Hair loss is highly common as it affects about 85% of men and 33% of women, and from an early age, individuals can start to experience this nightmare. Of course, you need your hair to keep that young and charming spark alive, Thank God for modern transplantation methods such as FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) or FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) that allow us to have thick and natural-looking hair, unlike traditional, artificial wigs.
However, to maximize the results the Post-hair transplant care involves some complementary procedures, one of the very popular treatments is getting a PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) done.
This is why during your Hair transplant recovery phase, you need to take the utmost care of your hair, prevent any damage to the newly settled grafts and most importantly keep up with the post-transplant therapies to significantly influence the success of the transplant and hair growth.
This blog explores why is it necessary to get your PRP sessions after hair transplant and what are the beneficial outcomes of doing so.
What is PRP Therapy?
PRP Definition
A platelet-rich plasma therapy or PRP therapy for hair growth is a very convenient, safe and effective method that involves extracting platelets from the patient’s own blood, concentrating them, and then re-injecting them into the scalp.
So how does PRP promote hair Growth? The platelets injected into your scalp are the real heroes. Platelets contain growth factors and these growth factors stimulate hair follicles, enhance scalp healing, and increase the chances of graft survival post-transplant. Platelets also support the well-nourished growth of your new transplanted hair.
Scientific Backing for PRP in Hair Restoration
A study suggests and supports PRP’s role in accelerating hair growth and improving the outcomes of hair transplants in males and females and approves it as 100% safe.
Why PRP Therapy is Important After a Hair Transplant
After the initial weeks of your hair transplantation, you can start the journey of PRP therapy for hair growth as PRP therapy Promotes restoration through faster wound healing and tissue regeneration, ensuring optimal recovery after hair transplants.
Enhances Graft Survival
PRP can improve the survival rate of transplanted hair follicles by promoting better blood circulation and oxygen supply by elevating the number of blood vessels near your grafts. Also, by the generation of the collagen matrix, PRP therapy for hair growth promises you the protection of new grafts.
Prevents Post-Transplant Hair Thinning
PRP also activates the derma papilla cells lying beneath your hair follicles that contribute to hair growth. And works to combat shock loss, a common side effect after hair transplant procedures, in which you experience some shedding of your hair.
How Many PRP Sessions Are Needed After a Hair Transplant?
Getting PRP sessions after hair transplant is highly beneficial, but how frequently should you get them done? Let’s explore!
General Guidelines for PRP Sessions
The typical PRP therapy schedule after hair transplant surgery should be about 3-6 PRP hair transplantsessions
A typical schedule may involve Initial sessions immediately after transplant (usually 1-2 weeks post-surgery and after a gap of 4 weeks you should get another session done.
After consecutive 3-6 sessions, performed a month apart you are recommended to take follow-up sessions after 3 months, and 6 months.
Factors Affecting the Number of Sessions
- Hair Type and Quality: People with thicker hair may require fewer sessions compared to finer hair types.
- Transplant Quality: The wellness of the transplant procedure can influence the need for additional PRP.
- Individual Healing Response: Different individuals may respond differently to PRP therapy for hair growth, some may instantly start showing results within the initial sessions while some require more sessions for optimal results.
Customized Treatment Plans
During your Post-hair transplant care phase, it is essential to consult with your hair transplant surgeon for a personalized PRP treatment plan based on your recovery progress and goals, to ensure you get your desired hair results.
What Happens During PRP Sessions?
Procedure Breakdown
Let’s give you a detailed description of a typical PRP session after hair transplant:
At first, blood is drawn from the vein present on your arm, just the same way as any routine laboratory test gets your blood.
The blood is then processed in a centrifuge, a machine used to separate your blood components, such as platelet-rich plasma, platelet-poor plasma and red blood cells.
The platelet-rich plasma is extracted and injected into the affected areas of your scalp.
This process is quick and takes around 60-90 minutes.
What to Expect
The PRP for hair restoration is a minimally invasive procedure and local anaesthesia ensures that you do not feel any pain. However, you may feel slight discomfort when the PRP gets injected into your scalp. Moreover, since your own blood is injected, there are no risks of an immune response involved.
Benefits of PRP Therapy Post-Hair Transplant
PRP hair transplant is one of the best techniques you need to consistently go with to notice the major transformation you have been waiting for. Here are a few benefits of getting PRP sessions after hair transplant.
Accelerates Hair Growth
After the hair restoration, PRP therapy speeds up the process of hair regrowth by extending the anagen phase of your growth cycle which is strictly responsible for multiplying hair growth cells.
It also affects the transplanted follicles, by producing growth factors that attach to your follicles.
Improved Hair Density and Thickness
Research shows PRP can increase hair density and thickness, improving the overall look and feel of transplanted hair. The growth factors along with stem cells revitalize hair cells and enhance the scalp conditions, resulting in a more natural look.
Reduces Hair Fall
PRP minimizes future hair thinning or shedding after the transplant, reducing the long-term risk of hair loss by improving the blood circulation levels to your hair follicles.
Potential Side Effects and Considerations of PRP Therapy
Minimal Risks and Side Effects
The PRP therapy for hair growth is generally safe as your body is not exposed to a foreign substance, instead the platelet-rich plasma comes from your own cells. However, mild side effects can include scalp tenderness, swelling, or itching at the injection sites but these are short-term and go away with time.
Some very rare complications such as infection (as with any procedure involving injections) are possible but not common.
However, the usage of properly sterilized materials reduces the chance of this complexity to zero.
Who Should Avoid PRP?
In some circumstances, PRP therapy for hair growth may not be a suitable option for you. These include:
- If you have blood disorders such as anaemia, or thrombocytopenia you shouldn’t be getting PRP done as the efficacy of this treatment heavily relies on your platelets and with a low platelet count you won’t get the intended outcomes.
- If you are having any sort of Scalp infection, then be patient until you get rid of it completely as this could act as a hurdle in the healing process or worsen you scalp health.
- If you are someone with active cancer, then it is better to avoid PRP for hair restoration as the platelet’s major role during this procedure is to provide you with growth factors. These growth factors can affect your cancerous cells and accelerate their growth.
- If you are a patient with heart disease and taking blood-thinning medications like aspirin and heparin, then avoid going for PRP therapy for hair growth as these medications reduce the function of platelets, resulting in minimal or no results at all.
PRP Alternatives and Complementary Treatments
Comparing PRP with Other Post-Transplant Therapies:
Laser treatments: An alternative for PRP hair transplant can be laser treatment. This procedure is non-invasive as compared to the PRP therapy and still requires a minimal amount of injection in your skin. During this procedure, a red light targets your hair follicles to boost their growth and contribute to healing.
This treatment doesn’t come with any side effects and is cost-effective as well, however, the results may take longer times to appear as compared to the PRP sessions after hair transplant.
Mesotherapy: As you age, several types of nutrient deficiencies occur a lot of which you don’t even know that your body is deprived of essential nutrients. However, their symptoms in the form of hair loss and other conditions can be seen frequently.
This treatment is usually performed by inserting a nutrient-rich injection that comprises vitamins, minerals and amino acids into your mesoderm, the middle layer of the skin. By doing so, these nutrients stimulate your hair growth, and alleviate the hair loss that has been troubling you for so long.
This procedure is more affordable than PRP, but you need to take multiple sessions for the best results.
Stem cell treatments: Stem cells hold the capability to transform into several types of cells present in your body. They are very useful in conditions where you need to regenerate and renew healthy cells of your body. In a stem cell treatment, stem cells from your fatty tissues are extracted and used to generate new follicles and regain hair health in the affected areas.
This is a new and costly technique in contrast to PRP for hair restoration which is pocket-friendly and has proven results.
Combination Therapy
The potential for combining PRP with other treatments like minoxidil or finasteride enhances the results as minoxidil promotes hair thickness by activating follicles, increasing blood flow and reducing the hair fall phase known as the telogen phase.
Another drug, finasteride, inhibits the transformation of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, which impairs the health of your follicles.
Effectiveness of PRP Therapy
Clinical Evidence and Studies demonstrate the efficacy efficacy of PRP for improving hair transplant results and accelerating recovery.
A study conducted on patients suffering from androgenic alopecia, which is the most common cause of baldness in males, suggests that PRP has positive outcomes on bald spots. After 2 weeks, massive hair growth was seen due to the PRP therapy for hair growth.
7 studies concluded that PRP sessions after hair transplant increased the hair per centimetre square along with hair thickening as well.
Another study followed patients who received PRP for hair restoration and suggested that no side effects were seen. Moreover, there was an increase in number of the keratinocytes, follicular cells and blood vessels around the treated area as well.
What to Expect After the First PRP Session?
Immediate Results and Long-Term Benefits
While results may not be immediately noticeable, patients should expect gradual improvements in hair texture, thickness, and overall health after completing a few sessions as PRP works slowly by extending the growth phase of your hair and fostering the growth of your new hair follicles.
Initially, you might experience hair fall, and swollen or a tender scalp but after 3 months you will start to feel the huge transformation of your PRP hair transplant.
Maintenance and Aftercare
Let’s take a look at a few tips on how to maintain hair growth after PRP sessions:
- After the treatment, avoid treating your hair with heat as heat can interrupt the treatment’s effectiveness.
- Wash your scalp as recommended by the doctor, treat it gently and avoid rough handling.
- Protect your head from direct sunlight.
- Focus on your diet, take meals filled with essential vitamins, such as Vit B, Vit c, Vit D, iron, omega fatty acids and zinc as they play a crucial role in hair maintenance and thickness.
- Gently Massage your hair every day to enhance the flow of blood on your scalp.
- Don’t miss out on the follow-up sessions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, PRP sessions after hair transplant are crucial to ensure that the transplant works more efficiently and assists you in a quick recovery after the hair restoration procedure. Getting your PRP therapy for hair growth frequently is a major part of the post-hair transplant care process and requires extra dedication and patience to get your head full of your ideal hair.
If you are looking to get a FUE hair transplant done at a place full of professionals who promise you guaranteed outcomes and clear all your queries until you are fully satisfied with getting PRP therapy for hair growth, In that case, Harley St Health Care Hair Transplant Clinics is your premium choice.
