Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP)
PRP is the process of using your own blood to stimulate hair growth, and strengthen the hair follicles. It is done by injections which are very quick and affordable.
Procedure
- Your own blood is collected and spun in a centrifuge, this process seperates layers of blood cells as platelet-poor plasma,platet-rich plasma and red blood cells.
- Platet rich plasma layer which consists of leukocytes, cytokines, growth factors and platelets is drawn up into a syringe and injected into scalp where thinning hair area exists.
- This whole process takes around 45-50 minutes, and it has to be repeated every 4-6 months to maintain the treatment.
PRP is applicable if the patient already has hair follicles. Patients with extreme hair loss or with non existent follicles are not the best candidates for this procedure. The best option is to have a hair transplant first, then support the process with PRP.
Since this therapy involves injection of your own blood to your own scalp, there is no risk of getting a contagious disease. Still, the medical professional who is injecting PRP has to be careful about not injuring blood vessels or nerves, scar tissues, and calcification at injection points. So, the application has to be performed in a hospital environment by qualified medical professionals.