What is PRP?
Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is concentrated blood plasma which contains approximately five times the number of platelets found in normal circulating blood. In addition, it contains platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor (TGF) and other bioactive proteins that aid in wound healing and possibly hair growth.
Growth factors in platelet rich plasma (PRP) have been used to facilitate wound healing. Recently, studies have suggested that PRP may also serve as a safe and effective treatment option for male and female pattern hair loss.
Human blood is comprised primarily of red blood cells (RBC), as well as white blood cells (WBC), platelets, and plasma. By initiating the first step of coagulation, platelets are the key to the body’s ability to heal wounds. It is thought that by increasing the platelet count in a wounded area, the body’s healing to that area would be accelerated – explaining the use of PRP in wound healing. Its effects on promoting hair growth make it useful for the medical treatment of hair loss.
PRP Treatments at Bernstein Medical
At Bernstein Medical we use the XCELL PRP System. This is a modification of the single centrifuge technique that allows the active biologic factors of serum to be administered at the most effective concentration.
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. At this visit (6 months from your first treatment) your response will be assessed. If you show improvement, follow-up treatments will be given twice yearly depending upon your progress.
The treatments are administered by a Bernstein Medical physician and take about a half hour to 45 minutes. For some patients, the injections may be uncomfortable. For those patients, we offer local anesthesia prior to the injections which helps to reduce the discomfort. Patients are monitored photographically to assess the benefits of therapy. We will modify your treatment schedule based on your individual response to therapy. The physicians at Bernstein Medical have the knowledge to know when PRP for hair loss is appropriate and the skill to inject the proper quantity of PRP at just the right depth to achieve the desired result — a skill that cannot be overstated.
