Hair loss can have a number of causes, including disease, stress, genetic factors or poor maintenance. There are several ways of treating the problem, but one in particular is increasing in popularity. Platelet-rich plasma therapy is now being used to treat hair loss, and the results are impressive from scientific and aesthetic perspectives.
How Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy Works
Platelet-rich plasma therapy works by taking a sample of the person’s blood and then centrifuging it. The process isolates the platelets in the plasma at high speed, and these high-concentration solutions are used in the treatment. This is the patient’s own blood, so the risk of cross infection and transfusion mismatch is minimal. The platelet-rich plasma solution is particularly good for healing and tissue regeneration. It has been used in wound care and surgical procedures for several years effectively, but its use in treating hair loss is relatively new.
The platelets stimulate the production of stem cells within the hair follicle. This encourages hair growth. Platelets also contain cells such as lysosomes and glycogen, which contain growth and clotting factors that are stimulated and released during the healing process. After a dermaroller treatment is performed on the areas of hair loss, the plasma solution is either injected into or rubbed on the scalp. The plasma stimulates dormant hair follicles, encouraging them to grow again. Platelet-rich plasma therapy can also be used on thinning hair to thicken it and slow hair loss.
Who Is Suitable for the Treatment?
Platelet-rich plasma therapy is suitable for a range of people with hair loss. This includes people with genetic hair loss disorders, alopecia caused by stress or trauma or hormonal conditions looking for hair replacement solutions. It is particularly used in androgenic alopecia, when there is a receding hairline. Clients will need to have around eight treatments for the therapy to be effective.
Research into platelet-rich plasma therapy has found that most clients see a difference after the third or fourth treatment, although the numbers of subjects in the trial was small. It is a suitable treatment for both men and women and is done as a stand-alone therapy. This treatment is not suitable for people who have skin diseases, chronic liver disease or cancer. It is also unsuitable for those who have platelet disorders or who have had any anticoagulation therapy. If unsure, patients should check with their doctor before starting this type of treatment.
Does It Hurt?
A local anesthetic is injected prior to the procedure to minimize any pain. No sedation or general anesthesia is required. It is, however, important to see a trained professional who has experience of the procedure. Anti-inflammatory drugs should be avoided for seven days prior to the treatment.
There are incidences of bruising after the treatment, but these should fade within a few days. The series of treatments can take between a year and eighteen months to complete.
Platelet-rich plasma therapy is an increasingly popular way of tackling hair loss and is another way of promoting hair replacement. For people with hair loss problems this treatment looks promising.
At Genesis II, Nurse Practitioner Karl Elsner performs our PRP procedures, he is both experienced and certified in Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy for Aesthetics and the treatment of naturally thinning hair or hair loss. All PRP procedures take place in our state-of-the-art surgical suite. We are the only hair replacement studio in the Greater Syracuse area offering Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy with a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner. To schedule a free hair and scalp analysis call us at (315) 458-1074 or to contact us via email click here.
Photo Credit: Markus Spiske Via Flickr Creative Commons
References
http://www.thehealthsite.com/beauty/beat-hair-loss-with-platelet-rich-plasma-therapy/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2764957/One-Kim-Kardashian-Vampire-HAIR-lift-uses-technology-gruesome-facial-beloved-reality-star-uses-blood-lengthen-strengthen-locks.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4134641/
http://harleystreetskinclinic.com/angel-prp-hair-growth/
