For many, hair is a manifestation of personal style. And if it's served as part of your identity for the majority of your life (or even if it hasn't), experiencing hair loss can really throw you for a loop, especially if the root of the issue is a serious medical issue. For some, however, a medical treatment called platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections could change the course of your hair's fate.

What Is PRP?  

Much like "vampire facials," PRP is a non-invasive injectable treatment that uses a patient’s own blood. A small blood sample is drawn from the patient (typically from the arm) in a specialized tube and is then placed in a centrifuge for ten minutes. While it’s in there, the tube is rapidly spun to separate the plasma from red blood cells. The separated plasma contains the platelet-rich plasma, which is then injected or microneedled into the scalp.

How Does PRP Work? 

In terms of hair loss, The plasma serves as sustenance for dormant hair follicles. It supports the current hair follicles and then it promotes growth for the follicles that are in the scalp that aren’t able to grow because they don’t have enough nutrition. The way that androgenetic alopecia [ed. note: hair loss] works is with something that’s called ‘miniaturization,’ and that miniaturization for the hair follicles is a lot like purgatory on the scalp. They are not growing and they’re kind of just sitting there.When it comes to actually treating these dormant follicles, here’s a breakdown of the science behind PRP and why the centrifuge is necessary: The plasma that is separated during this process contains growth factors which are a mixture of proteins and cytokines. Both play an important role in stimulating the follicles to generate hair growth.

The growth factors found in PRP are known to produce the following effects:

• Epidermal Growth Factor: Regulates cell growth by stimulating keratin and fiber production.

• Transforming Growth Factor: Promotes the growth of new blood vessels.

• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor: Stimulates the growth of blood vessels from the existing vasculature. 

• Fibroblast Growth Factor: Promotes granulation during tissue repair.

• Platelet-Derived Growth Factor: Promotes collagen growth and proteoglycan synthesis while also attracting macrophages and fibroblasts to the treated area.

• Collagen Stimulating Growth Factor: Stimulates granulocyte and macrophage proliferation for the growth of healthy tissue and blood cells.

• Keratinocyte Growth Factor: Keratinocyte migration, differentiation and proliferations may optimize conditions for healing and generation of new skin.

• Interleukins, Macrophages, Keratinocytes, Endothelial Cells, Lymphocytes, Fibroblasts, Osteoblasts, Basophils, and Mast Cells: Activate fibroblast differentiation and also induces collagen and proteoglycan synthesis for healthy cell production and repair of damaged tissues.

How Does PRP Differ from Traditional Hair Transplants? 

While hair transplants have gained popularity for their instant results, PRP is less expensive up front and is a non-surgical option that requires patience. PRP is a less painful process and that downtime isn’t necessary.Hair stimulated by PRP tends to look better—or more natural—than hair that was transplanted from another part of the body.   

Who Is An Ideal Candidate for PRP? 

Patients who are experiencing hair loss with intact hair follicles are good candidates for PRP. These people may have excessive shedding, but they aren’t completely bald.The sooner a person comes in to address their hair loss, the better their results will be. Both men and women are good candidates; however, the timing factor usually plays a role according to Goldenberg. In his experience, men seek treatment when balding has begun to set in while women seek treatment right away because they tend to consider hair loss an emergency.

Aside from severe baldness, there are few other conditions patients should be aware of before getting PRP done. PRP is safe for the vast majority—however, if you have any blood or platelet disorders; active infections or viral outbreaks such as shingles, or are on a steroid treatment or blood thinners such as Coumadin, you should not have a PRP treatment.

She also advises women who are pregnant to wait until after they give birth to consider PRP.

How Many Sessions of PRP Do You Need to See Results? 

Ultimately, it all depends on the severity of hair loss and treatment combination. Three to four sessions on a monthly basis tend to yield results, though It can take up to six months to see a serious transformation. 

To sustain results, maintenance treatments can be done quarterly.