Do you have to fast before your blood draw for PRP injections?

Question

I am considering PRP injections to address my hair loss. Some people I know have had the procedure done and like the results. Both people I know received treatments at different locations and were told different things prior to their treatment. One person was told to fast and the other was told it was okay to eat the day of the treatment. In either situation, would this affect my PRP?

Nima Shemirani, MD · Answer

Hi @crf7! You are not required to fast prior to a PRP procedure. I do recommend avoiding NSAIDs or any blood thinning medications to optimize your PRP with the platelet counts and the growth factors. I hope this was helpful!

Anthony Farole, DMD · Answer

There is absolutely no reason you need to fast before PRP withdrawal. Your platlet rich plasma is not affected by ingestion of food in any way. It is very odd someone was told to fast before blood was drawn. Perhaps there was a secondary reason for fasting such as general anesthesia or intravenous sedation before procedures.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

PRP needs no fasting.  ensure PRP is injected with acell and you start theradome now.

You need a formal evaluation to see what type of hair loss you may have. when you have hairless its best to do a full hormonal workup for internal optimization plus scalp biopsies or scrapings to rule out any stress related, inflammatory, autoimmune or infectious causes of hair loss. In general most people with early hair loss have telogen (stress related) and/or androgenetic (normal aging) and both can be treated with in office treatments like steroid injections, PRP/acell, Exosomes and at home treatments like oral medications, oral vitamins like Viviscal, topical exfoliating sprays like Restorsea, and weekly growth factors like anteagemd.  See an expert for an evaluation. If hair loss is significant it may requires hair transplant (follicular unit translation).

Anshul Gambhir, MD · Answer

Hi, thank you for your question! Whether you fast or not it will not affect the outcome of the procedure. I would recommend eating before so that you do not become light headed during the blood draw. I would also recommend drinking 64oz of water the day before and the day of the procedure.

Yung Chen, MD · Answer

Blood test that require fasting is testing the clear plasma serum part of the blood. PRP is concentrating the platelets in your blood so eating should not affect the quality of the platelets.

Do you have to fast before your blood draw for PRP injections?

Answers (9)

Answer: Blood draw for PRP injections

Answer: Blood draw for PRP injections

Answer: No fast needed

Answer: No fast needed

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about PRP Injections

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Do you have to fast before your blood draw for PRP injections?

Answers (9)

Answer: Blood draw for PRP injections

Answer: Blood draw for PRP injections

Answer: No fast needed

Answer: No fast needed

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about PRP Injections

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.