Many people, including celebrities like Cristiano Ronaldo, regularly undergo PRP treatments. PRP stands for “Platelet Rich Plasma,” which nourishes the hair follicles, potentially reducing hair loss and stimulating natural hair growth. But what exactly does PRP do, and is it truly effective? You’ll find out below.
Note
Hair Science Clinic specializes in permanent hair loss treatment through hair transplantation. The foundation of our success is our self-developed and patented Hair Stem Cell Transplantation (HST) method. Hair Science Clinic does not offer PRP treatments. While PRP can have a positive effect on hair growth, there are significant concerns regarding the use and effectiveness of this treatment. We inform you about these issues in this knowledge article.
A miracle cure for hair loss?
Dr. Coen Gho and his Hair Science Institute have been conducting scientific research in the field of hair, stem cells, and tissue engineering since 1995, including studies on treatments like PRP and its effectiveness as a therapy for baldness. The PRP technique is commonly used to treat hereditary hair loss and to improve results before or after a hair transplant. Originally, PRP was developed to treat joint problems, particularly to stimulate cartilage. Nowadays, it is also used for skin therapeutic applications, such as improved wound healing and skin rejuvenation.
What does PRP do?
In a hair growth-stimulating PRP treatment, a small amount of blood is drawn and placed into one or more tubes. These tubes are then placed in a centrifuge, where platelet-rich plasma is extracted from the blood. This plasma is then injected into the scalp using a thin needle. The growth factors in the injected plasma stimulate natural skin and hair growth.
Composition of blood
To understand how PRP works, it’s important to understand how our blood is composed. Blood forms the body’s transport system. It flows constantly to deliver oxygen and (nutritional) substances to tissues and remove waste products. Approximately half of your blood consists of plasma. Blood plasma is mainly made up of fluids and proteins. The other half of your blood consists of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Growth Factors
In 1 ml of blood, there are approximately 5 billion red blood cells, 4-10 million white blood cells, and 300 million platelets. Platelets in our blood contain proteins, or growth factors, that increase collagen production, regenerate tissue, tighten the skin, rejuvenate skin texture, and improve hair growth.
Hair Growth Stimulation
By injecting platelet-rich plasma (PRP) into the scalp, the hair follicles—and thus the hair itself—are strengthened. Since PRP is derived from the patient’s own blood, this treatment is considered a safe and effective method for combating hair loss. PRP treatments are becoming increasingly popular and are performed on both men and women with thinning hair.
Sufficient Platelets
PRP can have a positive effect on hair growth. However, there are serious caveats regarding its use and effectiveness. For the treatment to be successful, a sufficient number of platelets must be injected. A significant volume—up to 5 ml of PRP for the scalp—is required for effectiveness. Additionally, the concentration of platelets in the plasma is crucial. In short, both the volume and quality of the PRP are important.
Temporary Effect
The number of platelets decreases with age: a 20-year-old typically has 2 to 3 times more platelets than a 50-year-old. Since about 1 ml of PRP can be extracted per 10 ml of blood in a 20-year-old and only about 0.5 ml per 10 ml of blood in a 50-year-old, this means that at least 50-100 ml of blood is needed for an effective treatment. If no more than 0.5 ml (in older patients) or up to 1 ml (in younger patients) of plasma can be extracted per 10 ml of blood, the provider is merely injecting “normal” plasma, and no effect from the treatment can be expected.
Insufficient Efficacy
Many providers work with plasma that is not effective enough, either because they do not extract enough plasma, resulting in an under-dosed PRP, or because they fail to test the PRP before treatment, leading to a concentration of platelets too low to be effective.
Not for Everyone
The PRP also needs to be activated before it becomes effective, releasing growth factors and nutrients from the platelets. Additionally, the treatment is not suitable for everyone. Underlying conditions such as diabetes, clotting disorders, or scalp infections (like shingles) can affect the results. Therefore, eligibility should always be assessed by a specialist.
Drawbacks of PRP
A PRP treatment is far from painless: to inject PRP into the scalp, hundreds of needle pricks are required per session. This is in stark contrast to a hair transplant, which is generally considered painless, with only the administration of local anesthesia being somewhat uncomfortable.
Costly Treatment
Another issue is the price. A high-quality treatment—one performed by a specialist using sufficiently concentrated PRP—is not cheap, costing at least €1,000 per session. A minimum of 5 to 6 treatments per year is needed before effectiveness is noticeable, as large amounts of PRP are required to see results. Compared to a hair transplant, which provides permanent results and lifelong hair growth, PRP is very expensive. In the long run, a hair transplant may be more cost-effective.
Duration of PRP Effect
This leads us to the biggest drawback of PRP: its effect is only temporary. The effectiveness of a treatment diminishes over time, requiring frequent repeat sessions. It is, therefore, a therapy with temporary results. Ideally, treatments should be administered every 4-6 weeks in the early stages, with the frequency gradually reduced to once every 3-6 months.
To maintain results, repeat treatments are necessary.
Since each treatment requires between 50-100 ml of blood, you ‘lose’ between 250-750 ml of blood annually.
Realistic Expectations
If you choose PRP, it is important to have realistic expectations. While the positive effects of PRP are recognized in various scientific studies, there is little consensus on the exact results. PRP can have a positive impact on the thickness of your hair and the overall condition of your hair and scalp. The growth factors in the plasma can strengthen thin and damaged hair and improve blood circulation to the hair follicles. PRP may also have a preventative effect on hereditary hair loss. However, it does not lead to new hair growth: hair follicles that have been lost will not return due to PRP.
New Developments
Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) is the next generation: an advanced form of PRP used to treat hair loss. It has been applied for decades in dentistry and orthopedics. When blood is centrifuged (or spun in a specific way), PRF is formed.
What PRF Does
PRF contains not only platelets (as in PRP) but also white blood cells, fibrin, and stem cells. Platelets in our blood contain proteins (with growth factors) that increase collagen production, regenerate tissue, tighten the skin, rejuvenate skin texture, and improve hair growth. White blood cells aid in tissue regeneration, and fibrin acts as a binding agent to which growth factors attach, allowing for a prolonged release of growth factors. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can transform into specialized cells or replicate into more stem cells, functioning as a repair system to replenish mature tissues.
PRF vs. PRP
PRF contains higher concentrations of growth factors and stem cells, whereas PRP does not contain stem cells. This higher concentration of growth factors and stem cells leads to greater hair growth and improved skin condition. Additionally, the fibrin in PRF serves as a stabilizing agent to keep the growth factors and stem cells in the area where they are injected (where they are most needed), preventing them from dispersing. This allows the growth factors to be more precisely targeted over a certain period.
More Effective?
PRP does not contain fibrin, stem cells, or white blood cells, which contribute to tissue regeneration. Therefore, PRF could potentially have a better effect than PRP. However, the previously mentioned caveats and drawbacks still apply.
A Permanent Solution
Unlike PRP, a hair transplant offers a permanent solution for many forms of hair loss. Of all the hair transplant options, a treatment with the HST method from the Hair Science Clinic provides the most beautiful and natural results.
Get the Best Advice
A medical diagnosis is always the first step in choosing a treatment. During a free consultation with one of our doctors, we will thoroughly discuss your personal situation and desires. Based on this intake, we will provide you with personalized advice and a non-binding price quote.
