Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is the concentrated blood plasma (made up of white blood cells and platelets). To get it, your blood will be drawn, and put through an extraction process that separates the plasma from the red blood cells. It is spun down in a centrifuge that separates (or concentrates) the platelets, which ultimately concentrates the growth factors and makes them richer than usual. Using the body’s own growth factors are very important to wound healing, skin rejuvenation and when applied to the scalp, hair growth.
PRP is injected directly into the scalp at the level of the hair follicles. It’s a meticulous process that requires injections approximately every half inch over the area of thinning hair. PRP is used to halt or reverse progressive miniaturization of hair follicles (hair thinning), and stimulate the growth of these follicles to combat common early signs of baldness (androgenic alopecia).
Simply put, it’s a fuller, thicker head of hair. However, there are many other benefits of this treatment beyond the results it provides. PRP is an effective option for hair restoration in women who may not be able to tolerate other forms of treatment, or who prefer a more natural way of hair restoration. For example, people who cannot use current treatments like: minoxidil, finasteride, spironolactone, or nutritional supplements; or for people who are not candidates for hair transplant, or want to treat thinning of the crown where a hair transplant is not an appropriate treatment option.
Under the extensive training and delegation of our medical director, the treatments are administered by a Certified Aesthetics Nurse Specialist. During your initial consultation, our expert nurse injectors will perform a thorough assessment to determine if you are an ideal candidate for treatment. We always want to set our patients up for success. The centrifuge is a top of the line device allowing us to dial in the exact concentration of platelets that will be required to obtain your very own treatment success.
For best results, we recommend three initial treatments spaced one month apart, then waiting 6 months and performing another three cycles of PRP, with one maintenance treatment every 6-8 months apart to continue hair growth.
While response times vary, patients may see results in as early as 2 to 3 months. Patients usually note decreased hair shedding first, followed by signs of regrowth, then increased length of hair.
Treatment time is ~30-45 minutes. Our clinicians and staff will ensure you are as comfortable as possible during your visit with us, ensuring a great Facial Aesthetics experience.
PRP for hair loss works best where there is existing thinning hair or early staging of female pattern hair loss. PRP proves to be a very safe and natural treatment due to the use of your body’s own platelets (serum), but results vary patient to patient, and a thorough assessment is done by our experts to determine if you are the right candidate.
If you are a candidate, our PRP experts may be able to perform the procedure upon completion of the consultation based on availability in our schedules. Our Patient Care Coordinators will be sure to take care of any of your scheduling needs.
During treatment, many patients get injections without numbing, but numbing is available. Cool air and ice packs may be used to minimize pain, as needed. Post treatment, you may have some temporary soreness and swelling. Bruising can occur but usually resolves within a week or two.
It depends on the area of your thinning or hair loss. Your clinician will determine this at the time of the treatment.
In both of our clinic locations (Denver and Greenwood Village), we use Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) in two ways: for skin rejuvenation and for hair loss.
