Platelet-derived growth factors are a natural product created from your own blood and used to promote wound healing. A small amount of blood is drawn and processed to remove all blood components except plasma which is enriched with high platelet and growth factor concentrations. The concentrations of growth factors and proteins are injected into the scalp to enhance the body’s inherent capacity to repair and regenerate. Because it is made with our own blood, the risk of allergic reaction is minimal.

Platelet-derived growth factor therapy has been used in dental surgery, orthopedics and sports medicine. It also has cosmetic applications to treat aging skin, facial scarring, and acne.  Multiple clinical studies report its beneficial effects.

The high concentration of growth factors in platelet-derived growth factors promote hair regrowth by stimulating stem cells in dormant hair follicle to grow new hair. Platelet-derived growth factors can reverse hair loss and stimulate natural hair regrowth.  Additionally, treatments accelerate tissue regeneration and healing, and improve the blood supply to the scalp which delivers nutrients for hair growth.

The biggest risks come from the way your blood is handled. It’s essential that the blood removed from your body be kept sterile. Otherwise, you could develop an infection.  For your safety, the University Skin Clinic follows the same process that transfusion centers use to make sure that your own blood is kept sterile and injected back into you.

Patients who have growing hair, and dormant hair follicles, would be good candidates. However, patients who take anticoagulants, have a scalp infection, low platelet counts, or liver disease may not be good candidates. Men with male pattern baldness who have irreversible hair loss or no visible hair follicles are less likely to benefit. Early diagnosis and treatment can save the hair.

Your consultation

During your consultation Dr. Hashemi will review your medical history, listen to your concerns and expectations and conduct a thorough examination of your scalp using trichogram to evaluate hair count, density and growth.

A small amount of blood is taken from your arm. The blood is spun to separate the platelet-derived growth factors from the rest of the blood components. The site is cleaned, and the platelet-derived growth factors is injected in the areas to be treated. Dr. Hashemi may use microneedling to stimulate the skin of the scalp, to create microtrama which induces healing and stimulates growth and repair; and to create microchannels in which the platelet-derived growth factors can flow deep into the scalp. Proteins are released from the platelet-derived growth factor solution almost immediately and begin to stimulate hair follicles. The procedure requires no down time and causes minimal side effects. You may experience some swelling, pain and bruising after the procedure which tend to resolve within a few days.

Researchers have found that most patients who get results have 3 or more treatments over 4-6 months; followed by maintenance treatments every 4-6 months.

In the first few weeks you may notice improved texture, thickness and new hair growth; and noticeable growth in about 4-6 weeks. It can take 3-6 months to see measurable results.

While Platelet-derived growth factors are considered safe for most people, it’s not recommended for anyone who has one of the following medical conditions that affect your platelets, making them unable to deliver the expected results.

• Hepatitis C
• HIV or AIDS
• Any type of blood cancer
• Cardiovascular disease, which requires taking a blood thinner
• Skin cancer in the area to be treated

Contact Dr. Hashemi at The University Skin Institute in Sacramento, California to schedule a consultation and learn how this treatment can help restore your hair.

References

Mao, G., Zhang, G. & Fan, W. Platelet-Rich Plasma for Treating Androgenic Alopecia: A Systematic Review. Aesth Plast Surg 43, 1326–1336 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-019-01391-9

Hesseler MJ, Shyam N. Platelet-Rich Plasma and Its Utilities in Alopecia: A Systematic Review. Dermatol Surg. 2020 Jan;46(1):93-102. doi: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000001965. PMID: 31211715.

Stevens HP, Donners S, de Bruijn J. Introducing Platelet-Rich Stroma: Platelet-Rich Plasma and Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) Combined for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia. Aesthet Surg J. 2018 Jul 13;38(8):811-822. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjy029. PMID: 29554209.

Butt G, Hussain I, Ahmed FJ, Choudhery MS. Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma in androgenetic alopecia patients. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2019 Aug;18(4):996-1001. doi: 10.1111/jocd.12810. Epub 2018 Nov 4. PMID: 30393988.

Jha AK, Vinay K, Zeeshan M, Roy PK, Chaudhary RKP, Priya A. Platelet-rich plasma and microneedling improves hair growth in patients of androgenetic alopecia when used as an adjuvant to minoxidil. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2019 Jan 28. doi: 10.1111/jocd.12864. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 30693667.

Gentile P, Scioli MG, Bielli A, et al. Platelet-Rich Plasma and Micrografts Enriched with Autologous Human Follicle Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improve Hair Re-Growth in Androgenetic Alopecia. Biomolecular Pathway Analysis and Clinical Evaluation. Biomedicines. 2019;7(2):27. Published 2019 Apr 8. doi:10.3390/biomedicines7020027

Badran KW, Sand JP. Platelet-Rich Plasma for Hair Loss: Review of Methods and Results. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2018 Nov;26(4):469-485. doi: 10.1016/j.fsc.2018.06.008. Epub 2018 Aug 16. PMID: 30213428.

Gupta AK, Versteeg SG, Rapaport J, Hausauer AK, Shear NH, Piguet V. The Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Field of Hair Restoration and Facial Aesthetics-A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Cutan Med Surg. 2019 Mar/Apr;23(2):185-203. doi: 10.1177/1203475418818073. Epub 2019 Jan 4. PMID: 30606055.