What is PRP therapy?
PRP therapy is used to treat joint injuries, muscle injuries, tendinitis, arthritis-related pain and torn tendons. The therapy is also used for various cosmetic procedures such as PRP injections for hair loss problems that are common in both men and women.
Some dermatologists also use PRP technique for the face, which is called the vampire facial. Therefore, the therapy has many uses, and its popularity is also rising due to its numerous uses and advantages.
Is PRP therapy effective for hair loss?
As per studies, PRP therapy’s average success rate for hair loss problems is that people generate around 30% to 40% of hair re-growth post-treatment.
We will look into more studies and examples from the world to check whether PRP is effective in treating the problem of hair loss or not.
As per a report conducted by a group of researchers, 262 patients of androgenic alopecia were taken, and 11 research papers were conducted.
Among these, most of the reports suggested that PRP therapy improved hair loss and enhanced the density and volume of hair and a significant change in hair growth.
Another research was conducted which observed the outcomes of 19 research papers in total. In this study, researchers observed 460 candidates who took the PRP therapy to cure hair loss.
The results were affirmative as most of these candidates claimed that after taking the PRP therapy, they had experienced hair re-growth after being suffered from the problems of androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata.
Therefore, based on many such reports, it was clear that PRP therapy showed positive results to people suffering from hair loss. However, the PRP treatment’s extent of effectiveness was not appropriately analyzed as it may vary from person to person.
Also, PRP injections for hair loss problems may take multiple weeks to start showing results and extend to 6 months to get the desired results.
What is the process of PRP therapy for hair loss problems?
There are specific steps that are fulfilled before receiving PRP therapy for hair loss. The steps are mentioned as follows:
- The initial step is to stop taking specific medications such as ibuprofen and aspirin that may sometimes cause blood thinning.
- You may also be required to take a break from any current supplements like omega- 3 fatty acids or any vitamins. Your doctor will guide you with what you must do and avoid before the therapy to get the PRP injections.
- Although PRP therapy does not include many side effects and harmful symptoms, it involves drawing your blood. So, it’s better to eat something before the therapy to prevent light-headedness.
- You must also check whether your health insurance covers PRP therapy or not. If your treatment is for cosmetic reasons, chances are any health insurance won’t cover it.
For PRP therapy, your doctor will insert an injection in your vein to drain the blood from your body. Then the blood sample will be kept in a centrifuge which will later spin to part away the PRP from the remains of your blood.
After that, platelets will be extracted by a syringe, and your body will get numb for the treatment to take place. The whole process generally takes one hour where injections are inserted to introduce the plasma into your body.
One may need several sessions to get the desired outcome from the therapy and will ultimately result in higher costs.
How long does PRP therapy last?, and are there any side effects associated with it?
PRP treatment results are provisional and do not last long. Usually, individuals take several sessions to get the desired growth of their hair. After the treatment, you can resume your day-to-day activities after at least 12 hours of the treatment.
The effects also start to appear in a few days and can last up to 1 to 3 years. To have a longer-lasting impact, doctors suggest taking PRP sessions every 3 to 6months to maintain the growth.
As far as its side effects are concerned, PRP therapy is not a complicated procedure and does not involve any symptoms or signs. However, one may experience mild pain, redness, headache, itching and temporary bleeding after receiving the injections.
If you start to have any severe side effects, you must consult your doctor to prevent serious issues.
