At the recent International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons (ISHRS annual meeting), the subject of the use and value of using Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) came up. Over the years, there have been many poorly researched reports on the use of PRP. Not only at the meeting did the papers reinforce the lack of value for using PRP, but the uses by those who advocate it make me wonder if this is a money thing for the doctor’s income. In performing PRP, the doctor draws blood from the patient and then spins the blood down to reveal the part of the blood that is known to be rich in platelets. It is not a complicated or a costly process. Platelets are the part of the blood that allows blood to clot when you cut your arm, or your beard when you shave. Not only is it valuable in clotting, but it supplies important elements for the healing process. The theory goes from there that if it helps healing from when you cut your face or arm, it must have strange healing powers, including stem cells that are derived by the platelets. I cannot say the results of any of the newest papers impressed me in any way.So you might ask: Why do the doctors recommend using it? I really have a problem with answering this the way I feel, but I will tell you that most doctors who use it charge about $1,500 for a treatment of taking and returning your own platelets back to you. That is a good motivation for the doctor, but not necessarily for the patient (unless the patient don’t care much about the $1500).I am personally not sure if I would try it on myself or even offer it for no significant expense since I have not been convinced of it’s scientific value. Anecdotal results are mostly what is out there.
