HAIR LOSS

Hair loss is a very common problem for both men and women.  While topical agents and medications help, it may not solve the problem of hair loss.  Therefore, many of us live with the problem of thinning hair and hair loss.  Recently, the advancement of platelet rich plasma or PRP has been very effective in treating hair loss in three different ways:
1) by thickening hair;
2) improving hair growth and regeneration; and
3) preventing hair loss.

PRP 

Not all PRP injections are the same.  Why?  Because there are different systems that are available to create the PRP.  The most important component of creating the PRP is in the way the blood is processed and how the plasma is concentrated to create the platelet rich plasma or PRP. The system that I use is called EMCYTE.  Studies have shown that the EMCYTE system creates the highest level of platelet rich plasma that could be processed from blood.

TREATMENT

The number of PRP injections will depend on several factors: how much hair loss and how much of the scalp is involved with hair loss.   A topical anesthetic ointment is applied for twenty minutes.  Blood will be drawn from a large vein in the arm then processed to create the PRP with the EMCYTE system.  Then a ring block with a local anesthetic will be injected in the area to be treated.  The PRP then is injected into the scalp.  Because this treatment is from your own blood, the risks are minimal.  There is some discomfort from the injection but well tolerated.

Usually 2 or 3 sessions, with one or two month intervals between each session, will lead to a positive result. Outcome will vary depending on how much hair loss a person has as well as how each person responds to the treatment.  The exact number of treatments will be determined based on each person’s response.