Will PRP help hair thinning on 18 year old male?

Thank you for your question. You’re 18-years-old and say that you’re in good physical health but that your hair has been thinning for about 2 to 3 years. You are not inclined towards using minoxidil or finasteride because of the side effects, and you also recognize that a hair transplant is not a good option for you. You are wondering, however, if platelet-rich plasma will be of benefit for you.To give you a little about my background — I am a Board-certified cosmetic surgeon and a Fellowship-trained oculofacial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, practicing in Manhattan and Long Island for over 20 years. I use platelet-rich plasma in my practice regularly for a variety of indications, including treatment of hair loss. I’m also the founder of TrichoStem™ Hair Regeneration Centers, which offer a non-surgical alternative treatment for male and female pattern hair loss. Treatment of hair loss is certainly something I have a lot of experience in.Based on your description, it seems that the hair thinning you’re experiencing is a genetic pattern that is very aggressive. Based on the early onset of the hair thinning and its progression, it is reasonable to conclude that at some point your hair loss will be similar to your father’s. Unfortunately, I have seen a number of patients who started losing their hair at the age of 18 and were practically bald by the time they reach 22.Now, what is platelet-rich plasma? Platelet-rich plasma is a concentration of growth and wound-healing factors that are derived from your own blood. Use of platelet-rich plasma alone is known to stimulate short-term hair growth, but does not stop hair loss progression. Many patients who come to me after having monthly platelet-rich plasma injections for hair loss elsewhere say that the monthly maintenance is difficult to sustain, and many of them also say that there was no recording of data to confirm the relative benefit of the treatment.In our practice, we address hair loss via a treatment called Hair Regeneration. Hair Regeneration makes use of the combination of platelet-rich plasma and the material called Acellular matrix with a specific algorithm that we developed to help patients with male or female pattern hair loss. With a single injection, we are able to reactivate the growth cycle, stop hair loss progression, and thicken existing thinning hairs.The treatment process is very detailed. After the treatment, we follow up with our patients every three months and we measure very objectively. We analyze their progress by taking digital photos and microscopic photos. In some cases, we may do a second treatment between the 12th to 18th month mark, not as a means of maintaining the results, but to build upon previous results. The development of Hair Regeneration is unparalleled in hair loss treatment since the introduction of finasteride in 1997. The treatment was originally developed to improve the results of hair transplants by improving hair graft survivability, but interestingly, we observed it also had the capability of thickening thinning hairs, as previously mentioned. The material is not easy to work with, which is why not many physicians are using it, and it took a lot of work and development to make this into an effective and consistent procedure. Currently, we have patients who come to us from all over the world to receive this treatment, with some people getting back on the plane home the same day.I think you’re on the right track. I would recommend that you learn more about this combination of platelet-rich plasma and Acellular matrix and see how it can benefit your situation. It is important to remember that the treatment is only effective when the patient still has salvageable hair. Unfortunately, once hair is completely gone, the treatment is no longer effective because there is no hair follicle to treat. Ultimately, if we are able to catch someone who is still in the early stages of hair loss, the better the outcome of the treatment. In our practice, we’ve been treating a number of male and female patients in the 18 to 20-something age range and have seen great success. We’ve been treating female pattern hair loss confirmed by biopsy as early as the 20s. The key is to catch hair loss early, before when it is too late where there is no hair to treat. Learn more about Hair Regeneration and I think you will find to be a superior option over PRP alone.I hope that was helpful and I wish you the best of luck!

We have seen excellent results using PRP without performing hair transplant with at least 3 treatments during the first year.  If you do not want to use any of the other available medical therapies, this is likely your best option.

In my opinion, we have had excellent results in treating young individuals with PRP. In fact the younger the person, it seems the better the results. PRP can decrease hair loss, increase hair thickness, and in younger people hair growth is a often possible.. Remember that PRP must be continued. See my before and after pictures in my Realself profile . Find someone who specializes in hair loss and PRP. Hope this helps. Good luck.