According to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, as many as 35 million men and 21 million women in the United States suffer from some kind of hair loss.
Hair loss can occur for a variety of reasons, including genetics, psychological conditions, illness, and medical treatments. However, there are also ways to treat the loss. One of the most effective treatments is using platelet-rich plasma (PRP).
At InjectAbility Clinic, we offer PRP hair treatments to help you with hair loss. Keep reading to learn more about platelet-rich plasma benefits and how the procedure works.
Your blood has a few components, including:
One of the main functions of platelets is to clot your blood, but they also contain growth factors — proteins that help with healing injuries.
Platelet-rich plasma is plasma that has a higher rate of platelet concentration than normal. This means the concentration of growth factors is also five to ten times higher.
We create PRP by taking a small amount of blood and running it through a centrifuge, which separates your blood’s components. The platelets separate into the liquid plasma. Once we have created this serum, we can use it to treat many conditions, including hair loss.
PRP hair treatments are especially helpful for people who have androgenic alopecia, or hormone-related baldness, and for those who have a condition called alopecia areata.
PRP is injected into your scalp and stimulates a special group of cells called dermal papilla cells. These cells play an important role in hair growth.
PRP hair restoration treatments can also lengthen the anagen phase (growth phase) of your existing hair. By making the anagen phase longer, PRP works to slow down hair loss.
The best candidates for PRP hair restoration are those who are at the beginning stages of hair loss and who have hair follicles that are still somewhat active. Keep in mind that even if you are in a more advanced stage of hair loss you can still benefit from PRP hair treatments, but the results may take more time.
You should also be in good overall health and have realistic expectations to undergo PRP hair loss treatments.
If you have hair loss from chemotherapy, you will have to wait until you have finished treatments before you can turn to these injections.
One of the most important platelet-rich plasma benefits is that using it to treat hair loss is a minimally invasive procedure. You don’t have to worry about a long recovery process or having to take time off from your daily life.
You also don’t have to worry about allergic reactions, since your own blood makes up these injections.
Additionally, PRP can help if you’ve had a hair transplant. It can promote healing and the adhesion of transplanted grafts, giving you faster results.
PRP hair treatment goes to the root of hair loss by stimulating inactive hair follicles, delivering natural results for your hair loss concerns.
To ensure that you’re a good candidate for this procedure, we ask that you schedule a consultation with us. We will ask you for any medications and supplements you take, as well as your full medical history.
To prepare, you must stop taking blood-thinning medications and supplements like ibuprofen and aspirin for at least a week before the procedure. You also need to avoid unprotected sun exposure and coloring your hair.
At least three days before the procedure, stop drinking alcohol and stop smoking. We also recommend that you increase your fluid intake.
On the day of the procedure, wash your hair as you normally would but do not apply gels or any other styling products.
When you come to your appointment, we will draw blood from your arm and run it through a centrifuge to separate the components. We will then inject the PRP serum into your scalp.
The entire procedure can take about an hour. Once we finish, you’re free to return to most of your regular activities.
We do recommend that you continue avoiding blood-thinning medications and alcohol. You also shouldn’t touch the treatment area for at least eight hours. Make sure not to wash your hair or wet your scalp for at least four hours.
For the first two days after treatment, you don’t want to engage in activities that make you sweat, like strenuous exercise, saunas, hot tubs, and even hot baths. Increase your water intake for the first week after your PRP injections.
Some people start seeing results after just two weeks, but the majority of people will have to wait three to six months to see the full results.
You don’t have to live with hair loss. Treatment options like PRP hair restoration can help you regain some of your lost hair in a natural and effective manner.
At InjectAbility Clinic in Torrance, CA, we offer non-invasive and minimally-invasive procedures to help you achieve the aesthetic results you want. By working closely with each of our patients, we can provide customized options that fit your needs and cater to your goals. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about PRP hair treatments.