For as long as people have been losing hair, they have been trying to keep that hair. From scientifically proven methods to too-good-to-be-true therapies hawked on late-night infomercials, the hair loss industry is in full swing.
One new method that has proven promising is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. Offered at our practice, PRP in Philadelphia Center for Regenerative Medicine, PRP is being used to regrow hair with greater thickness, fullness, and strength.
You might be wondering, though — is PRP effective enough to overcome the history of baldness that runs in my family? Is therapy stronger than genetics?
You’ll be happy to hear that the answer is a resounding yes.
For both men and women, the most common cause of baldness is genetics. Male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness occur gradually with aging. In men, their hairline recedes and bald spots begin to appear. In women, their hair begins to thin.
Hormonal changes and medical conditions can also cause hair loss, as can certain medications, supplements, and radiation therapy. Certain hairstyles can also cause baldness (if the hair is pulled too tight), and extreme stress or shock can cause temporary hair loss as well.
PRP therapy takes advantage of your body’s natural ability to heal itself by stimulating new growth. Your blood contains cells known as platelets that are designed to help your blood clot; they also promote healing at the site of a wound by using growth factors that help regenerate cells in the body.
The idea of PRP therapy is to increase the amount of platelets in a particular site on the body in order to speed up the healing and growth process. Hair follicles grow because of the nutrition they get from your blood supply; if that supply of growth factors is increased where your damaged hair follicles are, your follicles’ growth should be stimulated beyond normal.
To obtain the PRP, we draw your blood and then spin it in a centrifuge to separate the platelets. This concentrated solution of platelets can then be injected into your scalp in order to reinvigorate the growth of your hair follicles.
PRP actually works best at helping hair grow back stronger and thicker when you’re treating baldness due to your family history. If you’re already completely bald or most of your hair has fallen out because of medication, a hormone imbalance, or a sudden event, PRP is not as effective.
With common male and female balding and thinning, though, PRP works well to improve your hair growth. Because pattern hair loss is a chronic condition, one PRP treatment does not drastically change anything. You should undergo a regimen of several treatment sessions over a series of weeks or months to encourage hair growth.
You should begin to see results in about three months, including less hair falling out, more new hair growth, and stronger, thicker hair on your head.
If you’re ready to put a stop to the pattern of baldness that runs in your family, contact us at PRP in Philadelphia today to set up an initial consultation. Dr. Stuart Kauffman and our team are ready and waiting to give you the hair you have always dreamed of!
