Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a popular treatment option for a wide variety of medical and cosmetic uses. Since PRP has the potential to promote healing and tissue regeneration, it’s often used to address everything from sports injuries to hair loss. At Orchidia Medical Group, we offer PRP therapy for hair to help our clients regain fuller hair and a more youthful appearance.
What Is Platelet-Rich Plasma?
Platelet-rich plasma is a concentrated form of blood plasma containing a concentrated number of platelets. Platelets are elements in the blood that play a critical role in your body’s clotting and wound-healing process. They contain a variety of growth factors and proteins that help stimulate tissue regeneration and repair.
PRP is derived from your own blood, making it a safe procedure that is less likely to experience rejection from your body. We harvest PRP through a process called centrifugation. During this process, we draw your blood, which is collected and spun in a centrifuge at high speeds to separate it into various components, including:
- Red and white blood cells
- Platelets
- Plasma
PRP is then extracted from the collections so we can use it in therapeutic processes.
How PRP Works
PRP has a lot of therapeutic potential due to its growth factors and the proteins contained within the platelets themselves. These substances show promise for a variety of uses, like stimulating cell growth and promoting the formation of new blood cells. When we inject PRP into damaged or injured tissue, it creates an environment rich in growth factors that recruit and activate cells in order to stabilize the treatment area.
Therapeutic Applications of PRP
PRP is used in a variety of medical fields, from orthopedics and dentistry to plastic surgery and cosmetics. Some common applications of PRP include:
- Injuries to Tendons and Ligaments: PRP can help treat tendon and ligament injuries, like tennis elbow, by reducing inflammation and promoting faster healing
- Osteoarthritis: PRP injections can help treat osteoarthritis, especially in the knee joint, by reducing inflammation and slowing the degeneration of cartilage
- Dental Procedures: PRP is used in dental procedures like tooth extractions to promote tissue regeneration and wound healing
- Wound Healing: PRP therapy can treat chronic wounds like diabetic ulcers by promoting the formation of new blood vessels to stimulate healthy tissue growth
PRP therapy is also frequently used to address hair loss, which is a common condition both men and women face. Hair loss is caused by various factors, like hormonal imbalances, aging, medical conditions, and genetics. PRP has gained significant attention for its promise as a hair growth and regeneration treatment.
How PRP Hair Treatment Works
The concept of PRP therapy for hair is based on the fact that PRP contains growth factors and proteins that can help stimulate the hair follicles in order to prolong the growth phase of the hair. Promoting the longevity of the growth phase helps increase hair thickness and density while encouraging new hair follicles to grow.
Some of the key growth factors in PRP that support hair growth include:
- Platelet-derived growth factor, which stimulates cell growth and division
- Vascular endothelial growth factor, which enhances blood supply to the follicles
- Epidermal growth factor, which contributes to the generation of hair follicles
- Transforming growth factor-beta, which helps hair follicles maintain stability
All of these factors combined are what make PRP hair restoration possible.
PRP Hair Restoration Procedure
When you visit us for PRP hair restoration, we follow these general steps:
- We start by drawing blood, usually from the arm
- We place the blood sample into the centrifuge to separate the platelet-rich plasma from other components in the blood
- We then prepare the PRP depending on the protocol for your individual treatment
- Finally, we inject the PRP directly into targeted areas of the scalp using a thin needle
Depending on how your body responds to PRP therapy, you may need multiple treatment sessions in order to achieve optimal results. We usually space treatment sessions out over the course of several weeks or a few months.
Your PRP appointment will likely last anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half. It takes around 30 minutes to draw blood and process the platelets through the centrifuge and 10-30 minutes to perform the injections. If your PRP needs to be prepped into higher concentrations (this will depend on your individual treatment), that may add another 15 minutes or so to the length of your appointment.
To ensure a smooth recovery after PRP, avoid strenuous activities for a few days. It’s also important to keep your scalp clean, and avoid direct exposure to the sun.
What to Expect After PRP Therapy for Hair
After your PRP appointment, you may experience some tenderness in your scalp. This tenderness is perfectly normal. You’ll notice initial results through improvements in your hair’s density within a few weeks, with optimal results visible after a few months and a few hair growth cycles.
How Long Does PRP Hair Treatment Last?
PRP is not a permanent solution to hair loss. You will likely need annual maintenance treatments in order to encourage your body to maintain a healthy growth environment for your scalp and hair.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Hair Therapy in Naples, FL
At Orchidia Medical Group in Naples, FL, we help clients of all ages achieve desired hair results through platelet-rich plasma therapy. Our process begins with a consultation to assess the current state of your hair so that we can put together the best treatment plan for you. To learn more and to get started, contact us today.
