The effectiveness of PRP hair treatment, facts and figures

Common in both males and females, the American Hair Loss Association state that by the age of 35 two thirds of men will have some degree of hair loss and there are 21 million women that suffer with this problem in the US alone. As a result, treating hair loss has always been a big business. However, PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) based treatments have helped revolutionize this industry, making it more affordable and more importantly, more achievable for men and women alike.

Hair Loss and Androgenic Alopecia

While some men have accepted that male pattern baldness is a part of who they are, most would prefer to have a full head of hair. Other men, perhaps unhappy with a gradually receding hair line, have a range of options to choose from. This form of hair loss is often labelled as male pattern baldness, but the technical phrase for this is androgenic alopecia. Sadly, it is not just men who can suffer with androgenic alopecia, women can be affected too.

For many, thinning hair can be an even worse situation for women, since society has accepted that some men will lose their hair but women are “expected” to have a full head of hair. Androgenic alopecia in women is an issue that can cause a lot of stress, worry and concern.

What is PRP for Hair Loss

There are a number of different treatments available for androgenic alopecia, but the one that we are often asked about is PRP for hair loss. This is a technique that uses a patient’s own blood to help stimulate natural hair growth. The way PRP works is that blood from the individual is processed, to a point where only enriched blood cells remain, and these are then re-introduced into the patient through injections into the scalp area of the head, to stimulate new hair growth and to reduce loss.

Find out more with a more in-depth overview of how PRP works: https://www.michelegreenmd.com/prp-hair-treatment-restoration

PRP Effectiveness & Success Rate

There are a lot of treatments out on the market that state that they are effective at treating hair loss, and many of these procedures, unfortunately leave a lot to be desired. It’s understandable that you might question how effective PRP is, and whether it will work with you. Firstly, you need to understand that there is no magic wand treatment that can immediately restore a full head of hair, but the results, and studies that have been carried out are promising, when it comes to PRP treatments at least.

Studies indicate that “a significant reduction in hair loss was observed between first and fourth injection” and “Hair count increased from average number of 71 hair follicular units to 93 hair follicular units.” (source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4134641/)

In another study, “Compared to baseline, all outcome measures showed positive results after 1 year of follow-up.” (Source: https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/477671) – it should however be noted that this same article has information on some studies which were more inconclusive, so PRP is not the solution for everybody.

What are the Side Effects for PRP

One of the other benefits of PRP is that side effects with PRP treatments are relatively minimal. Since the technique uses your own blood, there is unlikely to be any issues here. Typically, side-effects tend to relate to the process of injecting the scalp. In these instances, some minor bleeding, redness and localized pain as the injections take place, may occur. In addition to that, PRP is not a permanent solution. You will still naturally age after the procedures have taken place, and hence a “boost” is often required every few months. Last but not least, PRP treatment will not work on areas of the scalp where you have completely lost your hair and are bald.

PRP is a technique that can help restore hair-loss in both men and women. For many people, the first step to determine how effective PRP will be can be ascertained with a consultation with a dermatologist such as Dr. Michele Green.

For individuals who are interested in PRP and want to find out more, and whether they are good candidates, this is the first step. Contact Dr. Green at her NYC office – either via phone: 212-535-3088 or online and see if this is the right solution for you.