Losing your hair is never a welcoming change. People experience hair loss for a variety of reasons such as hormonal changes, family history, medications, medical conditions and other factors. In reality, we all shed about 50 to 100 hairs a day, but most of us don’t notice because we’re always growing new hair. But as we age and the cycle of growth is disrupted, the hair that is lost doesn’t grow back as much or at all.
If hair loss has you down, you may want to consider the many benefits of platelet rich plasma therapy, or PRP therapy. Berlet Plastic Surgery provides this service to men and women who are experiencing hair loss, and we have found it to be highly successful.
What is PRP Therapy?
PRP therapy is used to treat a wide variety of conditions and is used in the fields of sports medicine, neurosurgery and cosmetic surgery. Research so far has shown the procedure to be safe and effective.
During the procedure, blood is drawn from you (just like a typical blood test) and then spun in a centrifuge, separating the PRP from the rest of the blood. The blood that is rich in platelets is then injected at the site, which in this case would be your scalp.
How Does PRP Help with Hair Restoration?
What makes PRP effective for hair restoration is that it stimulates the hair follicle’s growth. In fact, researchers have narrowed down the specific cells that are responsible for hair growth, including:
- Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)
- Transforming growth-factor-beta (TGF-B)
- Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
- Epidermal growth factor (EGF)
- Fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2)
- Insulin like growth factor (IFG)
The increase in these cells causes the hair follicles to be stimulated so that they grow new hair. It’s an amazing process, really! Of course, individual results vary, as with any hair restoration procedure. When you have your consultation with Dr. Berlet, he can give you a better idea of what you can expect.
What are the Benefits to PRP for Hair Loss?
The benefits of PRP therapy for hair restoration are:
- PRP has been used successfully for many years.
- Safe, natural procedure that relies on your own cells.
- No risk of getting a blood infection because the blood is your own.
- Can be used in conjunction with other medical therapies.
- Nonsurgical; great for clients who are not candidates for surgery.
- More aggressive than traditional nonsurgical therapies.
To learn more about whether PRP therapy is right for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Berlet today.