Many men and women who experience hair loss have PRP treatment for hair loss as a viable option. Still, it is even more beneficial for individuals who experience androgenic alopecia, also known as "male-pattern baldness". A receding hairline that produces an "M" shape in men and a broadening of the part in women are common indicators of androgenic alopecia. Various environmental and genetic factors can bring on androgenic alopecia, but it appears closely related to the androgen hormone. Men and women will have increased hair loss, hair thinning, naturally shorter hair, and even a delay in hair growth when excessive testosterone is in the hair follicle. PRP with microneedling can treat various hair loss conditions. Still, how PRP and microneedling interact with one another appears to be more helpful for people with androgenic alopecia. The microneedling boosts the PRP's efficacy while encouraging growth factors that will create new hair.
What is Androgenetic Alopecia?
The most prevalent kind of alopecia, known as androgenetic alopecia (AGA), affects up to 80% of men and 50% of women during their lifetimes. The hair's diameter, length, and colour gradually decrease due to this age-related, chronic, nonscarring condition. With different loss patterns, the central scalp is where this condition is most prominent. Pathophysiological characteristics include a change in the hair cycle caused by a shortening of the anagen (growth) phase, inflammation, and follicular shrinkage. Hormones and genetics both play a role in AGA. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a testosterone derivative that stimulates androgen receptors, is the main hormone. Dehydroepiandrosterone and other lesser androgens are the precursors of DHT in women, whereas 5-reductase converts testosterone into DHT in men. Due to the higher density of androgen receptors in the scalp vertex and frontotemporal regions, the hair follicles respond more strongly to DHT and lose more hair in AGA.
What is PRP?
By using a centrifuge, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy involves extracting a patient's blood and separating the Plasma from the blood. The patient's balding spots are subsequently restored with the Plasma. Microneedling will then be carried out. By inflicting microscopic wounds on the scalp, micro-needling encourages the synthesis of new collagen, stimulating new hair growth.
How does PRP Help with Androgenetic Alopecia?
Since PRP for androgenetic alopecia employs the patient's blood, few risks are involved. One of its advantages is that almost no recovery is required because it is a minimally invasive, nonsurgical hair replacement procedure. However, patients could have slight discomfort and swelling for around 48 hours following their treatment.
Platelet-rich Plasma & PRP injection
Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) therapy involves injections of a patient's concentrated platelets to quicken the repair of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles, and joints. PRP injections work to treat musculoskeletal issues by enhancing each patient's natural healing process.
One to several tubes of your blood is used to prepare PRP injections, which concentrate the platelets by centrifuging the blood. The damaged or ill body tissue is subsequently given an injection of these activated platelets. It causes the release of growth factors, which promote and boost your body's production of reparative cells.
Using a PRP injection for shoulder pain brought on by rotator cuff tears, achilles tendon ruptures, and other soft-tissue injuries is becoming more popular because platelet-rich Plasma has been discovered to speed up the healing process considerably. PRP has also been shown to help persons with tendonitis or chronic tendinosis diseases like tennis elbow or golfer's elbow function better and feels less discomfort.
One of the main advantages of PRP injections is that they can lessen the need for heavier drugs like opioids or anti-inflammatories. PRP injections also have few side effects because your body won't reject or react badly to them. After all, they are made from your blood. Search the HSS directory to discover the best doctor who offers PRP injections for your specific condition and insurance. Read the articles and other content below to learn more about PRP injections.
Also Read : Best Treatment for Hair Loss and Alopecia Areata - Hair Transplant or Medicines?
PRP Preparation
The preparation and application of PRP still do not have a standardised procedure. PRP is created by centrifuging cells to separate and injecting them into androgen-dependent scalp regions. The literature reports several ways to make PRP, including commercial kits and manual techniques utilising a lab centrifuge. Some devices have a component that lowers the leukocyte count and raises platelet purity. Closed or semi-closed systems, which vary in their capacity to concentrate platelets, are used in most preparations. As a result, platelets and leukocyte concentrations in the suspensions vary.
PRP Extraction Steps
- Venipuncture should be used to get whole blood, and the professional should fill vacutainer tubes with an anticoagulant like citrate dextrose A.
- The professional should centrifuge at a "gentle" speed. Platelets and white blood cells should form a buffy coat in the middle of the sample, which should split into a red bottom layer and a yellow top layer (Plasma) (RBCs).
- The professional should remove the top layer and superficial buffy coat to an empty, sterile tube to produce pure PRP. The entire buffy coat layer and a portion of the RBCs should be transplanted to produce L-PRP.
- To get a "soft pellet" at the bottom, spin once more with the proper force.
- Drain the top two-thirds of the liquid from the tube.
- In the final third of the fluid, homogenise the particle. This PRP is prepared for use.
- In some instances, the platelet-enriched product is given an activator.
How can Advanced Hair Studio help you?
Advanced Hair Studio is a hair regrowth clinic that can help you with figuring out if PRP therapy is the correct option for you or not. Our Advanced Hair Check allows you to have your scalp analysed by professional hair experts to figure out your hair fall situation. Our professional hair expert will suggest a hair loss treatment option most suitable to your situation and stage of hair loss. You either book an appointment with us or visit your nearest AHS hair fall clinic for more information and meet your AHS hair expert for consultation.
Conclusion
PRP hair treatment is a promising alternative for patients with hair thinning because of its outstanding safety profile and reasonably affordable cost. PRP injection for androgenic alopecia treatment is a straightforward, affordable, and practical hair fall treatment alternative and can be viewed as an important adjuvant therapeutic modality. Although PRP has a strong theoretical scientific foundation to support its application in hair restoration, this field is still in its early stages. Clinical support is still insufficient.
FAQ
- Is Plasma the same as PRP? Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) therapy involves injections of a patient's concentrated platelets to fasten the repair of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles, and joints. PRP injections work to treat musculoskeletal issues by enhancing each patient's natural healing process.
- What is the success rate for platelet-rich plasma injections? According to a study, the efficiency of platelet-rich plasma therapy for the treatment varies depending on the severity and is about 60% effective.
- How long does platelet-rich Plasma last? According to clinical trials, PRP injections can be helpful for up to nine months.
- Can PRP reverse androgenic alopecia? It has been shown through several successful research that PRP is an effective therapeutic option for androgenetic alopecia males because these were the most recent research utilising PRP for hair growth or androgenetic alopecia treatment, where they chose these papers.
- Can PRP regrow hair in the bald area? A revolutionary method called platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection may stop hair loss and promote new hair growth by using your blood platelets, a type of cell that aids healing throughout the body.
- Is one session of PRP enough for hair? Typically, PRP therapy calls for three sessions spaced 4-6 weeks apart. Every 4-6 months, maintenance procedures are needed.