Hair loss affects people of all backgrounds, both male and female. And while most people start to experience thinning hair as they get older, people of any age can shed hair, especially if genetic conditions are at play.
Historically, treatment for hair loss included smelly creams and oral medications, but now you can get your full mane back sans both. The experts at SoCal Regenerative Clinic offer platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy for thinning hair — and here’s what you need to know.
How PRP therapy works
PRP is an all-natural healing therapy that comes from your own blood. Your blood consists of four main components: red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and platelets. Platelets are fragments of blood cells that contain proteins called growth factors, which are critical for wound healing and repair.
Your doctor uses a centrifuge to separate the platelets and plasma from the other parts of your blood, and then injects the PRP back into your body at the treatment site — in this case, your scalp.
PRP for hair loss
PRP restores thinning hair because it heals and activates damaged, dormant hair follicles. Research suggests that PRP is effective for people who experience hair loss from a number of different causes, including androgenetic alopecia, hereditary thinning or baldness, and male-pattern baldness. Anyone with thinning hair or baldness may be a good candidate for PRP therapy, but the treatment generally works best if you catch it early.
What to expect
To get started with PRP therapy for hair loss, you first need to go through an initial consultation appointment with Dr. Keith, Dr. Humiston, or . During your consultation, your provider takes a thorough health history to learn about past and current conditions. They also ask about your symptoms and lifestyle habits and perform a basic physical exam.
If you’re a good candidate for PRP therapy, your doctor develops a customized treatment plan to get you the best results possible. At your next appointment, you’ll begin the PRP process.
During a PRP treatment, your blood is drawn from your arm and spun in a centrifuge until the platelets and plasma separate from the rest of the blood. Your doctor then injects the PRP solution into your scalp to promote healing and activation of damaged or dormant hair follicles.
Most patients don’t need any anesthesia for PRP therapy, but if your skin is particularly sensitive, your doctor might offer a topical numbing agent so you don’t feel the injections. PRP treatments typically don’t take longer than 20 minutes.
To learn more about PRP therapy, read our PRP FAQ. If you’re ready to start regrowing your hair, call SoCal Regenerative Clinic today or request an appointment online at one of our clinics in West Covina or Anaheim, California.
