Platelet-rich plasma has been successfully utilized in various areas of medicine for decades now. First applied to ease inflammation and help generate new cells for healing in cardiac surgery, surgeons went on to use PRP in orthopedic and facial reconstructive surgery. Dental surgeons as well as sports medicine doctors have relied on this product’s ability to help speed up recovery and accelerate the growth of specific body tissues where applied. Certain celebrity athletes helped make PRP a household name in the 90s and early 2000s. Then the potent serum went on to fight the signs of aging in the medical aesthetic world.

Platelet-rich plasma’s regenerative properties have been shown to yield better results than many mainstay pharmacological options. We have an abundance of detailed scientific research on the benefits of PRP, yet its use specifically in hair restoration is relatively new. In this area, studies are ongoing, and so far, the success rates are high.

One of the top reasons that patients choose this method of hair treatment is that it involves no scalpels, stitches, scars, or downtime. Hair transplant surgery is still the leading option for people who want to permanently restore and redistribute their DHT-resistant hair follicles (DHT is the hormone that causes male pattern baldness). Where balding has progressed to leave no active follicles in an area, the transplantation of hair grafts is the gold standard, but not everyone wants surgery.

Additionally, not all men and women who are interested in hair transplants are the right age for surgery. The particular type of hair loss in question or a person’s budget may have them seeking alternatives.

But when you undergo the quick, surgery-free PRP procedure, you’ll be able to leave the office and return to your day right away. Aside from possible mild sensitivity in the scalp, there are no special recovery instructions or time off needed for healing. You can schedule a session over a lunch break, and your day won’t miss a beat.

A full hair transplant will cost upward of $10,000 on average. This is arguably well worth it for people who need surgical restoration and want to invest in long-term, dramatic results. The high price doesn’t suit everyone’s budget, however, and may not be necessary, depending on your situation.

When you are reviewing pricing, it is also important to consider expensive “hair growth” products such as supplements or topical lotions that aren’t always what they’ve cracked up to be. Some work moderately well but require monthly expenditures to maintain. Others, sadly, will give you nothing back for your hard-earned cash. The hair loss industry is a lucrative market, and most people want to know what the most cost-effective treatment is that they can expect real results from. A series of PRP treatments will cost a few thousand dollars, and only one or two maintenance appointments are recommended each year.

Treatment of the scalp using PRP injections typically shows increased hair growth, density, and strength. The results are usually reported within a few months as the natural hair growth cycles progress. The reason this is believed to work is the angiogenesis stimulated by platelets, which increase blood flow to follicles. Also, growth factors that signal hair cells to proliferate result in increased hair shaft thickness and speed up growth. When used in conjunction with a hair transplant, platelet-rich plasma is believed to reduce inflammation faster and speed up healing.

The mechanism of action for platelets as a part of the natural inflammatory cascade in our bodies is established biological science. These cells form a crucial part of your blood’s clotting and healing ability. When tissue is injured, the signals that are sent out instantly attract platelets to begin the clotting process. These first responders release chemicals that are responsible for clot formation. They lock together to stop bleeding and stimulate fibrin, collagen, and elastin to establish the scaffolding for new tissue development.

Platelets are concentrated 5 times or more in PRP formulations. They are biochemical storehouses of molecules that are responsible for signalling and regulating growth factors. Isolating these properties to be focused in PRP amplifies those properties. Though more extensive studies will be carried out to establish the measurable results of PRP for hair growth, the science behind it is well known. We don’t predict that this cosmetic trend will be a passing phase. We think it will be a key player in the future of hair restoration.