Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy in Hair Restoration – PRP Therapy PRP (PRP) therapy is an exciting new non-surgical therapeutic option for natural hair growth and stimulation. Scientific research and technology has given the medical community new understandings of wound and tissue healing. As a result of this new knowledge we have a better understanding of cellular growth and repair. Mesenchymal stem cells and autologous blood products are examples of how essential and specific growth factors can assist in tissue regeneration and healing. At Bansal Skin & Smile Clinic we offer PRP therapy as an innovative scientifically based natural non-surgical hair restoration therapy.
PRP is not meant to replace current FDA approved therapies such as DHT blockers and Minoxidil, but it is a promising non-surgical therapeutic option for those patients with hair loss.
HOW DO WE PERFORM THE PROCEDURE?
Blood is drawn in our office as though you are having routine blood testing at your primary care physician’s office. The blood is spun in a centrifuge and the PRP is separated and removed from the rest of the blood.
The PRP is taken from your body and is specially prepared by spinning down the blood cells to a high concentration. After centrifugation, the platelets and other vital growth proteins raise to the top of the tube. Under a topical anesthesia, a special micro needling roller device used to stimulate the dermis of the scalp. This micro needling stimulation causes microtrauma to the dermis that induces other healing and growth repair cells into action. The highly concentrated platelet rich plasma (PRP) is injected into the scalp and topically, as the roller creates tiny wound. The PRP contains many growth factors that stimulate the hair follicle’s growth. PRP can be used preoperatively, intraoperatively, or post operatively. Some patient’s chose to have PRP performed every six (6) months as early data suggests regular or semiannual PRP treatments can stimulate hair growth.
THE SCIENCE OF PRP
PRP contains special cells called Platelets, that can cause growth of the hair follicles by theoretically stimulating the stem cells located in the Dermal Papilla as well as other structures of the hair follicle These special Platelet cells promotes healing, accelerates the rate and degree of tissue healing and regeneration, response of the body to injury, and formation of new cellular growth. The primary purpose of using PRP in hair restoration is to stimulate inactive or newly implanted hair follicles into an active growth phase.
Inside the Platelets are many intracellular structures such as glycogen, lysosomes and alpha granules. These granules within the PRP contain clotting and growth factors that are eventually released during the healing and repair process.
PRP specific cells that causes hair growth include:
- Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF)—promotes blood vessel growth, cell replication, skin formation;
- Transforming Growth-Factor-Beta (TGF-b)—promotes growth of matrix between cells, bone metabolism;
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)—promotes blood vessel formation;
- Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)—promotes cell growth and differentiation, blood vessel formation, collagen formation;
- Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 (FGF-2)—promotes growth of specialized cells and blood vessel formation; and,
- Insulin Like Growth Factor – (IGF)—a regulator of normal physiology in nearly every type of cell in the body.
