Hair loss may not be a life-threatening condition, but there’s no denying it can take a major toll on your life and your self-confidence. Millions of Americans suffer from hair loss, and today, many of those men and women are turning to PRP treatments to help restore their hair and prevent future hair loss.
At Starkey Medical Esthetics, Michele Meinhart, FNP, offers PRP therapy for both women and men in Salem, Virginia. PRP therapy is performed on an outpatient basis, and since PRP comes from your own blood, you don’t have to worry about allergic reactions or rejection. Wondering how PRP therapy works to treat hair loss? Read on to find out.
PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. Both platelets and plasma are part of your blood. Plasma is the liquid part of your blood, while platelets are components that contain special proteins called growth factors.
Growth factors play a major role in tissue regeneration and in your body’s natural healing processes. When PRP is injected into an area of tissue damage, those growth actors go to work to repair or replace damaged cells and trigger other healing responses.
In fact, PRP’s ability to promote natural healing and restore damaged tissue has made it an important treatment for many orthopedic issues, including joint and tendon issues. More recently, healthcare providers have recognized PRP as a promising treatment for hair loss (or alopecia).
There are different types of hair loss, depending on the underlying cause. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a major cause of hair loss in men (so common, it’s referred to as male pattern baldness), and in women, too. AGA causes hair follicles to shrink or “miniaturize.” As a result, hair growth slows, and the follicles begin to produce only very fine, thin hairs. Eventually, they stop producing any hair at all.
Because AGA is caused by damage to these hair follicles, studies show PRP can be especially beneficial in treating this type of hair loss. In fact, recent research found that in men and women with AGA, best results occurred with three monthly sessions combined with three to six months of follow-up treatments.
Other research shows it may help treat another type of hair loss called alopecia areata, caused by an autoimmune condition that attacks the hair follicles.
PRP therapy begins with a sample of your blood that we extract right in the office. The blood sample is processed using special technology that separates the platelets and plasma from other parts of your blood (like red and white blood cells). The resulting PRP contains a higher concentration of platelets — as much as five times the number of platelets normally found in blood.
Once the PRP is made, it’s reinjected into your scalp, directly into the areas where hair growth is desired. The growth factors contained in the PRP go to work right away, promoting optimal healing responses in and around damaged follicles, regenerating those follicles to support new hair growth.
PRP therapy has varying degrees of success, depending on the cause of hair loss and individual patient factors. At Starkey Medical Esthetics, every therapy is customized, based on the individual patient’s needs and treatment goals.
Ready to learn if PRP can help you restore lost hair — and promote fuller, thicker hair growth in the future? Then call the office today, or book an appointment online to book your own personal consultation and evaluation.
