Does PRP actually work for hair loss?

Question

Hello I am a 27 year old male I have been on propecia for a year and a half and minoxidil for About 6 months I've just recently experienced sides so have been looking into prp. My hair is thinning but has recovered a lot due to propecia/minox. My question is does prp actually work for hair loss I have seen conflicting info on it and the procedure isn't cheap especially with multiple sessions. I am looking simply to maintain my hair until another treatment comes out.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Yes, prp is effective for hair loss.  I do prp with progesterone injections to get the best results with hair growth and quality. I also have all my patients use viviscal, rogaine, and propecia when getting prp. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a hair loss expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Jeff Rapaport, MD · Answer

In my opinion, several  studies have documented the effectiveness of PRP. PRP has shown to decrease hair loss, increase the size of the hair shaft and in some cases regrowth. Protocols very widely. We have found that the combination of PRP with Propecia and minoxidil produces Superior results. Therefore, adding PRP to your regimen should be helpful. Find a PRP expert.PRPHAIRMD.COM

Ariel Ostad, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question!
We do PRP injections at our practice for
hair loss. It is a very specialized technique in which we separate the
platelet rich plasma (PRP), which is rich in growth factors, from your own
blood. We then use this to stimulate hair growth on the scalp.
It is very effective and we have seen great results.  Please keep
in mind the importance of proper technique. It is important to see a board
certified dermatologist with knowledge and expertise in this area.
Although this is a quick, noninvasive procedure, it does require great skill. I recommend having an in person consultation with a board certified dermatologist with experience. Best of luck!

Sudeep Roy, MD · Answer

Thank you for this great question.
As far as PRP and hair restoration, it works best when used in conjunction with a hair transplant. A good way to think about it is as a better fertilizer for the implanted hair follicles, improving survival, growth and density of the transplanted hair. As an isolated intervention, it has definitely shown in numerous high-quality studies to have a positive effect on the number of hairs and thickness of hairs in the treated regions compared to control, with most patients noting an improvement. However, the degree of improvement is limited. The concentration of the platelets in the PRP is something that has been studied extensively as well, and it has been shown that between 1-1.5 million platelets/uL is ideal for the purpose of hair restoration. This is anywhere between 4-7x concentration of platelets in our blood. Concentrations higher than 1.5 million platelets/uL are actually detrimental to the hair growth process. Many practitioners who offer PRP for hair restoration will have concentrations of 2-3x normal, which is certainly better than nothing but may not give maximal efficacy. Typically, you get 3-4 treatments every 4 weeks, then annually, as the effects of the PRP are generally lost by 12 months.
Topical Minoxidil (Rogaine) and oral Finasteride (Propecia) are still the mainstays for non-surgical hair restoration, and if you've already started using them, make sure to keep it up. Given the safety profile of PRP, it may be a good alternative for patients who have had little success with Minoxidil and Finasteride or cannot tolerate the associated side effects. Laser caps have also shown some promising results in slowing down hair loss, but again, typically used as an adjunctive (add-on) intervention.   
Ultimately, if you are able to afford it, are motivated and are getting increasingly concerned with your hair loss, I'd recommend visiting a hair restoration specialist to talk about a hair transplant as it is the only way to actually add new hair to the balding scalp. Hope that helped! Best, Dr. Roy.

Baubac Hayatdavoudi, MD · Answer

PRP is a restorative regenerative treatment that improves the tissue it is injected into. In the hair restoration field, it shows great improvement in healing post procedure and can also be used annually (depending on the method used) to reverse the aging process of follicles.

Jennifer Krejci, MD · Answer

There will probably never be large randomized controlled studies on PRP for hair loss since the technology and devices are already approved for other uses. However, evidence from smaller studies suggests that PRP can help. Utilizing one's own growth factors to increase the growth of your hair does make sense and it is very safe. I have personally treated many patients who are very happy with their PRP treatments but it is not magical fertilizer that can promise regrowth of all of your hair.  Prices vary greatly, and claims are made of "special concoctions" using only anecdotal evidence by some practitioners. More expensive versions are not necessarily more effective since there is little to no data to support this new treatment. I suggest seeking advise from a reputable hair restoration physician to help you decide the best plant for you.

Jay Goldstein, MD · Answer

PRP appears to be more effective for androgenetic alopecia and less so for other hair loss problems, in particular hormonal imbalances and as a side effect of many medications. In your case, it should work fine.

Benjamin C. Paul, MD · Answer

PRP is excellent at reducing inflammation and supporting the hair follicle. Using your own growth factors, you are able to stimulate growth. I have many, many happy success stories. Where PRP fails is in treating purely hormonal hair loss. In your case, you are hormonally modulating with propecia and with minoxidil. It is possible reducing inflammation may help you as the pathway is different then what you are doing. I would NOT do a-cell as an additive as it is made from pig bladder and there are increasing number of cases of rejection...leading to way more hair loss as pig-bladder is a substance the body recognizes as foreign and attacks. I am happy to read that your combination of minoxidil and propecia are working, and you can try PRP to see if it will take you to that next level. Best of luck!

Gail Humble, MD · Answer

Thank you for asking this question. PRP or Platelet Rich Plasma is one more treatment we have in the arsenal of fighting alopecia or hair loss, whatever the cause. There are so many causes for hair loss. Iron deficiency, hormonal status, genetics,Vitamin D deficiency, thyroid disorders and a multitude of other causes can contribute. We have achieved a very successful protocol that can address most of these issues and PRP has proven to be beneficial. There are a multitude of ways to do PRP from injecting it in multiple little injections into the deep dermis or doing fewer injections at a deeper level. Platelets release growth factors when they are activated. One of these growth factors is vascular endothelial growth factor. This factor causes formation of new vessels which then help get oxygenated blood and nutrients to get to the hair bulb. Rhogaine works by dilating blood vessels so there is a commonality of treatments that are all meant to increase blood supply to follicles. We have had good success with it,  and have found it is best be done in series. The results take time to see. You can expect hair loss to stop first, which is then generally followed by new growth. Other issues may need to be addressed as well to provide the patient with maximum effects.

Does PRP actually work for hair loss?

Answers (9)

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