PRP Hair vs. Hair Transplant

Contents

Understanding hair loss
The PRP hair therapy procedure
The hair transplant process
PRP vs. hair transplants
PRP vs. hair transplants: Find your winner

Let’s be honest; hair isn’t just hair. It’s a way to express yourself, and it’s also part of your identity. Losing your locks can fracture your self-image and confidence.

While you can always rock the bald look, you don’t have to with modern advancements. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy and hair transplants are two leading solutions to your hair thinning woes.

Many don’t know which of these methods is better for them. We’re about to dish out all the details on PRP therapy and hair transplants. Read on and find the option that’s best for you.

Understanding hair loss

Hair loss is a problem that affects most people at some point in their lives. It lowers confidence levels and can create a strong emotional response in some.

While there are temporary solutions, like wigs, there’s still a social stigma against hair loss that seriously hampers self-esteem.

Aging is a typical reason, but other medical conditions also contribute to hair loss. Let’s talk about the common causes.

Hereditary

The medical term for hereditary hair loss is androgenic alopecia. It’s the most common cause of hair loss globally.

It’s also known as male pattern hair loss and female pattern hair loss. This diagnosis means you inherited genes that cause the shrinking of the follicles. As you get older, this stops new hair from growing.

The shrinking can start as early as your teenage years, but it typically only shows up later in life. Women will notice overall thinning or a widening part. Men may see a small bald spot at the crown or a receding hairline.

Alopecia areata

This disease develops when your immune system attacks hair follicles. The follicles hold your hair strands in place, but once they’re weakened, it causes thinning.

Hair loss with alopecia areata is not confined to the scalp. You can lose hair throughout your body, usually in patches. Some people also experience the loss of their eyebrows and lashes.

Aging

Hair follicles stop growing at some point, so most people experience gradual hair loss as they age.

The hair also becomes thinner and loses color as the follicles stop growing, which causes reduced pigment cells. Slowing down or reversing aging could be possible with effective lifestyle choices and treatments.

Childbirth

Childbirth puts a lot of stress on the body, which could trigger hair loss. It may also affect your hormones and your ability to absorb nutrients. The good news is it usually restores back to normal within a year.

Hormonal imbalance

Hormonal imbalances are a common cause of hair loss. It can involve issues with estrogen, testosterone, or thyroid problems. Testosterone therapy or bioidentical hormone therapy may treat the root cause and promote healthy hair.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for hair loss. Your physician will need to find the root of the problem and create a personalized action plan.

The PRP hair therapy procedure

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) hair therapy is a three-step treatment. It may trigger hair growth and boost blood supply in stagnant hair follicles. People typically experience a thicker, more vibrant mane afterward.

PRP differs from other hair treatments because it uses your body’s natural ability to heal and give you healthy hair.

The platelet-rich plasma contains growth hormones that stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. Aside from hair renewal, this concentrated plasma also works wonders for joint problems.

The growth hormones improve circulation, which is crucial for hair growth. Here’s the typical process of a PRP hair therapy session.

1. The practitioner draws a small vial of blood from your arm.
2. They put it into a special machine called a centrifuge. It whizzes to separate your blood into three parts: platelet-poor plasma, red blood cells, and platelet-rich plasma.
3. The practitioner draws the platelet-rich plasma into a syringe and injects it into thinning sections on the scalp.
4. Typically, you need a maintenance treatment every 4–6 months.

Let’s unpack the benefits and limitations of PRP hair therapy.

The hair transplant process

Hair transplants can add more strands to thinning or bald areas. Practitioners take healthy hair from other parts of the body or scalp and transplant it where needed.

Hair transplants are more effective than most over-the-counter hair growth treatments. They have a reputation for being costly, but they’re worth the price with their high success rate.

There are two primary methods of hair transplant: Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). The fundamental difference is that FUT involves removing a scalp strip for grafting and FUE requires individual strand removals.

FUT is also known as the scalp strip method because practitioners remove a 4–8 inch long and less than 1 inch wide strip. The size usually causes a linear scar in the donor area, whereas individual grafts are around 0.8 mm.

FUE is minimally invasive and rarely causes any noticeable scars. Practitioners typically use the micromotor-assisted graft harvesting technique (mFUE). It’s quick, convenient and safe.

So, how exactly do physicians perform hair transplants?

The most common technique in FUT is strip harvesting. They use a scalpel to remove a strip of tissue from the donor site. They separate the strip of hair-bearing tissue into follicular units, which are naturally formed bundles of hair follicles.

The practitioner closes the strip incision with staples so it heals over time. They usually take it from an area that’s covered by existing hair.

FUE pinpoints follicular grafts instead of an entire strip. The practitioner identifies follicular units which consist of 1–4 hair follicles. They remove them individually, and they’re ready for transplants.

Are hair transplants right for you? Let’s unpack the benefits and limitations.

PRP vs. hair transplants

In the match-up between PRP and hair transplants, which option wins? They have unique advantages and downsides, but achieve a similar goal. Let’s unpack the elements they offer so you can make an informed decision.

Mechanics

PRP and hair transplants work in very different ways. PRP hair treatments insert platelet-rich plasma into the thinning areas of the scalp.

Platelet-rich plasma may increase vascular structures around the dormant hair follicles. It also modulates angiogenesis, which stimulates blood flow and promotes the growth of new hair. Boosting blood flow sends more nutrients to the follicles, which create a healthy mane.

These concentrated platelets contain high levels of growth hormones, stimulating the dormant hair follicles. It triggers the weakened follicles to enter the active growth phase.

Compared to hair transplants, PRP is a non-surgical procedure. There’s no downtime, and no scarring involved.

The high concentration of platelets also boosts collagen and elastin, which is why PRP facials are a popular anti-aging treatment. Collagen enhances the strength and smoothness of hair. It can prevent hair loss and keep your locks shiny.

Hair transplants involve a minor surgery with mild anesthesia in the area. The physician picks a donor area and trims the hair, so it’s easier to work with. They transplant the chosen sections to the problem area.

The typical instruments physicians use when performing a hair transplant are a round tube (punch) or scalpel. A single punch graft usually harvests between 2–15 hairs at a time.

Efficiency

Both PRP hair therapy and transplants are efficient methods to treat hair thinning and balding concerns.

Studies show PRP can be beneficial for minor to medium thinning and balding. It may even help restore hair thinning caused by lifestyle factors like smoking. PRP injections have also proven to be an effective way to treat male and pattern hair loss.

PRP hair therapy typically occurs over the course of three sessions. The clinic spaces each treatment of PRP hair therapy 4–6 weeks apart. Once patients achieve results, they usually undergo a maintenance treatment every 6–12 months.

Graft hair transplants have a survival rate of 90–95%. Ensure you follow good hair care practices to prolong their life. Patients with dormant hair follicles may have less successful results.

Interestingly, one study showed that platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP) can stimulate the growth of up to 75% of the transplanted hairs. People who lose a significant amount of transplanted hair may have success with a PRP hair treatment to revive the results.

It’s important to be realistic about the possible outcomes of these treatments. PRP can stimulate new hair growth, reduce shedding and thinning, and revive patches. However, it probably won’t give you a full head of hair if you’re completely bald.

Hair transplants are realistically the sole solution for fully replacing a head of hair that has been lost.

PRP therapy, combined with Rogaine or other hair treatments, may increase its efficacy. It also works wonders for male pattern baldness and hormonal hair loss, which are usually challenging to treat.

Side effects

The side effects of both these methods are rarely extreme. Generally, combating hair loss with PRP therapy is less taxing on your body.

PRP is one of the safest treatments on the market. It doesn’t involve potentially toxic chemicals or surgery of any sort.

People with alopecia or other forms of hair loss are usually on steroids or other medications to prevent further shedding. PRP uses your own platelets to trigger growth hormones and create new hair in affected areas.

The potential side effects of a PRP hair treatment performed by a professional are extremely minimal. You may experience minor swelling, itching, and redness immediately after the treatment.

Hair transplants are generally safe, but there are some risks as it’s a surgical procedure. Here are some potential complications of transplants.

• Infection
• Tissue death in the donor area
• Nerve damage (rarely permanent loss of sensation)
• Rare fatal allergic reaction to anesthesia
• Death of the skin grafts
• Scarring in the donor area

Eligibility

People with male or female pattern baldness and some hair left will benefit from PRP hair loss treatments. It’s only available for patients with healthy blood and platelet counts.

The following factors mean you’re not eligible for PRP hair therapy.

• You have anemia.
• You’re undergoing anticoagulation therapy (and cannot suspend medications two weeks before PRP).
• You have a medical condition that could worsen with injections.
• You’re pregnant.
• You have blood or bleeding disorders.

Hair transplants are typically safe for most people, but as a surgical procedure, there are always risks of complications.

They may be a better option for people with more aggressive forms of hair loss. The only exception is those with active cicatricial alopecia whose condition may worsen after transplants.

The following factors typically make you ineligible for hair transplants.

• You’re diabetic.
• You have cardiovascular disease.
• You have low donor hair density.
• You’re pregnant.
• You have hair loss caused by mental illness.
• You have temporary hair loss (usually triggered by stress, weight loss, or medications).
• You’re allergic to anesthesia.

Affordability

PRP is more affordable than a hair transplant procedure. However, the total cost depends on the number of sessions you may need, including maintenance treatments. Most patients require a maintenance trip at least once a year.

Hair transplants are pricey, but usually only one session is required. They also last for a lifetime. Occasionally, a patient will need a maintenance session for thinning over time.

PRP treatments are more affordable because the platelet-rich plasma comes from your blood. It relies on your body’s healing abilities to stimulate hair growth.

Hair transplants grow substantially pricier depending on the severity of the condition. More balding means more transplants, which rack up.

PRP vs. hair transplants: Find your winner

PRP hair therapy and hair transplants are efficient treatments for hair thinning or balding.

PRP is best for people who have more remaining hair and need to work on fewer patches. Hair transplants are excellent for people with widespread balding or who want dramatic results.

PRP is a safer option, with little to no downtime. It uses your own platelets to stimulate hair growth, so the chances of side effects are rare. Hair transplants involve minor surgery, so the downtime is around 10–14 days.

It’s crucial to consult with a healthcare professional to find the best option for you. They’ll be able to get to the root of your hair loss problems and recommend a suitable treatment.

Why not book an appointment with LIVV Natural? Let us help you grow a full head of luscious locks in no time.

Author: Dr. Jason Phan NMD – Founder of LIVV Natural – Anti-aging – regenerative medicine – peptide therapy