8 Things You Should Know If You’re Considering PRP for Hair Loss

Nobody loves the thought of waking up one day to discover they’re started losing their hair. Whether you’ve been noticing more hair on your pillow than usual or you simply want to enhance the health of your scalp, there are treatment options available. 

PRP, also known as platelet-rich plasma, has fast become one of the most popular options for treating hair loss in recent years. The PRP process is fairly straightforward but it’s still necessary for a professional to perform it. 

Once a sample of your blood has been extracted, it is processed in order to separate the red blood cells from the plasma. This off-white-coloured plasma will be strategically injected into your scalp, where it will begin to take effect. Treatments are only mildly painful but an anaesthetic can be used if need be. 

If you feel that PRP might be a good treatment for you, here are a few things you should know first.

What You Should Know Before Your PRP Hair Loss Session

1. The platelets are what stimulate hair growth

The plasma that is extracted from your blood is what contains the growth-inducing platelets. Platelets are produced by the body to assist with clotting and wound healing. PRP has proven to increase hair volume and thickness but results vary between patients.

2. A hospital stay is not necessary

PRP treatments are minimally invasive, which means you won’t require an overnight hospital stay. Your treatment will be completed in a matter of minutes after your blood has been processed, after which you are free to return to your usual routine. Since your scalp might be slightly swollen and numb after your session, one of the best Australian hair transplant specialists, Dr Paul Spano, recommends avoiding direct sun exposure.  

3. Several treatments will be necessary

Patients will need several treatments spaced over three months to achieve their desired result. It may also be necessary to schedule additional sessions every three to six months thereafter. 

4. PRP hair restoration is not covered by insurance

Since PRP therapy is a cosmetic procedure, your insurance will not cover it, so be prepared to pay for the treatments out of your own pocket. With this being said, don’t choose a hair loss specialist based on price alone, not if you want to achieve superior results. 

5. PRP is best for early onset hair loss

Almost anyone who is in good health can receive PRP treatments but it’s best suited to those in the early stages of hair loss. Patients with a hormone imbalance may not qualify for this treatment and those with an autoimmune disease should avoid it altogether. Your medical history will need to be reviewed prior to treatment regardless.  If you’re in the area it’s worth talking to a hair loss treatment clinic in Melbourne for PRP, as there are many leading specialists.

6. There are little to no side effects

The side effects of PRP treatments are almost non-existent. Since the patient’s own blood is used for the treatment, some minor numbness, swelling and redness are the only side effects of this treatment – infection is also possible but not if the scalp is kept clean.

7. Results take up to six months to show

In most cases, patients will see results three to six months after receiving PRP treatments. How long the treated areas had no hair will also play a role. For the best results, schedule your treatments when the hair is moving out of its dormant phase. 

8. Results are not guaranteed

It’s important to have realistic expectations about what can be achieved with PRP. Unfortunately, every patient reacts differently to the treatment, which means results won’t be the same for everyone. 

PRP is one of the safest ways to slow down the hair loss and balding process and one that has the least amount of side effects, provided your treatments are carried out by a qualified and experienced professional.