Procedure
The steps below demonstrate a common approach for administering PRP injections to treat hair loss.
- A medical professional will draw blood from a vein in the arm.
- They will then place the blood sample in a centrifuge to spin the blood, separating its components.
- Afterward, another medical professional will extract the platelets using a syringe.
- Finally, a doctor will inject the platelets into targeted areas of the scalp.
The PRP treatment typically takes about an hour, and multiple sessions may be required. Following the treatment, the individual can return to regular activities without restrictions.
Does PRP work for hair loss?
The simple answer here is that the science isn’t 100 percent definitive that PRP can assist in regrowing your hair or preserving the hair that you have. Here’s an outline of some favorable results from analysis on PRP and hair loss:
- A 2014 study of 11 people with androgenic alopecia found that injecting 2 to 3 cubic centimeters of PRP into the scalp every two weeks for three months could increase the moderate number of follicles from 71 to 93 units. This study is too small to be conclusive, but it shows that PRP may help increase the number of hair follicles that can actively support healthy hair.
- A 2015 study of 10 people receiving PRP injections every 2 to 3 weeks for three months showed improvements in the number of hairs, the thickness of those hairs, and the strength of the hair roots. This study helps support the findings of other PRP and hair loss studies. But then, people still need to be bigger and the sample size to be conclusive.
- A 2019 study compared two groups of people using different hair treatments for six months. One group of 20 used minoxidil (Rogaine), and the other group of 20 used PRP injections. Thirty people completed the study, and the outcomes showed that PRP functioned much more satisfactorily for hair loss than Rogaine. However, the study also found that your level of platelets can affect how well your plasma works for hair loss. A lower level of blood platelets may mean that PRP is less effective for you.
Aside from treating male pattern baldness, there is little research on PRP for hair growth, and it needs to be more conclusive. So why all the hype? It’s thought that PRP contains proteins that serve several main functions supposed to help hair regrow:
- allowing your blood to clot
- encouraging cell growth
Some promising research done for PRP for hair loss in Cincinnati suggests that PRP may work for other types of hair loss.
Potential PRP hair treatment side effects
PRP has some potential side effects from injections and from the procedure itself, including:
- blood vessel injury on the scalp
- nerve injury
- infection at the injection site
- Calcification or scar tissue can form at the site of injection.
- After the procedure, one may experience side effects from the anesthesia, such as muscle soreness, confusion, or bladder control issues.
Takeaway
Hair loss treatment in Cincinnati has some promising research behind it. Much research on Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injection therapy for hair restoration has been conducted on small study groups of 40 people or fewer. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the effectiveness of this therapy for everyone. Additionally, your blood may need a higher concentration of platelets to make the treatment fully effective for restoring your hair.
You should consult a doctor to get your blood tested for platelets and to evaluate your hair health. This will help determine if PRP injection therapy is a suitable option for you.