New hair loss treatments are consistently being added onto the market and one of the most bizarre is PRP. Using your own blood to stimulate new hair growth, Platelet-Rich Plasma is becoming quite a popular treatment in the US. So, how exactly does it work, and could it be the future for the hair loss industry?
Understanding PRP
PRP aims to encourage new hair growth by stimulating the hair’s follicles. It does this by inserting white blood cells, contained in our plasma, into the scalp. To start, blood is drawn from the patient’s arm, before it’s placed into a Centrifuge machine. This spins the blood to separate the red blood cells and the plasma.
Once the plasma has been successfully separated, it is directly injected into the scalp. There, it gets to work stimulating the hair follicles. As it uses the patient’s own blood, there’s a low risk the body will see it as a foreign object, which means the immune system will not attack the cells.
The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes and injections are given across the balding area of the scalp, covering every half an inch. It has so far proven to be quite effective, but it is a treatment you will need to keep enduring in order to maintain results. You’ll need to have a repeat procedure every month for around four months, before dropping down to every three to six months.
Are there better options out there?
While PRP presents very few risks and it has shown to be effective, the fact it needs to be carried out continuously to maintain results makes it an expensive and inconvenient treatment option.
There are other treatments available which can provide the same, if not better results, which do not require such strict maintenance. If you’re looking for the same type of results, hair transplants or laser therapy could be an ideal alternative. If you’re happy to simply cover up the issue and achieve a more shaven look, SMP could be ideal.
It’s important to talk through your options with a specialist as treatments will work slightly differently from person to person. The treatment recommended to you will depend upon the severity of the hair loss, as well as the type of hair loss you’re experiencing.
