PRP Steps - Bernstein Medical - Center for Hair Restoration
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Q: What is a double centrifuge system for PRP and what are the benefits? — S.B. ~ Manhattan, N.Y.

A: The double centrifuge system is a process used in preparing Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) where the whole blood is spun two times to optimize the concentration of the platelets. In the first spin, the red blood cells are separated from the plasma, which contains the platelets. In the second spin, the cellular components in the plasma are further concentrated. The platelets and growth factors that are recovered from the plasma are then injected into the scalp. Additional growth factors are released from the platelets after the injections and it is these proteins that provide the benefit of helping to maintain the hair and to stimulate growth. By using a double centrifuge technique, the ideal concentration of platelets and growth factors are achieved.

  • Read more about Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for Hair Loss
  • View a slideshow of how PRP is prepared
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Q: I’ve heard a lot about platelet-rich plasma (PRP). What is platelet-rich plasma, and how does it promote hair growth? — A.V., Scarsdale, NY

A: To begin, first let’s define a few basic terms: blood plasma, platelets and PRP

What Is Blood Plasma?

Blood plasma holds the blood cells in a liquid suspension. Blood plasma makes up about 55% of the body’s total blood volume. There are three basic types of blood cells: red blood cells (that carry oxygen), white blood cells (that have immune functions to help fight infection) and platelets (that facilitate coagulation, wound healing and repair).

What is a Platelet?

A platelet is a type of white blood cell containing approximately 50 to 80 tiny encapsulated structures called alpha-granules. Each alpha-granule contains a high number of growth factors, many playing a fundamental role in healing following tissue damage. ((Eppley BL, Pietrzak WS, and Blanton M. Platelet-Rich Plasma: A Review of Biology and Applications in Plastic Surgery. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2006.)) Many of these platelets are also known to regulate the growth cycle of hair follicles. ((Itami S, Kurata S, Takayasu S. Androgen induction of follicular epithelial cell growth is mediated via insulin-like growth factor-I from dermal papilla cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1995; 212: 988–94.))

Platelets are formed in the bone marrow and circulate throughout the bloodstream in a concentration of approximately 140,000 to 400,000 platelets/mm3.

What is Platelet-Rich Plasma?

Derived from a patient’s own blood plasma, platelet rich plasma is concentrated blood plasma which contains approximately five times the number of platelets and growth factors normally found in the blood.

How Does Platelet-Rich Plasma Work to Promote New Hair Growth?

Studies that have looked at the therapeutic effects of PRP on hair loss have found that it promotes hair survival and hair growth in both laboratory studies ((Li ZJ, Choi HI, Choi DK et al. Autologous platelet-rich plasma: a potential therapeutic tool for promoting hair growth. Dermatol Surg 2012; 38: 1040–6.)) and human clinical trials, but exactly how PRP promotes new hair growth isn’t clear. Researchers have suggested a few possible mechanisms.

In a recent pilot study ((Schiavone G, Raskovic D, Greco J, Abeni D. Platelet-rich plasma for androgenetic alopecia: a pilot study. Dermatol Surg. 2014; 40(9): 1010-9.)) that found that PRP injections resulted in noticeable improvement in both males and females with androgenetic alopecia, researchers suggested that PRP may have stimulated hair growth by prolonging the anagen (growth) phase of the hair follicle.

In another study ((Cervelli V, Garcovich S, Bielli A, Cervelli G, Curcio BC, Scioli MG, Orlandi A and Gentile P. The effect of autologous activated platelet rich plasma (AA-PRP) injection on pattern hair loss: clinical and histomorphometric evaluation. BioMed Research International 2014; 1-9)) that showed PRP promoted hair growth in males with alopecia, researchers suggested that PRP may have protected the hair follicles against one of the possible main mechanisms of pattern hair loss: the death of dermal papilla cells in the hair follicle. ((Whiting DA. Possible mechanisms of miniaturization during androgenetic alopecia or pattern hair loss. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2001 Sep;45(3 Suppl):S81-6.)) The death of these cells leads to a gradual shrinking and eventual disappearance of the hair shaft, a process called miniaturization.

Other studies have observed that PRP seems to promote the growth of new blood vessels around treated hair follicles. Because of this, researchers have suggested that the growth of new blood vessels may be helping to stimulate new hair growth. ((L. Mecklenburg, D. J. Tobin, S.Muller-Rover, et al. “Active hair growth, anagen, is associated with angiogenesis.” Journal of Investigative Dermatology 2000, 114:5; 909–916.))

In sum, while published studies so far suggest that PRP therapy is a safe and effective treatment option for male and female androgenetic alopecia, there is still a need for more extensive studies to better understand the mechanism by which PRP treatments promote hair growth.

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Q: I have seen some talk about different forms of platelet rich plasma (PRP). Which is the best system for preparing PRP for hair loss? Which are you using? — E.C., Seattle, WA

A: We use the Emcyte Pure PRP system. It is a double centrifuge system that I think is the best.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) FAQ
See the PRP Treatment Slideshow

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Q: How is platelet rich plasma therapy for hair loss performed? Does it involve surgery? — T.A., Tribeca, NYC

A: Platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy for hair loss is performed during a simple office visit, takes about 30-45 minutes, and does NOT involve surgery.

The first step in PRP treatment for hair loss involves drawing a patient’s blood into a syringe.

Next we use a double-centrifuge platelet concentration system (the Emcyte Pure PRP system) to separate and then concentrate platelet-rich plasma from the blood.

The last step involves transferring the platelet-rich plasma into a syringe and then injecting the plasma directly into the patient’s scalp.

After the treatment, some patients may experience very temporary soreness and/or swelling, but many patients will experience nothing.

After the initial treatment, patients will typically receive two more treatments at 6 week intervals. After that, they will receive additional treatments every 3 months over the course of the first year. After the first year, patients will receive treatments approximately every 6 months.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) FAQ

See the PRP Treatment Steps

Read about the latest research into PRP therapy for hair loss

Read more in our section on Platelet Rich Plasma

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