Approximately 30 million women and 50 million men in America have hereditary hair loss, called Androgenetic alopecia or AGA. AGA causes the hair follicles to shrink and shortens the hair’s growth phase resulting in progressive hair loss.

Drug therapies for treating AGA are limited. Hair transplantation is not a good option for women because women with AGA suffer with diffuse thinning all over the scalp, unlike men with male pattern baldness.

Alopecia Areata (AA) is another common autoimmune condition that causes inflammation induced hair loss, but it doesn’t destroy the hair follicles. Anyone can develop AA. Studies report that PRP therapy works for AA as well as for other conditions that cause hair loss including traction-induced alopecia from hair extensions and pony tails.

PRP therapy is a safe and effective treatment option for hair loss, producing significantly increased density hair, count and thickness.

What is Platelet Rich Plasma?

Platelet-Rich plasma is 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 risks are minimal.

What is PRP therapy?

PRP therapy uses the growth factors found in the blood, to support and accelerate healing. PRP therapy has been used in dental surgery, orthopedics and sports medicine, and cosmetic applications to treat aging skin, facial scarring, acne. Multiple clinical studies report the beneficial effects.

How PRP therapy for works

The high concentration of growth factors in PRP promote hair regrowth by stimulating stem cells in dormant hair follicle to grow new hair. PRP therapy 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. Patients using minoxidil can improve hair growth with microneedling and PRP.

Who is a good candidate?

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 and no open or visible hair follicles will not benefit. Early diagnosis and treatment can save your 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 Dermoscopy to evaluate hair count, density and growth. After examination she will make her recommendations.

The Procedure

A small amount of blood is taken from your arm. The blood is spun to separate the platelet rich plasma from the rest of the blood components. The site is cleaned and numbed with local anesthetic, and the PRP is injected in the areas to be treated. Dr. Hashemi may use Microneedling to stimulate the skin of the scalp, create microtrama which induces healing and stimulates growth and repair; and to create microchannels in which the PRP can flow deep into the scalp. Proteins are released from the PRP solution almost immediately and begin to stimulate hair follicles.

The procedure requires no down time and has minimal side effects. You may experience some swelling in the treated areas that should resolve within the first 48 hours. Complete results may take up to 6 months.

Because hair grows in phases, a series of treatments every 3-4 months will be recommended.