If you have been frustrated with hair loss for some time, PRP hair treatment can deliver the improved hair growth you are seeking. This is a process by which your doctor removes some of your blood plasma and injects it into your scalp, helping to alleviate inflammation that's disrupting your hair growth. PRP does not work for everyone, but it is one of the most promising professional hair growth treatments. Here's what you can expect to experience during and after the treatment.
Obtaining the Plasma
The first thing your doctor needs to do is extract your own blood plasma. If you have ever donated blood, this is a similar process. Your doctor will insert a needle into your arm, remove a tube or two of blood, and then place the blood in a centrifuge. The centrifuge will spin the blood around very quickly, causing the blood cells to fall to the bottom, and the plasma to rise to the top. Your doctor may then combine the plasma with a few additives to activate or preserve certain components and growth factors within it.
Injecting Your Scalp
Once the plasma is isolated and properly formulated, your doctor will use a marker to mark your scalp in the areas the injections will be administered. Then, a topical numbing agent may be rubbed onto the area and given a few minutes to activate. Once your scalp is numb, the doctor will make several small injections of the plasma into your scalp on the specified marks. You may feel some pricks and pinching, but it should not be overly painful.
Recovering
After PRP, you can typically go right back to work or your home. Be gentle with your scalp for a few days. Do not scrub your scalp or use shampoo on your hair for three or four days after the PRP treatment. Some patients do have mild soreness, numbness, or swelling in the treatment area, but this goes away within a few days and is nothing to worry about. You can apply ice to the area if the soreness bothers you.
You should start noticing improved hair growth within a few weeks of PRP. However, most patients need several treatments, placed a month or so apart, in order to experience the lush hair growth they desire.
If you have any lingering concerns about PRP, reach out to your doctor. They can tell you what other patients at their practice have experienced.
