effective alternative to surgery for men and women who require stimulation of hair growth for hair loss conditions such as androgenic alopecia or male/female pattern baldness.

Men and women wanting to restore hair loss can receive PRP hair restoration therapy at Affiliated Dermatology.

What is PRP Hair Restoration?

PRP therapy for hair loss is a treatment that involves withdrawing a patient’s own blood, processing it so that only the enriched cells (platelet-rich plasma) remain, and injecting it into the scalp. PRP contains essential proteins that stimulate natural hair growth.

PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. PRP is blood plasma that has been enriched with platelets. As a concentrated source of autologous platelets, PRP contains several different growth factors and other cytokines that stimulate healing of bone and soft tissue, as well as hair growth. Human blood contains mesenchymal stem cells and autologous blood products that contain essential and specific growth factors that assist in tissue regeneration and healing.

PRP was developed in the 1970′s and first used in Italy in 1987 in an open heart surgery procedure. Published medical literature from around the world confirms the safety and use of PRP therapy in medicine. For the past two decades, PRP has been widely used in skin and wound healing, and is now being extensively used in cosmetic surgery, dentistry, sports medicine, and pain management.

In the field of hair restoration, evidence supports PRP therapy as a promising treatment to promote hair growth, although no claim can be made of its efficacy. Studies have shown that growth factors released from platelets may act on stem cells in the bulge area of the follicles, stimulating the development of new follicles and promoting neo-vascularization.

Since PRP is in the early stages of scientific research for hair loss therapy, PRP is not meant to replace current FDA approved therapies such as DHT blockers and Minoxidil. That being said, PRP is a promising non-surgical option for men and women experiencing hair loss.

What is Platelet-Rich Plasma?

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is an autologous concentrated preparation of platelets and the associated growth factors in a small volume of plasma. Platelets are a natural source of a number of growth factors in their natural and biologically-determined ratios.

Platelet Growth Factors

Upon activation, platelets release growth factors and other molecules. These growth factors are regeneration-promoting signaling molecules and are shown to regulate the healing cascade, including inflammation and cell proliferation.

How is PRP Hair Loss Therapy performed?

Upon arrival at the Affiliated Dermatology, you will be escorted to one of our private hair restoration treatment rooms. One of our qualified PRP specialists will draw your blood just as though you were having routine blood testing at your primary care physician’s office.

The drawn blood is then spun in a sterile centrifuge system, which separates the platelet-rich plasma from the rest of the blood. The system eliminates granulocytes which can harm tissue regeneration. A topical anesthesia is applied to the scalp to reduce any discomfort during the PRP treatment. The highly concentrated platelet-rich plasma is then injected into the scalp. After treatment, you are able to drive after the procedure and return to your daily routine.

We recommend a total of 3 treatments scheduled 6 weeks apart. This will vary depending on the severity of hair loss and the desired result. A treatment plan will be discussed at your initial consultation.