Suffering from hair loss can affect your self-esteem and make you less confident in social situations, especially when your appearance might have a bearing on how others perceive you. Hereditary hair loss can be especially difficult to treat but one process, known as platelet-rich plasma therapy, may help. Before you consider this course of treatment, there are a few questions you may want to ask your doctor to decide whether it is right for you.
1. How Does PRP Work?
After the initial consultation, your doctor will take a small blood sample, which he or she then runs through a centrifuge to separate essential growth platelets from the rest of the blood’s components. Once the platelets are isolated, the doctor injects them into the scalp, where the proteins in the platelets may encourage new hair growth. The injection can take up to 25 minutes or more, depending on the severity of the hair loss.
2. Is PRP Painful?
PRP has few side effects and is generally painless. You may experience some mild swelling and discomfort at the injection site for a day or so, but the risks are low otherwise. Your doctor can help you decide if you are a good candidate for the treatment. There is little downtime required afterward, and you can shower and wash your hair almost directly after if needed, and a cool bath may help relieve any inflammation.
3. How Many Treatments Are Necessary?
While you might notice new hair growth about two months after the initial injection, you may need further treatment every three to six months to maintain continuous growth. Because every patient has different needs, your doctor can advise you about how many more injections you will require. Depending on your hair growth and the success of the treatment, you may need as little as one injection per year.
4. What Might Disqualify Me for Treatment?
While PRP can help a wide range of individuals with hair loss, it is not for everyone. For example, if you take certain medications, this could affect the PRP injection and cause it to fail. You may want to discuss your medications with a doctor before you move forward with PRP therapy. If you smoke, consider quitting before you seek PRP therapy, as it may cause adverse effects or slow the effectiveness of the treatment.Hair loss can be a troubling issue that might affect several areas of your life, but there is help available. Contact a hair transplant doctor, like Dr. Robin Unger, today for more information and to schedule your initial consultation.
