SERIES: My Hair Loss Treatment Journey PRP Injections
Red light treatment was a great short term solution to my hair loss worries, however, it was not practical for the long term as my life was scheduled around the sessions. The home treatment red light comb too was getting tiring and I wasn’t seeing the results I had hoped for. I was pretty much out of options for a few years until my dermatologist told me about Platelet Rich Plasma treatments.
Platelet Rich Plasma, or PRP, has been used for years to treat skin and musculoskeletal conditions. Platelets promote cell growth and regeneration which leads to the theory that injecting a high concentration of platelets will result in cell stimulation. For hair loss treatment, these injections are made to penetrate deep into the scalp to reach the bottom of the hair follicle.
The treatments consist of a blood draw from the patient, which is then spun in a centrifuge which brings the PRP to the surface of the sample. The platelets are then extracted from the top with a syringe and injected into the patient’s scalp. The number of injections depends on how large the area being treated.
I had around 80-100 injections from the front of my head to the back concentrating on the crown. As I don’t do well with needles and perhaps my pain tolerance is low this was quite the ordeal for me.
The treatment itself can be a sensory overload as you can feel and hear the crunch of the needle going into your scalp and feel the injection, or sometimes blood, oozing out. My sessions were once every month for three months, then once a year making my total of five sessions. Initially results looked promising, however, they only lasted a few months.
While PRP injections helped to slow my hair loss, it may not be right for everyone. It’s important to consult a medical professional about any hair loss concerns you may have and discuss what you should or shouldn’t take. Remember, everyone’s body is different and what may work for some may not work for others.
For more information on PRP injections for hair loss check out the links below:
Platelet -rich plasma: Does the cure for hair loss lie within our blood?
