Hair PRP
What Is It?
Hair PRP means injecting platelet-rich plasma, which we separate from your own blood, into the scalp. Besides their role in clotting, platelets carry growth factors involved in tissue repair. PRP is really a way of using a capacity your body already has, in a slightly more concentrated form. Tissue has repair cells, and I compare them to builders. What we do with PRP is like telling these builders, “Right, lads, get to work.” The tissue starts repairing as if it had been injured.
PRP is a supportive treatment; it does not diagnose anything. The cause of hair loss varies from person to person, and a treatment given without knowing the cause leaves the result to chance. The causes we see most often are genetic (androgenetic) hair loss, temporary shedding after childbirth or a serious illness, iron deficiency, thyroid problems, low vitamin D and intense stress.
How Is It Done?
First we establish the type of hair loss. Where needed we request blood tests and examine the scalp. We ask about family history, when the shedding started and in which periods it sped up. With this information we decide whether to plan PRP on its own or together with another form of support.
We draw a small amount of blood from the arm and separate it by centrifuge in special tubes. We deliver the plasma we obtain into the scalp with fine needles, through evenly spaced points. A session takes 30 minutes on average, and you go back to work the same day. We usually build the plan as a series of 6-8 sessions, 2-4 weeks apart, followed by maintenance.
Who Is It For?
It suits patients who notice thinning, an opening at the crown or a widening parting, and whose shedding has sped up. It means more in areas where the follicle is alive, that is, where the hair has thinned but has not disappeared completely.
In completely bald areas where no follicles remain, we do not get the expected response; that picture is a matter for a hair transplant. Pregnancy and breastfeeding, bleeding disorders and blood-thinner use, uncontrolled chronic illness, and active infection or eczema on the scalp all change the plan. We go through these one by one at examination.
Process & Recovery
Assessment and tests
We establish the type of hair loss and examine the scalp. If needed we request tests such as iron, thyroid and vitamin D. We plan the number of sessions on that basis.
Session day
We draw a small amount of blood from the arm and separate it by centrifuge. We deliver the plasma into the scalp through evenly spaced points. The session takes 30 minutes.
First 24 hours
There is tenderness and slight tightness on the scalp. Hair washing, pools, sauna and intense exercise are put off for that day. Wait a few days before colouring or chemical treatments.
Between sessions
We continue the sessions 2-4 weeks apart. During this period we ask you to watch the strands left in the brush and in the shower, so we can follow the shedding.
Month 3 and maintenance
From the third month we assess progress by comparing photographs. This is where we set the maintenance interval to keep the gain.
Results & Duration
In the first months the change we expect is slower shedding. New hair does not show yet at this stage. The hair cycle runs over months, so a newly growing strand takes time to reach visible thickness. That is why we assess from the third month onwards.
Keeping the gain depends on maintenance. In androgenetic hair loss the process carries on, so PRP does not stop it. We aim to slow it down and to support the existing follicles. When you stop the treatment, the shedding goes back to its own course.
What Is Not Promised
Hair PRP does not replace a hair transplant. It does not grow hair where no follicles remain or fill in an area that has gone bald. It does not stop genetic hair loss or change your hair colour or the genetic make-up of the strand.
We make no promise about an increase in density, the number of sessions or how long the effect lasts. If there is a systemic cause behind the loss, such as iron, thyroid or vitamin D, the response stays limited until it is dealt with. The result varies with the type of hair loss and when you start treatment.
Key Benefits
- Vibrant hair roots
- Natural solution
- Tissue repair
“PRP stimulates the repair cells in the tissue. For a good result, though, the tissue needs enough material, and most of the time it is not possible to be that well nourished. That is why I prefer to place PRP between mesotherapy sessions.”
— Dr. Sinan Akyürek
Frequently Asked Questions
How is hair PRP carried out?
We draw a small amount of blood from the arm, separate the platelet-rich plasma by centrifuge and deliver this plasma into the scalp with fine needles. A session takes 30 minutes on average.
Who does it help?
It means more in areas where the follicle is alive, where the hair has thinned but has not disappeared completely. In areas with no follicles left, the expected response does not come.
How many sessions are needed?
We usually plan a series of 6-8 sessions, 2-4 weeks apart, followed by maintenance sessions. The number depends on the type of hair loss.
When will I see the result?
In the first months the change we expect is slower shedding. From the third month we assess progress by comparing photographs.
Is it painful?
Mildly. You feel stinging and tightness on the scalp, and there may be tenderness for a few hours after the session. You go back to your daily life the same day.
Does it replace a hair transplant?
No. PRP supports the existing follicles. It cannot fill an area where no follicles are left. A hair transplant is a separate subject, and we can also plan PRP as support after a transplant.
What happens if I stop?
The shedding goes back to its own course. In genetic hair loss especially, the process carries on, which is why we plan maintenance.
Why are blood tests requested?
Iron deficiency, thyroid problems and low vitamin D are common causes of shedding. If they are not dealt with, the response to treatment stays limited.