PRP for Hair Loss, considered.
PRP sits between topical Rx and surgical hair restoration. For early-to-moderate androgenetic hair loss, it is one of the most evidence-supported in-office options. Results are real and finite — not a substitute for transplant in advanced cases.
What PRP actually is.
A standard blood draw is centrifuged to isolate the plasma fraction richest in platelets. Concentrated platelets release dozens of growth factors — PDGF, VEGF, TGF-β — when activated. Injected into the scalp, those signals upregulate follicular activity in receptive (still-living) follicles.
Quality varies. Centrifuge protocols, platelet concentration, and activation method differ across practices and account for much of the result variance in the literature. Ask which system the practice uses; double-spin, FDA-cleared kits (Eclipse, Selphyl, EmCyte) outperform single-spin office setups.
Who responds, who doesn't.
Best candidates: early-to-moderate androgenetic alopecia (Norwood II–IV in men, Ludwig I–II in women), chronic telogen effluvium, recent post-pregnancy or post-stress shedding. Response is also reasonable in alopecia areata.
Limited or no response: advanced Norwood V+ baldness, completely scarred follicles, frontal recession of long duration. In those cases, transplant — or accepting the loss — is the honest answer.
What a course looks like.
The standard initial protocol is three to four sessions, spaced four to six weeks apart. Maintenance is one session every four to six months. Most patients see decreased shedding by month two and visible density change by month four to six.
Photographic evaluation under standardized lighting, every three months, is the only honest way to measure progress. Without it, both patient and clinician will misremember the baseline.
Common questions.
Does PRP actually work?
Meta-analyses through 2024 show modest but statistically significant improvements in hair density and thickness for androgenetic alopecia. It is not a miracle. Combined with finasteride or minoxidil, the response is meaningfully better.
How does it compare to a transplant?
PRP stimulates existing follicles. Transplant moves follicles from one area to another. They are not substitutes — many patients use both. PRP first, transplant only if PRP plateaus and density remains insufficient.
Does it hurt?
Scalp injections are uncomfortable. Most practices use a topical numbing cream or scalp blocks. The injections themselves take 15–20 minutes.
When will I see results?
Decreased shedding by month 2. Visible density change by month 4–6. The full effect of the initial four-session course is not assessable until month 9–12.
Is it covered by insurance?
No. Cosmetic procedures for hair loss are out-of-pocket in nearly all US plans.
Can it be combined with finasteride/minoxidil?
Yes — and the combination outperforms PRP alone in most studies. A clinician treating hair loss should be comfortable building a stack rather than betting on a single intervention.