PRP therapy, or platelet-rich plasma therapy, is a relatively new method of hair restoration that has been evolving over the last several years.
The basic concept of PRP use in hair restoration is that platelets, when activated, secrete various growth factors and signaling molecules at the wound site. These growth factors and cytokines can be used to stimulate healing and/or growth of tissues such as skin or hair follicles.
The idea with PRP therapy for hair loss is that by injecting plasma rich in growth factors into the scalp, it might be possible to stimulate regrowth of hair.
How Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Works
PRP therapy is based on the idea that certain drugs or treatments will speed up hair growth. PRP is derived from your own blood, so there are no side effects to this treatment.
The basic steps in PRP administration are shown below:
1) Blood donation
Donating blood is painless, but can take about 20 minutes.
2) Formation of platelet-rich plasma pellet
The process of making PRP requires that the blood be put in a centrifuge for about 15-20 minutes to separate the plasma from red and white cells. The portion that remains after this processing step is called platelet-rich plasma.
Preparing platelet-rich plasma may take about 45 minutes to one hour, depending on the machine used. Once prepared, it is given as an intra-scalp injection usually by a specialized medical staff or physician.
3) Insertion of pellet into scalp
The platelets and other components in PRP have been known to help stimulate growth of cells. The idea is that PRP causes cellular proliferation which in turn causes tissue regrowth, like new hair growth.