PRP FOR HAIR LOSS
PRP for Hair Loss in Washington, DC
Millions of people are coping with hair loss. If you’re one of them, you might be surprised to learn that your own blood can help to reverse it. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a non-surgical hair restoration procedure that uses the platelets found in your blood to stimulate hair growth. Plasma is a part of the blood that contains platelets that encourage cell growth and reduce inflammation. It’s possible to separate plasma from the blood and to concentrate it, creating platelet-rich plasma, or PRP. To produce PRP, your provider will first take a sample of your blood which will be placed in a centrifuge so that the red blood cells separate from the plasma and platelets. The separated PRP will then be prepared for injection into the scalp. At Peel Haus, our experts are pleased to offer PRP for hair loss in Washington DC, along with other hair restoration options.
How PRP for Hair Loss Works
Platelet-Rich Plasma or PRP therapy uses your own blood to promote the growth of new hair. The hair growth cycle consists of four phases: anagen, catagen, telogen, and exogen.
Anagen Phase – This is called the growth phase. Anagen lasts between two and seven years and how long this phase lasts determines how long our hair can grow. Not everyone can grow hair to the middle of their backs, for instance. It depends on the length of this phase.
Catagen Phase – Also called the transition phase, Catagen lasts about 10 days. During this time, the follicle shrinks and pulls away from the deep layer of skin.
Telogen Phase – This is the resting phase and can last up to three months. The follicle has already pulled away from the skin but the old hair hasn’t fallen out yet. While the old hair is resting, another is starting the growth phase in a new follicle. 10-15% of our hair can be in this phase at all times. If hairs enter this phase too early, you can lose more hair and a visible thinning can occur.
Exogen Phase – This new hair phase is when the resting, old hair falls out making way for the new hair to continue to grow unobstructed. On any given day, we can lose between 50-150 hairs.
It’s thought that the PRP injected into the scalp extends the length of the growing phase of hair. When hair grows for a longer period, it has more of a chance to appear thick and full. Another way to describe how PRP therapy works for hair loss is to say that it activates resting hair follicles. Hair follicles that have become inactive as a result of a multitude of factors can be stimulated by the proteins and growth factors found in PRP.
Benefits of PRP for Hair Loss
- Natural – Platelet-rich Plasma is made from the patient’s own blood, so it is all natural.
- No Downtime – Some hair restoration procedures can be very invasive. You can recover from PRP therapy in a few hours. Many patients go back to their normal activities right away.
Ideal Candidate for PRP Therapy
PRP for hair loss is an effective hair restoration treatment for a variety of different types of hair loss, including male or female pattern baldness, traction alopecia, hair loss caused by stress, and hair loss that occurred as a result of a side effect or medication or nutritional issues. The ideal candidate for PRP for hair loss tends to be at the beginning stages of thinning hair and has hair follicles that are still partially active. Those with more advanced hair loss can benefit from PRP therapy, however, the process will be slower and will require more treatments. Having realistic expectations and being in good health will improve a patient’s results and experience. Please know that people require several treatments to achieve maximum benefits and the results may not be visible for several months. This treatment is not recommended for patients with Lupus or on blood thinners.
PRP for Hair Loss Treatment
PRP Therapy begins with a patient’s blood being drawn from your arm by your provider. The vial of blood is then placed in a centrifuge to separate the blood platelets from the rest of the blood to create platelet-rich plasma. Several techniques are used to make the injections more comfortable for patients. Most people are able to go through and handle the process without any discomfort. Numbing cream may be applied to the treatment area. Once the area is numb, the area will be cleansed. You may also receive lidocaine injections into the treatment area, then the PRP will be injected into the areas of the scalp where improved hair growth is desired. A full PRP treatment for hair loss takes about an hour.
PRP Treatment Recovery
There is no actual downtown after PRP treatment, although the scalp might be tender and swollen for a few days. Patients may return to normal activities after the treatment but may want to go home until swelling and redness dissipate. We recommend that you take Tylenol rather than ibuprofen or aspirin, during those first few days. NSAIDs like aspirin can thin the blood and potentially affect your results.
Frequently Asked Questions About PRP for Hair Loss
Click on the question below to reveal the answer.
What is PRP?
PRP stands for Platelet-rich Plasma. Plasma is the liquid portion of whole blood which is composed primarily of water and proteins. It provides a medium for red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets to circulate through the body. Platelets, also called thrombocytes, are blood cells that cause blood clots and other necessary growth healing functions.
When will I see results of PRP for hair loss treatment?
You’ll start noticing results between six to twelve months after your first treatment. Most patients require a series of treatments. Your doctor will make a treatment plan recommendation for you based on the condition of your hair and your goals.
Does PRP for Hair Loss hurt?
PRP therapy for hair loss is usually very well tolerated. Discomfort is minimized with the use topical numbing cream and lidocaine injections. Mild soreness can persist for up to 72 hours post-treatment.
Who is not a candidate for PRP for Hair Loss?
PRP therapy works best for early hair loss, ideally within 5 years of onset. PRP therapy is not appropriate for you if you have untreated or persistent melanoma or non-melanoma skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, etc.) of the head or neck, systemic cancer, platelet abnormalities, blood disorders, hepatitis B or C, are using the blood thinners warfarin, heparin, or newer oral anticoagulants (apixiban, dabigatran, etc), have an active infection in the body, or if you are being treated with systemic chemotherapy. Patients who have been treated with systemic steroids (such as prednisone) within 2 weeks should not be treated. Any patient with an untreated underlying systemic disease or disorder causing their hair loss such as anemia or hormonal abnormalities (thyroid disease, polycystic ovaries) may not respond as well.
How safe is PRP treatment?
As with any injection into the skin, there is a risk of bruising, discomfort and infection with PRP injections. Infection is very rare and is further decreased by coming into the office with freshly washed hair as well as the clean technique and preparation provided in our medical office. It is possible that despite the good results reported in many clinical trials and reports, you may not respond to PRP and you will continue to experience progressive hair loss. PRP is not currently FDA approved for hair loss but is approved for use in orthopedic treatment.
How should I prepare for my PRP for Hair Loss treatment?
We recommend washing your hair the day before so that you arrive with a clean scalp. Please do not use any hair products on the day of the appointment and
avoid hair dye within three days of the procedure. So that you get the best results from your PRP treatment and to decrease the likelihood of bruising at the injection sites, we recommend that you stop taking any blood-thinning over-the-counter medications and supplements including:
- Aspirin
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
- Garlic
- Vitamin E
- Gingko Biloba
- St. John’s Wort
- Omega-3
When will I see results from PRP for hair loss therapy?
PRP for hair loss results are not immediate. Keep in mind the hair growth cycle. For new hair to grow from the follicle out of the skin is three months, so it will take even longer than that to see a difference in your hair. You should start seeing results between six to twelve months after your first treatment.
How many treatments of PRP will I need to improve my hair?
Most patients require three treatments of PRP spaced 4–6 weeks apart. After these initial treatments, we recommend maintenance treatments every 4–6 months.
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Office Policies
Booking
A $50 deposit is required to secure all appointments. This deposit will be used towards your treatment.
Late Arrival
As a courtesy to others, please arrive for your appointment 15 minutes early. Because we’re on a strict schedule, patients more than 15 minutes late may need to be rescheduled.
Cancellations
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Payments
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