Platelet-rich plasma against hair loss

Platelet-rich plasma against hair loss

Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP is a revolutionary new treatment for hair loss. It is versatile and can be used in hair transplants or as a standalone treatment for hair loss. Many hair transplant surgeons are already using this technology in their hair replacement surgery, and since expert presentations to over 400 surgeons at the ISHRS conference in July, many more will soon be using the procedure.

PRP therapy is carried out in 3 stages. First, a quantity of blood between 60 and 100 ml is taken from the patient and centrifuged. The fraction containing the most platelets and growth factors is then removed and saved. The platelet-rich fraction can be divided and a portion lysed to release more growth factors than are combined with the other total platelet factor. This additional treatment is intended to enhance the effects of PRP therapy, especially for hair loss.

Secondly, the scalp is stimulated to activate the wound healing process. This process must be activated in order to utilize the growth factors and platelets that PRP therapy provides. Previously, PRP activation had to be completed with a single needle. The activation step requires hundreds of punctures. Therefore, the use of a single needle was inconvenient and caused significant pain to the patient. Now a new product called Scalproller, made by Nanogen, is commonly used for the activation step. The Scalproller is a microneedle roller that uses 192 unique titanium needles to open the skin to the same depth every time. Because it uses less pressure, it causes less pain. Rolling the Scalproller over the scalp also saves the surgeon time.

The third step in the PRP process is reinjecting the platelet- and growth factor-rich fragment into the scalp. This provides high levels of every factor needed for healing and healthy hair growth. The factors are used by the stimulated cells, including hair follicles.

Stimulation and access to high concentrations of growth factors have been shown to produce new hair growth, thicken existing hair growth, and make hair transplants thicker and healthier. In one case, an alopecia areata patient was treated and the PRP treatment caused hair regrowth.

These results were presented at the ISHRS conference alongside the launch of Nanogen's Scalproller, and PRP with Scalproller pretreatment appears to be gaining traction as a hair loss treatment.

Inspired by Toby Cobbledick