Hair thinning and hair loss is very common, affecting millions worldwide. Studies suggest that in the United States alone, nearly 50 million men and 30 million women suffer from pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia. In recent years, medical studies and rapid technological developments have led to an array of hair loss treatment procedures. One promising, research-backed hair loss treatment that has been picking up pace is Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) therapy.
How Platelet-Rich Plasma works
Unlike other non-invasive procedures such as dermal fillers that use external formulations, PRP uses the patient’s own blood to heal them, making the technique highly effective, organic, and free from allergies and infections. PRP uses the patient’s own platelets’ natural ability to trigger the healing process in the safest manner possible.
Platelet-rich Plasma is basically a concentrate derived from the blood, consisting of essential proteins and regenerative cells. When the PRP is injected into damaged tissue, it is known to initiate a restoring effect. However, to further enhance the efficiency of the plasma, it needs to be processed and filtered. This separates the platelet-rich plasma from the red and white blood cells in the blood.
To begin the process, the patient is given anesthesia either topically or via injection to numb the area. Then, the patient’s own blood is extracted and processed in a device known as a centrifuge, where the platelets are pulled from the other components of the blood. When separated, the platelets become more potent and concentrated. After the separation process, the platelet-rich plasma content with valuable protein is collected in a syringe and injected into the portion of the scalp with hair loss. It can also be injected into other parts of the body that need treatment. For example, in hair loss cases, the PRP injection begins fixing the damaged cells and tissues, thereby stimulating hair growth by increasing blood flow to the follicles and carrying proteins to that scalp that promote cell growth.
How long do PRP Injections last?
Extracting blood from the patient and introducing PRP can take between 30 minutes to an hour. Since PRP therapy is a minimally invasive procedure, there is no recovery downtime, enabling patients to resume their daily life. While the method is safe, patients may experience minor side effects like pain, bleeding, irritation, or discomfort around the injection site.
While the results from PRP are not permanent, they can last up to an average of 18 months, with 2 years being the longest reported effect. Additionally, patients may need a follow-up treatment once a year. For optimum results, most hair loss patients need a minimum of 3 sessions, with each session scheduled a month apart.
Where can I get PRP Therapy?
If you are looking for the best hair transplant clinic in NJ, contact us at the New Jersey Hair Restoration Center. Our staff and doctors hold years of experience and commitment to providing the finest PRP therapy.
