PRP (platelet-rich plasma) is a nonsurgical hair-loss treatment during which platelets extracted from your own blood are injected into areas of your scalp with thinning hair. While PRP is not yet FDA-approved for hair loss, the research done so far finds PRP to be effective for both age-related hair loss and alopecia areata, a disease that causes hair loss in young and otherwise healthy people. It’s considered a safe, relatively inexpensive, and less invasive alternative to surgery, and the doctors who perform it say it can stimulate the follicles and slow down the rate of hair loss. In some cases, it can regrow hair.

Platelets in your blood play a role in clotting and healing. They are the cells that contain the cell signaling agents that quarterback, or orchestrate, the human body’s tissue rejuvenation and healing systems. Plasma is the liquid in blood that carries the platelets, along with red blood cells and white blood cells.

Once injected into your scalp, PRP increases blood flow to the hair follicles, stimulates the growth of new follicles, and lengthens the anagen (active) phase of the hair cycle to promote hair growth.

“It stimulates the dormant hair follicles to grow,” explains Dr. David Berman, a plastic surgeon in Sterling, Virginia. “Studies suggest that you get an increased number of hair follicles and increased thickness in the hair shaft.”

PRP injections originated in Europe more than a decade ago. Today, doctors use it for a variety of medical applications, including helping injured joints and wounds to heal more quickly and treating aging skin and hair loss.

PRP injections are nonsurgical and present no significant safety risks. The most common side effects are mild pain, redness, and pinpoint bleeding during the injections. You might also have some discomfort or minor swelling for a few days.

In a 2015 study titled “The Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Hair Regrowth” the safety and clinical efficacy of PRP for hair loss was investigated. The study found that “injection of PRP preparations has a positive therapeutic effect on male androgenic alopecia without major side effects.”

When will you see PRP for hair loss results?

Research on the results of PRP injections in both men and women has been generally positive, although most of the studies have been small. For a 2016 study published in the journal Dermatologic Surgery, researchers tested PRP in 25 people with hair loss. They injected PRP in one half of participants’ heads and an inactive treatment (placebo) in the other half, to see the difference. After three treatments, spaced one month apart, there were improvements in the number and thickness of hairs. Another 2015 study found improvements in hair counts, thickness, and root strength.

Hair restoration as a result of PRP injections will depend a lot on your gender, your age, your genes, your hormones, and other factors, including the amount of hair you had to begin with. “You do have to have some hair,” Dr. Berman says. “If somebody has a huge bald spot, it’s not going to work.”

He adds that there’s a lot of variability from person to person. “You can’t predict whether it’s going to work on a particular person and, if so, how much better their hair is going to be,” he adds. “I tell most patients to allow four months to see a difference. If it hasn’t helped by four months, it probably isn’t going to help you.”

Adopting a healthier lifestyle will increase your chance of success. Eat a balanced diet and stop smoking and using other nicotine products, which disrupt the blood supply your hair needs to grow.

You’ll need repeated injections to see results. The exact number will depend on factors like the amount and pattern of hair loss and your age. Typically, you’ll start with one injection every four to six weeks. Then you’ll space them out to once every three to four months, for up to two years.

PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) therapy is a medical treatment that uses a patient’s own blood to promote healing and reduce pain in areas affected by injury or chronic conditions, including joint pain. Here’s how it generally works for joint pain:

PRP injections originated in Europe more than a decade ago. Today, doctors use it for a variety of medical applications, including helping injured joints and wounds to heal more quickly and treating aging skin and hair loss.

1. Collection of Blood: A small amount of the patient’s blood is drawn, usually from the arm.
2. Processing: The blood is then processed in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets, which contain growth factors that can help repair damaged tissues.
3. Injection: The PRP is injected into the affected joint or area, where it can accelerate healing by promoting cell growth and tissue repair.

Conditions Treated with PRP for Joint Pain

• Osteoarthritis: PRP is commonly used for knee arthritis but can be applied to other joints like the hip, shoulder, or ankle.
• Tendon Injuries: It can also be used to treat tendon injuries or inflammation, such as in the rotator cuff of the shoulder.
• Ligament Injuries: PRP can stimulate healing in injured ligaments.

Effectiveness

The effectiveness of PRP for joint pain is still being studied, and results can vary. Some patients experience significant pain relief and improved function, while others may not see much change. It’s usually considered when more traditional treatments like physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, or corticosteroid injections don’t provide adequate relief.

Our ultimate aim is to offer the most effective solutions possible, without compromising on quality. Our commitment to excellence means that we can provide the best possible care to our patients, without having to make any compromises.

Wharton’s Jelly is a type of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) found in the umbilical cord, which provides structural support to the umbilical vessels. It contains a gelatinous substance made up of water, proteoglycans, collagen fibers, and other components that help protect and nourish the umbilical cord vessels.

Wharton’s Jelly-derived stem cells have gained significant interest in medical and scientific research because they have several unique qualities:

1. High Potential for Regeneration: These stem cells have the potential to differentiate into various types of cells, including bone, cartilage, muscle, and nerve cells. This makes them a promising source for regenerative medicine.
2. Immunomodulatory Properties: They have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, making them valuable for treating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. They can modulate the immune response, reducing the risk of rejection in transplants.
3. Ethical Considerations: Unlike embryonic stem cells, which raise ethical concerns, Wharton’s Jelly stem cells are obtained from the umbilical cord after birth, making them an ethically favorable alternative.
4. Safety and Low Risk: Because they are typically collected from healthy newborns, they are considered relatively low-risk compared to other sources of stem cells.

Research is ongoing to explore the full potential of Wharton’s Jelly stem cells in treating various conditions, including neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and joint-related injuries. They are also used in clinical trials to assess their effectiveness in tissue repair and regenerative therapies. We have seen very effective and successful hair re-growth and joint issue repairs with our patients using Wharton’s Jelly stem cells at Total Med Solutions.