FACE
Hair Restoration
Hair plays an integral role in the perception of oneself and is often associated with youthful vitality and confidence. Hair loss affects millions of men and women and can be a devastating experience that decreases self-confidence and feelings of personal attractiveness. While there are many methods for hair restoration, some are quite invasive and involve surgery. Others involve the use of medications that have a significant number of unwanted side effects. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is an exciting non-surgical therapeutic option for patients with hair loss conditions.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy uses the platelets from your own blood to stimulate hair growth and renewal. This revolutionary, non-surgical treatment has been used for years to heal sports injuries and to stimulate volume replacement in the face. However, PRP can also combat hair loss when injected into the scalp. Growth factors found in PRP can stimulate growth of the hair follicles by activating the stem cells in the microenvironment of the hair follicle.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are many reasons why an individual may begin losing hair over their lifetime. These often include hereditary factors, changes in hormone levels, medications such as steroids and chemotherapy, thyroid disorders, and infections, as well as a variety of other causes.
Hereditary hair loss is the most common cause of hair loss. It is also known as male-pattern baldness, female-pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia. You can inherit the baldness trait from either your mother’s or father’s side of the family and hair loss may start as early as your late teens. Men may see a receding hairline and bald patches, especially on top of their head, while women tend to notice more diffuse thinning of the hair or a wider part when they style their hair.
Visible hair loss occurs when the health of the hair follicle deteriorates due to lack of nutrient absorption and a variety of other factors. The hair follicle begins to shrink, producing hair that is much thinner. As this is happening, many hair follicles also begin to experience shorter growth stages, causing less hair to be grown at any given moment
When your hair grows normally, the following happens:
• About 90% of your hair is growing at any one time. This growth phase lasts between 2 and 6 years.
• About 10% of your hair is in a resting phase. This phase lasts 2-3 months. At the end of this phase, the hair falls out. When you shed a hair, a new hair from the same hair follicle (structure that contains the hair root) replaces it and this starts the growing cycle again.
• It is normal to lose 50-100 hairs a day, and this is no cause for alarm.
• The hair on your head grows approximately one-half inch per month. As you age, the rate of hair growth slows.
Several different types of treatments have been developed including the following:
- Medication: The current standard of treatment for hereditary hair loss includes a combination of medications. Specifically, these medications include oral finasteride and topical minoxidil. Additional medications including dutasteride, ketoconazole, prostaglandin analogues, and hormonal therapy have also been used. Unfortunately, these therapies are not effective for everyone. Furthermore, medication is required for an indefinite period of time and effectiveness is limited by patient adherence and side effects such as excessive abnormal hair growth (hypertrichosis), possible birth defects, decreased libido, and prolonged impotence.
- Phototherapy: The FDA has approved laser brushes, combs and other hand-held devices that emit laser light for the treatment of hair loss. Because the FDA classifies these products as medical devices, the products do not undergo the rigorous testing that medicines undergo. The long-term effectiveness and safety for these devices are not known.
- Surgery: A hair restoration surgery can increase the amount of hair in bald or thinning areas and, in some cases, restore your natural hairline. Surgical options for hair restoration include hair transplants, scalp reduction surgery, and scalp expansion surgery. Because of the invasive nature and high price, surgical treatments are generally reserved for patients who do not achieve success with medical therapy.
- Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP): Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy uses the platelets from your own blood to stimulate hair growth and renewal. This revolutionary, non-surgical treatment has been used for years to heal sports injuries and to stimulate volume replacement in the face. However, PRP can also combat hair loss when injected into the scalp. Growth factors found in PRP can stimulate growth of the hair follicles by activating the stem cells in the microenvironment of the hair follicle.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a component of your blood that contains a concentrated source of platelets and other growth factors. Although platelets are best known for their part in the blood clotting process, these cells are also considered a biochemical storehouse of growth factors that participate in recovery and healing of tissues by enhancing physiologic processes.
PRP has been identified as a promising treatment for enhancing wound healing and has been used for decades in multiple medical specialties including cardiac surgery, oral surgery, ophthalmology, and orthopedic surgery. Growing evidence for multiple aesthetic surgery applications has recently been developed, particularly for hair restoration and skin rejuvenation.
PRP can combat hair loss when injected into the scalp. Growth factors found in PRP can stimulate growth of the hair follicles by activating the stem cells in the microenvironment of the hair follicle.
PRP therapy uses the platelets from your own blood to stimulate hair growth and renewal. The idea behind using PRP for hair loss is that there are a number of hair follicles that are in a dormant state. PRP contains growth factors that act within the hair follicle to help stimulate the activity of the follicle by activating the stem cells in the microenvironment of the hair follicle and promote new hair growth.
PRP has been successful in other medical and surgical disciplines for many years. A thorough consultation with Dr. Melyssa Hancock will determine if PRP is a safe and appropriate option for you. Dr. Hancock will discuss your hair loss and medical history and perform an examination of the affected areas of your scalp to determine if the cause of your hair loss is one that can be treated with PRP. Occasionally, blood tests may be necessary to rule out other potential causes of hair loss (such as autoimmune or hormonal).
In general, PRP is safe and natural because the procedure concentrates the good cells from your scalp and injects them directly back into the needed area. There is absolutely no chance of getting a blood infection from another human being. PRP involves using your own cells that are unmodified to prevent rejection by your immune system.
In summary, PRP therapy offers the opportunity for hair growth for those patients who are not candidates for surgery. It can also help patients wanting a more aggressive nonsurgical approach to treatment. Whether you are looking for additional hair stimulation due to hereditary baldness or want to ward it off, PRP may be a great option for you. To determine if PRP is right for you, schedule a comprehensive cosmetic consultation with Dr. Melyssa Hancock.
Prior to any treatment, Dr. Hancock will discuss your hair loss and medical history and perform an examination of the affected areas of your scalp to determine if the cause of your hair loss is one that can be treated with PRP. Occasionally, blood tests may be necessary to rule out other potential causes of hair loss (such as autoimmune or hormonal).
If deemed a good candidate, PRP treatment process begins by obtaining a sample of your own blood. The blood is then centrifuged for 15-20 minutes to separate the plasma with platelets from the other blood components. The scalp is then cleaned with an antiseptic solution and a local numbing medication is applied. The PRP concentrate is then precisely injected into areas of the scalp that show hair thinning. Once injected, platelet activation will occur, resulting in the release of the nutrients and growth factors from the platelets at the level of the hair follicles.
Dr. Hancock uses state-of-the-art centrifugation technology to process the PRP, which results in a 10-15 fold increase in the platelet concentration from your baseline level. The higher the number of platelets, the higher the concentration of growth factors, and the better the expected outcome!
For optimal results, patients need 3 treatment sessions every 4-6 ADD SPACE weeks. Generally, results are seen within 3-6 months of your first treatment session. However, this timeline will depend on your age and how long your hair has been thinning.
Unfortunately, the results of PRP treatment for hair regrowth are not permanent. Nothing can change your genetic predisposition for hair loss and hair loss will return if no maintenance type treatment is done. Most patients who respond to PRP hair loss treatment require repeat treatment anywhere between 12-24 months after their initial series of treatments. Subsequently, PRP may need to be repeated periodically depending on your individual response to PRP therapy, your genetics, the extent of your hair loss, and if you are using any other adjunctive treatments with your PRP hair loss treatments such as topical minoxidil, oral Propecia, etc. Additional treatment frequency will also depend on your hair treatment goals.
- Facelift: Reverses the visible signs of aging in the face such as jowls and sagging or loose skin
- Neck Lift: Reduces or removes loose or sagging neck skin, excess fat in the lower face or chin, and other visible signs of aging in the neck
- Brow Lift: Treats drooping brows and deep wrinkles of the forehead, restoring a smoother, more youthful contour to the upper portion of the face
- Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty): Eliminates excess skin from the upper eyelids and removes under-eye bags and redundant skin from the lower eyelids
- Submental Liposuction: Eliminates excess fat causing the appearance of a double chin and improves the contours of the chin and jawline
- Botox: Smooths fine lines, wrinkles, and furrows caused by excessive muscle movements
- Dermal Fillers: Enhances the facial appearance without surgery by restoring volume to create a more youthful facial contour
