Did you know that by age 35, about 65 per cent of men in the U.S. experience noticeable hair loss, and by the time they reach 50, about 85 per cent of American men will experience thinning hair significantly?
These are the statistics from the American Hair Loss Association, which also reports that about 25 percent of men will suffer from some degree of male pattern baldness by the time they hit 21.
That isn’t to say that men are the only ones who commonly experience hair loss. Women, too, experience hair loss, often in the form of female pattern hair loss. 40 per cent of hair loss sufferers are women.
Fortunately, thanks to adequate research and advances in the hair restoration field, several new methods have emerged that can tackle hair loss and androgenic alopecia (receding hairline at the top of the scalp or along temples and male pattern baldness).
One exciting and proactive method for androgenic alopecia and hair loss is platelet-rich plasma therapy, or PRP, for hair restoration. By taking advantage of your body’s excellent healing properties, PRP therapy is becoming a popular tried-and-true solution for thinning hair and hair loss. And it can be effective for both men and women. PRP therapy has shown promising results in stimulating hair regrowth in various types of alopecia, including female pattern hair loss.
PRP therapy has gained recognition in several medical fields, including orthopaedic, plastic, and dermatology because it promotes wound healing and growth. It’s been tested in hair transplantation and facelift procedures and has been successful in reducing pain and swelling and increasing hair density.
If you’re struggling with hair loss or a condition causing you to lose hair, you’ll be excited with this non-surgical option for hair growth stimulation at Rodgers Dermatology.
What is Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy for Hair Restoration?
PRP therapy is an effective and scientifically proven method to conquer hair loss. The serum used in the procedure is made using your blood and is prepared for platelet-rich plasma injections, which contain several growth factors essential for healing.
These platelets consist of proteins, cytokines, and other growth factors, all of which assist in repairing damage and recovering from wounds. The growth factors in your blood cells stimulate hair growth naturally for hair loss.
The Science Behind PRP Therapy
Platelets stimulate stem cells in hair follicles, accelerate the degree and rate of tissue regeneration and healing, react to injury, and form new cell growth. Platelets contain several intracellular structures, including alpha granules, glycogen, and lysosomes. Granules like these contain growth and clotting factors that are eventually released during repair and healing.
The main goal in PRP therapy for hair loss is to stimulate hair growth by activating either newly implanted or inactive hair follicles into a phase of active growth, thereby improving hair thickness.
The Benefits of PRP for Hair Restoration
A prospective study showed that platelet-rich plasma therapy for hair restoration is a cost-effective, simple, and feasible option for treating hair loss and androgenic alopecia. This study revealed a high patient satisfaction rate (rated as 7 on a scale of 1 to 10), with nine out of 11 patients showing significant hair growth.
Some of the great benefits you get with PPR therapy include:
- non-surgical procedure
- hardly any downtime
- virtually no chance of allergic reaction or rejection
- natural-looking results
- no implants
- minimally invasive
- cost-effective treatment
PRP injections are known for treating hair loss and promoting hair growth.
This therapy promotes hair growth and strengthens hair follicles. It can also slow down hair loss and re-grow thicker hair.
What’s Involved in PRP Therapy for Hair Loss?
The PRP treatment typically takes an hour to perform and is pretty simple. A small amount of your blood will be drawn into a tube. A centrifuge separates the blood from the plasma and platelets, which takes under 10 minutes. Once separated, the plasma is ready to be injected into your scalp.
You will repeat the treatment every few weeks for four to eight sessions for best results.
Is PRP Therapy for Hair Loss Right for Me?
You are a good candidate for PRP therapy for hair loss if you have androgenetic alopecia or thinning hair (women may also have male pattern alopecia). It is most beneficial for people in the early stages of hair loss or hair thinning or those individuals whose hair loss is “inherited.”
PRP therapy for hair loss can also be used proactively and preventatively. Individuals at risk of hair loss due to heredity, for example, can use PRP hair restoration therapy to preserve the strength and integrity of their hair.
Although PRP therapy for thinning hair has shown some great results, not everyone is a good candidate for it. If you have lost all your hair, have completely bald patches, or have hair loss caused by scarring, PRP will not work.
Since no surgery is involved and no sutures are required in this non-invasive hair loss treatment, you do not have a recovery period. After about 60 minutes, the procedure is over. You can go home and immediately resume your daily activities and routine. Although everyone has a different way of healing, you should typically see results in a couple of months, and the process can be repeated every six months.
The procedure can be performed on the frontal, posterior, or full scalp. For more information about platelet-rich plasma (PRP) hair restoration at Rodgers Dermatology, call 972-704-2400 or book your online appointment here.