PRP For Hair
Hair loss affects almost 80 million Americans, both men and women. While men can experience male pattern baldness as early as the age of 35, 40% of Americans who experience hair loss are women. Although a typical condition, finding treatments that provide long-lasting hair restoration results can be hard.
Luckily, Dr. Wayne P. Foster, MD, FACS, and his dedicated team at FosterMD proudly offer a new hair loss treatment to patients looking for a successful, long-term solution – PRP therapy.
What is PRP?
How does PRP work for hair restoration?
PRP treatment for hair loss prompts cellular regeneration in inactive hair follicles, stimulating new hair growth. This can happen through six types of growth factors:
- Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGF) – involves fibrin formation, blood vessel growth, and cell regeneration
- Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) – involves the formation of new blood vessels
- Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) – involves blood vessel formation and the healing of generation of specialized cells
- Transforming growth factor ꞵ (TGF-ꞵ) – involves bone metabolism in the body and matrix formation between cells
- Epidermal growth factors (EGF) – stimulates collagen proliferation and blood vessel formation
- Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) provides physiological regulation of cells
Who Is the Ideal Candidate for PRP Injections for Hair Restoration?
Ideal candidates for PRP injections for hair loss are adults at least 18 years of age who have a regular amount of platelets in their blood and suffer from hair loss. Candidates who notice symptoms of their hair loss early will see the most improvement with their PRP for hair loss results.
Who Is the Ideal Candidate for PRP Injections for Hair Restoration?
Ideal candidates for PRP injections for hair loss are adults at least 18 years of age who have a regular amount of platelets in their blood and suffer from hair loss. Candidates who notice symptoms of their hair loss early will see the most improvement with their PRP for hair loss results.
Who Should Not Get PRP for Hair Restoration?
Adults suffering from cardiovascular disease may not be suitable candidates for hair loss treatment with PRP. If you have an underlying medical condition requiring blood thinners, you may not be a candidate for PRP therapy. Patients with active infections or low platelet count will not qualify for a PRP treatment. For patients with a history of blood clotting or complications from wound healing, we are happy to recommend other less-invasive therapies for hair loss, such as Neograft hair transplant.
How long do PRP injections take for hair restoration?
Just like other forms of therapy, PRP therapy for hair loss produces the best results when treatment is consistent. While the frequency and number of treatments will depend on each patient’s progress, most patients have treatments scheduled around every four weeks for a time period of several months. After several consistent treatments, patients can expect to see an increase in hair thickness and length.
What Is Recovery Like After The PRP Procedure?
Recovery time after a PRP for hair loss treatment will vary from patient to patient. However, on average, it can take a patient three to six months to heal completely. Immediately after your treatment, following your doctor’s aftercare guidelines is essential to avoid recovery complications that can include infection.
For your first three to four weeks in recovery, we recommend patients to do the following:
- Take a hot shower on the evening of your treatment to optimize PRP results
- Use a pH-balanced shampoo
- Avoid using hair products for at least six hours after your procedure
- Avoid saunas, tanning beds, steam rooms, and swimming for two days after your treatment
- Avoid any kind of anti-inflammatory medications as they interfere with the outcome of PRP therapy.
How long will it take to see results?
What Are The Benefits of PRP for Hair Loss?
PRP therapy using the microneedling or injection method is a beneficial treatment for hair loss patients for a number of reasons, including:
- PRP is an organic treatment as it uses the patient’s own blood to stimulate cellular regeneration.
- The treatment is safe and effective.
- PRP for hair loss can be used as a standalone treatment or in addition to other hair restoration treatments such as medication or surgery.
- The treatment can be used for hair loss at the crown of the head.
- Treatment is applicable for both men and women.
Are There Any Risks With Using PRP For Hair Restoration?
Common side effects from the PRP hair loss treatment can include itching, swelling, and slight discomfort at the injection site, which should improve over several days of healing after treatment.
Although complications from PRP hair loss treatment are low, patients should still be aware of the following risks:
- Bleeding
- Tissue damage
- Infection
- Nerve injuries
Under the care of Dr. Foster, who prioritizes patient safety and comfort during each procedure, patients can expect to manage their side effects and avoid complications during their PRP treatment.
How Long Will The Results from My PRP Hair Treatment Last?
Although PRP hair loss treatment cannot change or cure the cause of your hair loss, it can stimulate hair growth with consistent treatment. Most patients can enjoy the results from their PRP hair loss treatments for 18 to 24 months. Because PRP is a treatment that can be done more than once, many patients return to FosterMD for a follow-up treatment once a year to maintain their desired results.
Schedule a Consultation
If you’re ready to begin your hair restoration journey, Dr. Wayne P. Foster and the team at FosterMD are ready to help. To find out if you are a candidate for PRP treatment for hair loss, click here to schedule your first consultation at either one of our New Jersey locations in Toms River (732.914.2233 ) or Manasquan (732.449.2099).
