PRP and Hair Transplants
PRP for Hair aka Platelet Rich Plasma is a hair loss treatment that embraces the regrowth & rejuvenation factors found naturally occurring within the patients own blood supply, via their platelets. Platelets are known for their rejuvenation properties dating back to the 1980′s when a Cardiac Surgeon utilised PRP when performing open heart surgery to aid repair and rejuvenation in the region. In combining PRP and Hair Transplants, patients can have seen a noticable improvement with recovery and growth rate when included in the pre-op and post-op stages of their Hair Transplant.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) work?
Platelet Rich Plasma also known as PRP, sources the natural growth factors found within the platelets of a persons blood. The extraction of 10-15mL of blood and spinning it in a centrifuge for 5mins, results in the red and white blood cells separating from the platelets. PRP is the yellow liquid found in the test tube above after it has been spun in the centrifuge.
This potent platelet supply can be injected to the region where you are losing hair, PRP is directly giving your hair follicle the nutrients it needs to produce a thicker and healthier hair. Think of PRP as a fertiliser. PRP can help hair transplant and non hair transplanted hair.
How does PRP and Hair Transplants compliment eachother?
Hair Transplantation is a hair replacement technique that involves surgicall transplanting genetically resistant (permanent) hair from the sides and back into regions where hair follicles are no longer growing hair/s. It replaces what a patient has lost, whereas PRP for hair loss seeks to help:
- Non-Transplanted Hair – Platelet Rich Plasma will help the Non-Transplanted Hair by directly supplying the hair follicle with the nutrients that is lacking and therefore PRP will help prevent and slow down hair loss.
- Achieve a Fuller Head of Hair – By preventing hair loss to the non-transplanted hair, it is able to contribute to the hair that is transplanted and this results in a thicker and fuller head than if the patient only received a hair transplant.
- Transplanted Hair – PRP and hair transplants just make sense. When you move a plant in the backyard, you prepare the soil in the region you are moving the plant to in advance. That way when the plant is transplanted, the region is nutrient rich and the plant is able to benefit from the nutrients and regrow faster. PRP acts like a fertiliser for the transplanted hair and has seen a significant improvement in the Hair Transplant post procedure recovery, numerous cases have shown improvements of more than 50% in recovery times.
- Skin in the donor region – PRP has long been used worldwide as a cosmetic skin treatment, PRP for the skin seeks to supply the skin cells with the nutrients they need to produce its OPTIMIAL output. For the skin in the donor region, PRP can help the recovery post FUG/FUT or FUSS hair transplant and also with FUE hair transplants.
What timings are the PRP and Hair Transplant treatments
PRP and Hair Transplant treatment plans are designed to specifically meet the hair restoration results expected from each patient. A common PRP and Hair Transplant plan would include 2-3 pre-hair transplant PRP treatments to prepare the skin, seek to save the thinning hair and help “fertilise” the area the transplant is going to happen. Then following the hair transplant, repeat PRP treatments 4-6 months apart will see the recovery following a hair transplant for the skin and the hair follicle, improve significantly faster compared with those who do not follow this process.
To best see if PRP and Hair Transplantation is for you, request a free hair loss consultation with us.
What info is available to validate PRP and Hair Transplants?
Historically, after a hair transplant it can take 12-18 months to achieve the maximum cosmetic result. With PRP patients are noticing density improvements on the transplanted hair often in less than 6 months. PRP acts as a fertiliser for the transplanted grafts and “fast-forwards” the follicles recovery following a hair transplant procedure.
Other reputible sites that support PRP and Hair Transplants include:
– http://www.ishrs.org
– http://www.cytomedix.com/Portals/121782/docs/reese_article_prp.pdf
– http://www.amsl.com.au