PRP Hair Loss Treatment FAQs
PRP Hair Loss Treatment Frequently Asked Questions –
Hair loss can be frustrating and embarrassing, make you look much older than you are, and lead to a loss of self-confidence and lowered self-esteem. And, while “going bald” is frequently considered a men’s issue, hair loss is extremely common in women – with more than 21 million American women currently suffer from some form of hair loss.
Up until recently, the only truly effective means of reversing hair loss and restoring hair growth was either expensive and painful hair transplant surgery, or harsh medications with extremely dangerous side-effects. But all that has changed with the introduction of 100% natural “PRP” – extracted from the patient’s own blood – to regrow thick, healthy hair.
Dr. Hakim is one of only a few doctors in Bloomfield Hills or the greater Detroit area to offer this new, highly effective, non-surgical, non-chemical Platelet Rich Plasma (“PRP”) hair loss treatment. In this article she answers her patients most frequently asked questions about PRP hair restoration.
What is PRP Hair Loss Treatment?
PRP “Platelet Rich Plasma” refers to the liquid portion of human blood that is rich in the body’s natural “growth factors” that can repair and regenerate cells.
PRP has been used in joint regeneration medicine for decades. More recently PRP has been applied to skin rejuvenation and anti aging in so-called “Vampire®” PRP Facials. Now the body’s own natural rejuvenation processes are being harnessed to regrow hair with PRP hair loss treatments.
How is PRP Hair Loss Treatment Performed?
PRP hair loss treatment is a simple procedure performed in our Bloomfield Hills office, without the need for hospitalization or general anesthetic. During the treatment, a small amount of blood is drawn from the patient – just like a routine blood test. The extracted blood is then placed in a centrifuge to separate out the liquid platelet-containing plasma from the solid blood cells.
This concentrated plasma contains up to ten times, or more, of the body’s natural “growth factors” than whole blood. Dr. Hakim applies topical numbing cream to the scalp, and then injects the areas of hair loss with the PRP serum.
How Does PRP Hair Loss Treatment Work?
Most hair loss occurs due to “miniaturization” of the hair follicles. The underlying causes of thinning hair are varied: hereditary (male or female pattern baldness), environmental, hormonal (telogen effluvium) or medical (disease, chemotherapy, etc.). But in all cases, the hair follicles have stopped producing new, healthy hairs.
PRP hair loss treatment stimulates the body’s own natural healing mechanisms to repair and restore the dead, damaged or diseased hair follicles – reversing follicle miniaturization so that the follicles once again produce strong, thick, visible, healthy hair.
Who is a Good Candidate for PRP Hair Loss Treatment?
PRP is highly effective for both male and female hair loss. Generally, PRP hair loss treatment is the most effective in areas of the scalp where there is still some existing hair that is thinning, rather than on completely bald areas.
Because PRP is derived from the patients’ own blood cells it is 100% safe and natural, and therefore is appropriate for almost any person, of any age. Since it is non-chemical there are no side-effects and it will not interact with other medications – making it safe even for pregnant women with T.E. hair loss, and for cancer patients who have lost hair due to chemotherapy.
PRP can even help patients with thinning hair in the “crown” area who are not appropriate candidates for hair transplant surgery.
How Many PRP Hair Loss Treatments Does One Need?
Everybody’s degree and cause of hair loss is different. But for most patients at our Bloomfield Hills practice, Dr. Hakim recommends three initial PRP hair loss treatments, spaced about one month apart.
After the initial treatments, patients should typically plan to schedule a PRP maintenance treatment once a year, or every six months, to continue to support hair follicle health.
Is there Downtime after PRP Hair Loss Treatment?
No. Because PRP hair loss treatments are minimally invasive, non-surgical, and require no general anesthetic, there is no “downtime” afterwards, and virtually no recovery period.
Patients may resume work or normal daily activities immediately after treatment, including driving. The only restriction is refraining from heavy exercise, exertion or activities that will make you sweat for 24 to 48 hours after treatment.
Most patients do not report any soreness after PRP treatment, but a few patients at our Bloomfield Hills office have experienced a bit of mild swelling or tenderness that typically subsides within a day or two.
When Do Patients See PRP Hair Loss Treatment results?
Hair follicles produce hair in cycles, and everybody’s hair grows at different rates. And, the body will need time to naturally repair and restore your follicles after PRP treatment. So, most PRP hair loss treatment patients will see visible new hair growth somewhere between 2 to 6 months.
On average, the patients we have treated with PRP at our Bloomfield Hills office see visible hair regrowth results around the 4 month mark – but results vary for each patient.
Is PRP Hair Loss Treatment Right for Me?
Most people are good candidates for PRP hair restoration. But the only way to know if you are a good candidate for PRP is to schedule a consultation with an experienced hair loss restoration doctor, like Dr. Hakim in Bloomfield Hills.
Dr. Hakim will help you determine the cause of your hair loss and recommend a customized hair restoration treatment plan for your unique personal situation. In addition to PRP hair loss treatments Dr. Hakim can also recommend all natural, highly effective hair restoration nutritional supplements, to support your individual hair regrowth needs.
PRP Hair Loss Treatment – Bloomfield Hills, MI
If you are a man or woman in the Bloomfield Hills or greater Detroit area who is suffering from the embarrassment or frustration of hair loss and thinning hair, state-of-the-art 100% PRP hair restoration treatments can be life changing.
Schedule an appointment today to discuss PRP hair loss treatments with Dr. Hakim in Bloomfield Hills, and take the first step toward re-growing a head of thick, healthy hair – with no bald or thinning spots!