Read answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) for hair loss.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is concentrated blood plasma which contains approximately three to five times the number of platelets found in normal circulating blood. In addition to the platelets, it contains growth factors and other bioactive proteins that aid in wound healing and hair growth.
PRP is used to halt or reverse miniaturization, the process that causes common baldness.
PRP appointments are available for patients every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
Your doctor uses PRP to stimulate the growth of follicles, thereby reversing hair miniaturization (thinning hair) seen in androgenic alopecia (common male and female genetic baldness).
Platelet rich plasma offers an additional way to stimulate hair growth, especially in people who cannot use other forms of treatment. For example, it may be useful if someone is unable to take oral finasteride, oral minoxidil, or use Rogaine (topical minoxidil). It can also serve as an adjunct to these therapies for patients who wish to address their hair thinning using multiple mechanisms.
We use the XCell PRP system – a single centrifuge technique – that allows the active biologic factors to be administered at the most effective and highest concentration. The treatments are administered by a Bernstein Medical provider. While the process of obtaining PRP takes about 30 minutes, the injections themselves are quick – often lasting less than 5 minutes. The physicians at Bernstein Medical will make sure that your type of hair loss has the potential to respond to PRP and, if appropriate, they will offer other medical and surgical options as well.
If PRP hair loss therapy is appropriate, we can begin your treatment at the time of your consultation. We will administer the next two treatments at 6-week intervals. You will be asked to return 3 months later for your 4th treatment (6 months after beginning PRP). Starting at 6 months from initiation, you will return once every 6 months to maintain your PRP benefits. Results begin at 1 year and are assessed using photography in-office.
Patients usually begin to see results at 1 year after initiation. However, the response time may be variable.
It’s done during a simple office visit; the allotted appointment time is 1 hour. Most of this time is used for preparing your PRP after a simple blood draw. Following this, a Bernstein Medical provider will inject the PRP into the scalp – which is efficiently done in about 5 minutes to limit discomfort for the patient.
Yes. We advise that you do not apply topical chemicals (shampoos, conditioners, topical medications) to the scalp on the day following your PRP. Regular showering with shampoos and conditioners can resume the following day. We also ask that you avoid NSAIDS (ibuprofen) and Aspirin following PRP to avoid risk of bruising from the injections. It is preferable that patients take Tylenol for any headaches caused by PRP. Furthermore, heavy alcohol can also thin the blood and increase risk of bruising. We advise patients to avoid drinking heavy alcohol in the evening after a PRP session.
It works best where there is existing thinning hair.
There is an individualized response to this treatment with a spectrum of effectiveness. It does not work in all cases. Patients are monitored to assess the benefits of therapy.
Yes.
Yes, before PRP treatment you will need to have an evaluation by the physician.
If you are a candidate, the doctor may be able to perform the PRP procedure at the time of the consult. If the procedure cannot be performed at the time of consultation, you can schedule one very soon after.
You may have some very temporary soreness and swelling. Mild discomfort (often described as light throbbing) occurs in the initial 30 minutes following PRP injections.
It depends on the area. The doctor will determine this at the time of the treatment.
There is some inconvenience in that you need to have your blood drawn and there may be some temporary soreness or swelling in the treated area. Platelet rich plasma seems to be extremely safe since we are using your own serum, but it is not successful in growing hair in all cases.
We are only using platelet rich plasma to treat hair loss on the scalp at this time.
We have found that ACell causes inflammatory reactions in some patients and feel that it is very important to use PRP on its own to best assess its benefits. PRP uses your own plasma. ACell is a foreign substance that comes from the bladder of a pig.
