PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma)

PRP is built on a straightforward idea: your blood already contains the signals your body uses to heal itself. Concentrate them, and put them where you want repair to happen.

Platelets are best known for clotting. But they also carry growth factors — proteins that tell surrounding cells to multiply, build new blood vessels, and repair tissue. When you cut yourself, platelets rush in and release these signals to start healing.

PRP takes advantage of that:

1. Blood is drawn from your arm, like a routine blood test.
2. It's spun in a centrifuge, which separates it by weight into red blood cells, plasma, and a concentrated platelet layer.
3. The platelet-rich plasma is extracted — a golden-yellow liquid with several times the normal platelet concentration.
4. It's injected into the scalp or skin.

In the scalp, those growth factors are thought to:

• Stimulate the hair follicle's stem cells
• Increase blood supply to the follicle
• Extend the growth phase of the hair cycle
• Counter the miniaturization that shrinks follicles in pattern hair loss

Be clear-eyed about the evidence. PRP for hair loss has reasonable but not overwhelming support — studies show benefit, but they're often small, and protocols vary enormously between clinics. There's no standardized method: spin speed, platelet concentration, and injection technique all differ. That variability is a real problem, and it's part of why results vary so much between people and providers.

For facial rejuvenation (the "vampire facial"), the evidence is weaker still. It may improve texture and tone modestly. It is not a substitute for lasers, retinoids, or microneedling.

The honest summary: promising, biologically sensible, worth trying for hair loss — particularly alongside minoxidil — but not a miracle, and expensive for what it delivers.

Before

Drink plenty of water — hydration makes the blood draw easier. Eat beforehand. Stop anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen) for about a week if your doctor agrees — they suppress platelet function, which is precisely what you're trying to concentrate. Avoid alcohol and smoking, both of which impair platelet quality.

During

The blood draw. A vial or two from your arm, exactly like a routine blood test.

Processing. The blood is spun in a centrifuge for 10–15 minutes. You'll usually see it — the golden plasma layer separating out is oddly satisfying to watch.

Numbing. A topical anesthetic, and sometimes small injections of local anesthetic. Scalp injections are genuinely uncomfortable without it.

Injection. The PRP is injected into the scalp in a grid pattern across thinning areas, or into the face. This is the uncomfortable part — the scalp is sensitive, and there are many injection points. Most people describe it as tolerable but unpleasant. It takes 15–30 minutes.

Some providers combine it with microneedling to help it penetrate.

After

Day of: Scalp feels sore, tight, and tender. Some swelling and pinpoint bleeding. Mild headache is common.

Days 1–3: Soreness and tenderness fade. You can wash your hair after about 24 hours.

Aftercare:

• Don't wash your hair for 24 hours.
• Avoid anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen, aspirin) for a few days — they blunt the inflammatory healing response PRP is designed to provoke. Use Tylenol instead.
• No strenuous exercise, saunas, or swimming for 48 hours.
• No hair dye or chemical treatments for a few days.
• Skip alcohol and smoking — both impair healing.

Results

Slow. Hair growth cycles take months. Expect the first changes around 3 months, with meaningful results at 6 months.

Standard protocol is 3–4 sessions a month apart, then maintenance every 3–6 months. It's an ongoing commitment — stop, and the benefit gradually fades.

Take photos. Hair change is too gradual to judge from the mirror.

PRP is unusually safe, for one clear reason: it's your own blood. There's no foreign substance, so allergic reactions and rejection are essentially impossible.

Common:

Scalp soreness and tenderness for 1–3 days. The main complaint.

Redness and pinpoint bleeding at injection sites.

Swelling, sometimes spreading to the forehead. Settles in a couple of days.

Headache, common after scalp treatment.

Bruising, at the injection sites and where blood was drawn.

Temporary shedding in the first few weeks. As with minoxidil, this can signal follicles cycling into growth. It's alarming, and it usually passes.

Lightheadedness during the blood draw, if you're prone to it.

Less common:

Infection. Rare, and preventable with sterile technique.

Nerve irritation or persistent tenderness.

Calcification or lumps at injection sites (more relevant for facial PRP).

No allergic reaction. Worth restating — it's your own tissue.

Not suitable if you have:

• A platelet disorder or low platelet count. The treatment depends on healthy platelets — if yours are abnormal, there's nothing to concentrate.
• A blood cancer — leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma
• Active infection or sepsis
• A bleeding disorder
• Anticoagulant therapy (blood thinners) — discuss carefully with your doctor
• Severe anemia
• Active skin infection or cancer in the treatment area
• Chronic liver disease

Discuss carefully if you:

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding (elective, so usually deferred)
• Smoke heavily — it impairs platelet function and healing, and it genuinely reduces your chance of a good result
• Take regular NSAIDs — these suppress the platelets PRP depends on
• Have scarring hair loss (such as frontal fibrosing alopecia or CCCA). PRP works on living follicles. Once a follicle is scarred and destroyed, nothing revives it — so getting the right diagnosis first is essential.

Be realistic about cost and evidence. At $500–$1,500 per session, with 3–4 sessions upfront and ongoing maintenance, this is an expensive commitment. The evidence is reasonable but not conclusive, and results vary. For most people with pattern hair loss, minoxidil and spironolactone (or finasteride) are cheaper, better-evidenced first steps. PRP is a reasonable addition — not a replacement.

Be wary of anyone promising dramatic results. Protocols vary wildly and there's no industry standard. Ask your provider specifically about their protocol and how many sessions they expect.

What is PRP, in plain terms?
Your blood is drawn, spun to concentrate the platelets (which carry healing growth factors), and injected back into your scalp or skin. The idea is to deliver a concentrated dose of your body's own repair signals to where you want repair.

Does it actually work for hair loss?
The honest answer: probably, modestly. Studies show benefit, but they're often small and protocols differ enormously between clinics, so results vary. It's a reasonable option — especially combined with minoxidil — but it's not a miracle, and it's expensive for what it delivers.

If you haven't yet tried minoxidil and (where appropriate) spironolactone or finasteride, start there. Those are cheaper, better-evidenced, and more reliable.

Does it hurt?
The blood draw is nothing. The scalp injections are the uncomfortable part — the scalp is sensitive and there are many injection points. Numbing helps. Most people find it tolerable but not pleasant, and expect soreness for a day or two afterward.

How many sessions?
Usually 3–4 sessions a month apart, then maintenance every 3–6 months. It's ongoing — the benefit fades if you stop.

How long until I see results?
Around 3 months for early change, 6 months for meaningful results. Hair cycles are slow and cannot be rushed. Take photos in consistent lighting.

Is it safe?
Unusually so. It's your own blood, so allergic reaction and rejection are essentially impossible. The main downsides are soreness, swelling, and bruising.

Why is it so expensive?
Each session requires a blood draw, a centrifuge, sterile processing, and a physician's time. It's rarely covered by insurance because it's considered cosmetic and off-label. Over a year, this adds up substantially — worth budgeting honestly before you start.

Will I shed at first?
Some people do, in the first weeks. As with minoxidil, this can mean follicles are cycling into a growth phase. It usually settles.

Can I take ibuprofen afterward?
Better not to, for a few days. NSAIDs suppress the inflammatory healing response that PRP is deliberately trying to trigger — you'd be working against the treatment. Use Tylenol instead. Same goes for the week beforehand.

Does PRP work for the face ("vampire facial")?
The evidence is weaker than for hair. It may modestly improve texture and tone, usually combined with microneedling. It is not a substitute for lasers, retinoids, or proven resurfacing treatments. Manage expectations — and be aware you're paying a premium for something with thin evidence.

Will it work if I'm already bald in that spot?
No. PRP stimulates living follicles. If the follicle is gone, there's nothing to stimulate. This is why it works best in areas that are thinning, not areas that are already bare — and why getting a proper diagnosis first matters. In scarring hair loss, the follicles are destroyed, and PRP won't help.

Can I combine it with microneedling or minoxidil?
Yes to both, and it's common. Microneedling helps PRP penetrate and adds its own stimulation. Minoxidil works by a different mechanism and stacks well. PRP works best as part of a plan, not as a standalone solution.