Platelet Rich Plasma- What is it and is it right for you?

HOW DOES PRP WORK?

Platelet rich plasma, or PRP, therapy has established itself to be effective as a medical treatment modality in the specialty fields of oral surgery, neurosurgery, plastic and cosmetic surgery, sports medicine and orthopedics. It has been used extensively in these specialties for the last twenty years with generally positive outcomes and success. In the field of hair restoration, evidence supports PRP therapy as a promising treatment option to promote hair growth. While PRP is in the early stages of scientific research in hair restoration, PRP is not meant to replace current FDA approved therapies such as minoxidil, but it is a promising non-surgical therapeutic option for those patients with hair loss who have not responded to standard therapy alone.

HOW DO YOU PERFORM THE PROCEDURE?

Blood is drawn in our office as though you are having routine blood testing at your primary care physician’s office. The blood is spun in a centrifuge and the PRP is separated and removed from the rest of the blood.

The PRP is taken from your body and is specially prepared by spinning down the blood cells to a high concentration. It is a closed sterile system and the platelets are concentrated to 6X the normal blood values. The system eliminates certain white blood cells which hurt tissue regeneration and wound healing. The highly concentrated platelet rich plasma (PRP) is then injected into the scalp. No sedation or any medication is given during the procedure to inhibit the ability to drive or use machinery.

PRP contains many growth factors that stimulate the hair follicle’s growth.Early data suggests regular or semiannual PRP treatments that may stimulate hair growth.

THE SCIENCE OF PRP

PRP contains special cells called platelets, that can theoretically cause growth of the hair follicles by stimulating the stem cells and other cells in the microenvironment of the hair follicle. These special platelet cells promote healing, accelerates the rate and degree of tissue healing and regeneration, responds to injury, and formation of new cellular growth. The primary purpose of using PRP in hair restoration is to stimulate inactive or newly implanted hair follicles into an active growth phase.

Inside the platelets are many intracellular structures such as glycogen, lysosomes and alpha granules. These granules within the PRP contain clotting and growth factors that are eventually released during the healing and repair process.

PRP specific cells that causes hair growth include:

Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF)—promotes blood vessel growth, cell replication, skin formation;

Transforming Growth-Factor-Beta (TGF-b)—promotes growth of matrix between cells, bone metabolism;

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)—promotes blood vessel formation;

Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)—promotes cell growth and differentiation, blood vessel formation, collagen formation;

Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 (FGF-2)—promotes growth of specialized cells and blood vessel formation; and,

Insulin Like Growth Factor - (IGF)—a regulator of normal physiology in nearly every type of cell in the body

DOES PRP WORK?

Individual results vary with each patient. No guarantees of success can be made but PRP preliminary studies indicate patients can respond to PRP therapy. I have used it with varying success in many forms of hair loss and some patients have noted complete regrowth of hair following their treatment series.

Larger clinical studies are pending but the current medical literature contains numerous optimistic results. Although a few controlled studies exist, anecdotal and case reports are the primary sources reflecting success with PRP therapy.

WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE PRP TREATMENT?

Patients with history of heavy smoking, drug and alcohol use. Medical diagnosis such as platelet dysfunction syndromes, thrombocytopenias, hypofibrinogenaemia, hemodynamic instability, sepsis, acute and chronic Infections, chronic liver disease, anti-coagulation therapy, chronic skin diseases or cancer, metabolic and systemic disorders.

IS PRP FOR ME?

PRP has been used successfully in other medical and surgical disciplines for many years. The decision to use PRP is a personal decision and should be made after careful research, consideration and consultation with a physician. PRP is safe and natural because the procedure concentrates the good cells from your scalp and injects them directly back into the area where it is needed. There is absolutely no chance of getting a blood infection from another human being. PRP involves using your own cells that are not modified or changed, and it will not be rejected by your immune system.

Extensive clinical trials are not complete and medical data is not yet published to establish the absolute effectiveness of PRP therapy in hair restoration. PRP should not be considered a “cure” for hair loss and no guarantee can be made about its individual effectiveness.

CAN I USE OTHER MEDICAL THERAPIES CONCURRENTLY?

Absolutely. In fact, we encourage it and prescribe PRP therapy as a compliment to a nonsurgical approach for those patients who are not eligible for surgery or who want to delay hair restoration surgery. As a non-surgical treatment option, we recommend PRP therapy along with Minoxidil or other treatments prescribed by your board certified dermatologist