Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP for short, is increasing in popularity as a hair loss treatment.
Interestingly, until a few years ago, many doctors were openly dismissive about it its
effectiveness for hair loss since they were unfamiliar or ignorant of the numerous studies
done with PRP in the medical literature.
However, some recent studies have been published which confirmed its value in stimulating hair
growth.
Now, many doctors, including those openly dismissive ones are now offering PRP injections
in their practice.
Although I recognize that PRP has an effect on hair growth, I would recommend a different
approach along the same line of regenerative medicine technology.
I’m Dr Amiya Prasad.
I’m a Board Certified Cosmetic Surgeon and Fellowship Trained Oculoplastic Surgeon.
I’ve been in practice in Manhattan and Long Island for over 20 years.
I’m also the founder of TrichoStem Hair Regeneration Centers, based on a system we
originally developed with PRP and Acellular matrix to help improve healing and outcomes
of hair transplants.
Based on this experience I developed a system which has become a standalone, non-surgical
hair loss treatment which has impacted the treatment of hair loss throughout the world.
I would say that our success with this treatment which we’ve been doing since 2011 inspired
much of the current enthusiasm for PRP .
Prior to to 2011, I was also an early adopter of PRP technology for aesthetic purposes such
as the treating under eye dark circles, collagen stimulation in the skin for wrinkles and acne
scars as well as improving overall facial glow.
In addition I also have been a fairly visible go to authority for media for a specific method
of combining PRP with hyaluronic acid filler known as the Vampire Facelift.
Although PRP is proven to stimulate hair growth, as shown in several studies, when you ask
many doctors about PRP alone for hair loss treatment, you get different answers about
how often the treatment is needed, how long they need to continue with the treatment,
and actual examples of how effective the treatment is in their hands.
Recommendations for PRP scalp injections injections every two weeks, to once a month, to every
two to three months.
Some doctors will also say that after the first few months, or after the first year
of treatment, following treatments may be needed every 4-6 months.
The one question that most doctors will be unable to answer is how long they will you
need to do these treatments.
This is in part because few doctors have been performing PRP for hair loss long enough to
give an answer based on long term experience.
Ask a doctor to show you results of PRP at different points from 1 year to 5 years out,
and they probably will not be able to do this.
In addition, several doctors claim to have better PRP with higher concentration of platelets,
better centrifugues, or more advanced PRP kits, and may charge more for these features.
This in my experience is not clinically relevant.
Like any cosmetic procedure, the doctor’s specialization and experience matters most.
A claim of high level of knowledge and experience should be supported by their own before and
after images of their patients.
Unfortunately, some unethical doctors take shortcuts and steal photos and claim them
to be their own.
In my experience, while PRP alone can stimulate hair growth, in reality this hair growth is
typically short-term and does not sustain growth for periods which go into years.
Some people with longer hair growth cycles may see benefit that sustains longer than
people with shorter growth cycles such as those with more advanced hair loss.
In practical terms, I feel that any treatment that involves frequent scalp injections is
unsustainable.
Time constraints and discomfort can quickly discourage even the most highly motivated
individual.
I often see patients who have given up PRP after about 4 treatments, where they saw limited
results, spent a lot of time and money booking, and waiting in the doctor’s office for their
next session and found that the cost and the pain was too much for them.
Speaking of pain, PRP scalp injections are typically done in the doctors offices without
anesthetic and some doctors state that the anesthetic affects results.
As a cosmetic oculofacial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, I strive to make my patients comfortable
and minimize discomfort.
It’s well know for many years the innovation that originated from our practice which we
developed into TrichoStem Hair Regeneration.
The origin of this began when we started using PRP and a material called Acellular matrix
in 2011 to improve the healing process for hair transplant patients.
Specifically to improve the healing of the donor area and the hair grafts to improve
their survival.
Extracellular matrix is an advanced wound healing material harvested from pig bladder
for its regenerative properties.
A remarkable side effect was observed where a year after surgery, many of these patients
native hair which was not transplanted appeared thicker.In TrichoStem Hair Regeneration treatment,
PRP is not the main active ingredient.
PRP is part of the injection with Acellular matrix, or extracellular matrix.
While the exact mechanism is not quite defined, we believe that the wound healing mechanism
has a restorative on a deteriorating hair growth mechanism.
The results are that hairs that were present but not growing become reactivated, thinning
hair becomes thicker, and the longevity of the hair growth cycle increases.
There are several important differences between TrichoStem Hair Regeneration and PRP alone.
These differences include the number of sessions needed, the effectiveness of the treatment,
the predictability of results, and the longevity of results.
Further, I always emphasize that all genetic pattern hair loss in men and women are not
the same.
Our treatment is customized to your individual hair loss profile.
Factors which affect management include, gender, age of onset of hair loss, rate of hair loss,
severity of hair loss, and other medical conditions as well as prior treatments.
In our practice, after a full evaluation with microscopic and specifically detailed digital
photography you with a treatment plan.
We support the specifics of the treatment plan by showing our patients examples of our
own patients so they understand what their unique hair loss situation requires.
Every day, since 2011 we are treating patients who come from throughout the US, and around
the world with TrichoStem Hair Regeneration.
Over 99% of men and women with pattern hair loss see visible results with one session
of TrichoStem Hair Regeneration treatment.
In some patients we do a second treatment after 15 to 18 months.
We follow our patients closely every three to six months for years depending on the treatment
plan agreed upon.
In comparison, doctors who perform PRP alone for hair loss estimate that there will be
benefit on about 50% of patients.
What motivated me to pursue this approach was the realization that as long as hair follicles
are still present and viable, the Hair Regeneration treatment can exceed the results of a hair
transplant.
Hair transplantation is limited by the amount of donor hair available, and by safe hair
transplant density of about 20 hairs per square centimeter for proper blood supply needed
for hair graft survival.
Natural existing hair can be present at 50 hairs per square centimeter.
This means that If enough thinning hair is present for the treatment to thicken, then
the resulting scalp coverage with TrichoStem Hair Regeneration can exceed the results of
not just one, but two hair transplants.
The treatment starts with drawing blood for PRP.
I apply an algorithm based on the individual’s Hair Loss Profile to customize the combination
of PRP with ACellular matrix.
The scalp is made numb with a topical and local anesthetic so there is minimal discomfort
during the actual treatment.
The prepared Hair Regeneration serum is dosed by me and injected into the scalp.
While preparation can take 1 to 2 hours, the treatment is performed in a few minutes.
There may be some tenderness in the scalp after the treatment, and most patients return
to work the day after.
We treat many patients who fly in from around the world every day for the TrichoStem Hair
Regeneration treatment and some actually fly back home the same day as treatment.
Genetic pattern hair loss is hard wired in the DNA and will still progress.
Neither what we do or any other treatment is a cure.
I emphasize to my patients that hair loss is managed and I do use other modalities to
help my patients for the long term.
The benefits of TrichoStem Hair Regeneration can begin to be seen as early as 1 to 3 months.
In our experience, the scalp coverage does continue to improve for 15 to 18 months before
there is a stable appearance.
PRP alone for hair loss does have proven scientific basis.
Our TrichoStem hair Regeneration system using PRP and ACellular matrix treatment has been
consistently successful since 2011 with only 1 to 2 treatments with benefits lasting for
years.
Based on extensive experience and analysis of individual patients clinical data, I further
developed a Hair Loss Profile System with Customized Treatment Plans.
I would say that the current limitations of knowledge and experience by practitioners
and the challenges with treatment frequency, discomfort, expense and predictability makes
PRP as a standalone treatment not the optimal choice for hair loss.
I hope you found this information helpful...thank you for your question.