 or more. Pricing depends on several factors, including:
- Your geographic location
- Quality of equipment
- The addition of nutritional components
Many insurance plans believe PRP for hair loss treatment to be cosmetic and don’t cover any of the costs of the therapy. Inspect with your insurance provider to see if PRP therapy is covered.
Takeaway
If you’re concerned about hair loss, you have several options, including medication like Rogaine and Propecia, along with hair transplant surgery. Another consideration is PRP hair loss therapy.
Although there’s limited clinical proof that PRP for hair loss works, many believe that PRP is a safe and effective way of reversing hair loss and stimulating new hair growth.
Consult with your doctor to see which treatment or blend of treatments is the most suitable choice for you.