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If you’re experiencing hair loss, you should know that there are different treatments for different stages and types of hair loss. That’s why the first step in your treatment at Hair Restoration Institute is a confidential consultation, so our hair loss medical professionals can assess your situation and determine the best course of treatment for you. If you’re in the early stages of hereditary hair loss or if you’ve recently undergone hair replacement surgery, one of these recommended treatments may be platelet-rich plasma (PRP) hair restoration treatments. 

This effective, breakthrough therapy is unique because it uses your own blood plasma to help stimulate hair growth. Here are some common questions we hear from our patients about PRP therapy for hair loss.

What does this therapy do?

Your blood contains compounds that stimulate cell renewal and growth – stem cells and natural growth factors. PRP therapy uses those nutrients from your blood, as well as other nutrients, to stimulate hair growth on your scalp. It infuses what your body contains naturally in a concentrated way to get the best benefits for hair growth.

Is it effective?

PRP has been used successfully in other fields like sports medicine, oral surgery, neurosurgery, and cosmetic surgery for many years to stimulate healing. Ongoing studies continue to show evidence that this therapy is effective for hair loss. Although it has not yet been reviewed by the FDA specifically for hair loss, PRP therapy is safe and has been effective for many people when used as a hair loss treatment. 

It works by using your body’s natural regenerative compounds to accelerate healing and repair follicle damage, then to stimulate those follicles so they grow hair. That way, hair can grow back in areas of your scalp where hair follicles were damaged before. 

Is this a surgical procedure?

This therapy is not a type of surgery. PRP is a non-surgical procedure that is minimally invasive. It involves a blood draw from your arm and tiny injections into your scalp.

What’s it like to have a PRP procedure?

After our medical professionals at the Hair Replacement Institute determine that PRP is the right treatment for your needs, you’ll come in for the procedure. The first step is a blood draw from your arm so our technicians can extract platelets using a centrifuge. Once extracted, your Hair Replacement Institute medical professional will inject them into your scalp in strategic areas to promote hair growth. Although everyone’s needs vary, you can expect your appointment to take about an hour. There are usually no restrictions on your activities after you leave your appointment, although because everyone’s needs are different, be sure to follow the aftercare instructions that you’ll be given at your appointment. 

Does it work right away?

Because it works by stimulating hair growth, you’ll see results over time as the hair grows from your follicles. One study showed that people treated with PRP for hair loss had more hairs present in the treated area and that these hairs were thicker and the roots stronger than they were before they were treated. 

Because it won’t cure the underlying cause of your hair loss, you will likely need a regular schedule of procedures to maintain those results. The timeline for these maintenance treatments varies, but generally, expect to schedule follow-up appointments at three- to six-month intervals.

Who can have PRP therapy for hair loss?

Both men and women can be treated for hair loss with PRP therapy, but your specific needs will dictate whether this is the right treatment for you. In most cases, you’re a good candidate for this therapy if you have beginning-stage hair loss and have no medical conditions that will affect injections, but there are other times when PRP may be an effective treatment, such as when it is used as a supportive treatment after a hair transplant. Your medical professional at Hair Replacement Institute will assess your individual needs, medical history, and level of hair loss to determine whether PRP treatments are right for you.

The first step is a discreet, confidential consultation with one of our hair replacement professionals at the Hair Restoration Institute. Make an appointment today and one of our experienced medical professionals will assess your needs and design a treatment plan just for you. You can find us at 8030 Old Cedar Ave S #202 in Bloomington or the Edgewater Town Office Park at 2598 Rice Street in Saint Paul in Minnesota, or at 1201 West Lancaster Avenue in Fort Worth, Texas, or call 612-588-HAIR (4247) in Minnesota or 817-854-HAIR (4247) in Dallas/Fort Worth for a complimentary consultation.