Extreme hair loss or a thinning hairline can become the cause for concern for many, especially when it happens at a young age. Beautiful, voluminous, shiny hair is another parameter of beauty. No wonder, there are many treatments available in the market today to cater to this problem. PRP therapy or plasma therapy is one of them.
While hair transplants have been popular since the 1980s, PRP, is the latest procedure or technology that is used for hair enhancement. In this treatment, blood is drawn from a person’s body, processed and then injected back into the scalp. Celebrities such as Madonna, Kim Kardashian and many others have sworn by this treatment to enhance their looks.
What is PRP therapy for hair?
Human blood is mainly plasma which has three components – Red Blood Cell(RBC), White Blood Cell(WBC) and Platelets. Platelets help in the clotting of blood. But its function is not limited till here. They contain protein that is essential in healing of injuries. PRP therapymakes use of this quality of platelets. PRP is that plasma which has more platelets than is normally found in blood.
For PRP therapy,blood is withdrawn from the patient’s body, mostly from the arms. It is then put in a machine called centrifuge, which spins rapidly and separates fluids of different densities. After ten minutes, blood separates into three layers – red blood cells, platelet-poor plasma and platelet-rich plasma. The platelet-rich plasma is then drawn into a syringe and injected into those parts of the scalp that need hair enhancement or hair transplant.
Most of the PRP therapies require atleast three treatments after every 4-6 weeks, depending upon the nature of treatment opted for. Maintenance treatment needs to be done every six months for scalp that require increased hair growth or as recommended by the dermatologist.
Side effects of PRP therapy for hair loss
PRP therapy uses the patient’s own blood for therapy so there is no risk of any communicable disease. But because the therapy involves injections there can be some side effects such as infection, injury to any blood vessel or nerve, scar tissue or calcification at the injection point. It is best to seek advice from the dermatologist you are going to for your treatment and discuss any possibility of side effects pertaining to your specific treatment. It is also a good idea to find out if you have any negative reaction to anesthesia that will be used in the therapy.
Who shouldn’t opt for PRP therapy
While PRP therapy in itself is very safe, it could have adverse reactions for people who suffer from chronic infections, Cancer, Chronic skin or liver disease, Metabolic disorders, Low platelet count, Thyroid problem and Heart disease.
In such a scenario, it is best to consult with your dermatologist as an expert will be able to guide you if you can choose PRP therapy for hair enhancement.
The Costs
The cost of PRP therapy will vary anywhere. It will depend upon what treatment you have opted for – is it just simple hair enhancement or hair transplant for the entire scalp. The cost also depends upon the lab equipment and other nutritive components being used in the PRP therapy.
If you think PRP treatment will work for you, it is best to consult a reputed dermatologist, find out about credible PRP clinics offering the best plasma treatment in town, and which therapy will best suit your needs.
By Dr B L Jangid
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