The use of platelet rich plasma (PRP) for the treatment of a variety of medical conditions is rapidly gaining popularity. The applications range from accelerating healing to several cosmetic treatments. Human blood is made up of two main elements- plasma or the liquid portion and platelet which are the blood cells that play a vital role in healing the body. Platelets contain growth factors that cause healing, tissue regeneration and cell reproduction. PRP is plasma that has a higher than normal amount of platelets.
This is achieved by removing a small amount of blood from the patient and placing it into a centrifuge that spins the blood at high speed causing the platelets to separate from the other components of the blood and concentrating them in the plasma. Once the PRP solution is ready, it is injected into that part of the body that requires treatment. The PRP stimulates the metabolism so that it becomes more efficient in reaping damage that has resulted from natural ageing or environmental factors.
Because the treatment uses a patient’s own tissue, PRP injections are safe. They can be administered either alone or used in conjunction with other therapies.
Hair loss is a problem for both men and women. While hair loss is natural with advancing years, especially among men, it can happen to anyone at any age. The possible reasons for this to happen are many, ranging from the natural male pattern baldness in men to the consequence of disease or injury or been the side effects of medical treatment. Hair loss is a common side effect of chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
Alopecia, or hair loss, can have a huge impact on a person’s self confidence and this, in turn, may impact every aspect of his or her life from social, professional, family and other interactions. In the past, the treatment options included hair transplants (which were often not successful) and the use of strong prescription drugs, which also has limited success. Home treatments and so-called natural cures for baldness never produce results. The use of wigs was, and still remains an option for those for whom no other option was available. However, wigs are not a cure – they only hide the baldness, and the fact that they are being used is often very noticeable, thereby defeating the whole purpose.
PRP offers a non-surgical way to treat hair loss. It is a a 3 step process that uses the patient’s own cells to safely and effectively promote hair growth. It is important to note that PRP is not a new therapy, it has been used for many years to treat injuries before its efficacy as a hair loss treatment was discovered. When PRP is injected into the scalp, it stimulates the scalp to increase hair growth. Blood supply to the hair follicles is also increased, resulting in an increase in hair thickness.
PRP therapy for hair loss is done in 3 stages:
PRP is a simple, safe, effective and economical way to promote hair regrowth and increase thickness. There is little or no downtime involved and the procedure is an outpatient one so you can return home after it is over. 4 to 6 sittings are typically required to produce optimum results after which maintenance treatments may be required every few months.