Hair Restoration
Platelet Rich Plasma For Hair Restoration
For the last 20 years, Platelet rich plasma, or PRP, has been used in medicine. PRP is concentrated blood plasma (composition of blood) that contains approximately five times the number of platelets found in normal circulating blood. The function of platelets is to promote clotting of the blood, and is the key to the body’s ability to heal wounds because it contains growth factors that promote regeneration of the cells in the body.
What is PRP Therapy?
Platelet-rich plasma therapy uses the best rich plasma your blood has to offer because it heals injuries faster, encourages growth factors, and also increases levels of collagen and stem cells—these are naturally produced in the body to keep you looking young and fresh. In this case, those growth factors are used to help regrow thinning hair.
Who Can Benefit from PRP Injections?
PRP infusions can benefit a wider range of people than you may have initially thought. These plasma infusions are platelet rich and can potentially help the following groups:
- Both men and women. Male balding and hair thinning is talked about extensively, but women do not often get the same benefit of widespread information. The fact is that women can lose hair, too, due to several different factors.
- Those suffering from androgenic alopecia or other forms of alopecia. This is also known as male/female pattern baldness. It is a hereditary condition that affects around 80 million people in the United States alone.
- A sizeable age range of people. Many successful clinical trials have been tested with people ranging from 18 to 72 years of age.
- Those suffering from hair loss due to high stress levels. Since this condition is not chronic, it can be treated rather easily.
- Those who have recently experienced hair loss. The more recent the hair loss occurred, the better your chances are of fixing it before it is too late for PRP infusions.
- Those with thinning or balding hair, but not completely bald people. PRP infusions are meant to thicken, strengthen, and grow hair from follicles that are still functioning.
3 Step Process of Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy
Step 1 - Blood Collection
A small amount of blood, similar to having a routine blood test is drawn.
Step 2 - Separate the Platelets
Your blood is placed in a special machine called a centrifuge, where your blood is spun for approximately 15 minutes to separate the components into red cells, white cells, and concentrated platelets. The PRP that contains abundant growth factors and stem cells is now ready to be applied to the scalp.
Step 3 - PRP Injection
The procedure involves only minimal discomfort, patients typically do not require any numbing or downtime following treatment. The highly concentrated PRP is injected in different areas around the scalp. You can return to your normal activity immediately.
What Is A Centrifuge?
Centrifuges are machines that separate particles from solutions. These particles are separated based on the medium’s size, shape, density, and viscosity.
In the case of PRP treatment, a centrifuge will spin your blood into nutrient-rich platelates. These are then injected into the areas of hair growth that you want.
