Platelet Rich Plasma therapy, aka PRP, is a unique and chemical-free treatment that harnesses the body’s natural regenerative prowess to promote localised healing. While the technique has recently been popularised as the ‘vampire facial’, PRP’s benefits extend way beyond the visage.
“PRP is wonderful for anyone anxious about aesthetic treatments, because it’s effectively the innovative assistance of an entirely natural process. Additionally, for all the naysayers claiming PRP doesn’t work, we finally have conclusive scientific evidence that it is an effective treatment for multiple types of hair loss.”
A superb introduction to minimally invasive treatments thanks to its use of completely natural processes, PRP is a ‘pure’ regenerative medicine that uses the healing properties of an individual’s own blood cells to rebuild, repair and replenish from within.
The process works by running blood through TLC’s state-of-the-art centrifuges, which separates the red cells and the platelets (the elements that cause blood clots and stimulate other necessary growth and healing functions), a concentration of which is then injected back into the scalp, using a very fine needle to ensure ultra-accurate placement. As the platelets break open (an automatic part of the process), they release growth factors (naturally occurring substances capable of stimulating cell proliferation and aiding wound healing) which in turn stimulate the patient’s own stem cells. This means nutrient-boosted restoration, generating more abundant hair.
At TLC, we’re also proud to be one of the only clinics to offer the more advanced Angel PRP treatment, whereby light is introduced into the centrifuge for extra accuracy in separating the platelets, creating a more potent concentration of the compound.
Additionally, we have the ultra-effective (superfast and very safe) RegenLab® PRP device, which allows the initial compound to be combined with non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid, hiking hydration levels up. While originally designed for the skin, it’s also great for delivering healthier hair.
Notably, PRP has been shown to be effective in combatting androgenic alopecia (common hair loss) providing a significant increase in number of hairs per cm2; female pattern hair loss (balding in women), boosting hair count and diameter; and alopecia areata, a disease that occurs when the immune system attacks hair follicles to cause hair loss. With the latter, some studies suggest hair regrowth of the same magnitude as when intralesional potent steroids are used as a treatment.
This treatment can also be great when used in conjunction with a hair transplant; one study suggests a 15% greater hair yield when the relevant area is pre-treated with PRP.
PRP is ideal for naturally stimulating flowing locks (this treatment specifically remedies hair loss and is often used after hair transplantation), as well as for the skin, where the process is used for concerns as diverse as repairing soft tissue sporting injuries and smoothing wrinkles.
Applicable to all adults noticing thinning or loss of hair, PRP presents a superb option for those who want to not only maintain their hair but also improve its quality.
While it’s ideal for preventing the signs of ageing, because it works in tandem with the body’s own powers of restoration, healthy living will often play a significant role in achieving the best results.
Because PRP is treatment-based on natural processes, it works best if it can initially be done on a monthly basis – we recommend five to six sessions as a minimum, with one session every three months thereafter to maintain the results. For Angel PRP, it’s usually three sessions, but this will be decided in consultation with the nurse or doctor prescribing your treatment.
Results are visible within three to six months. The side effects of PRP injections tend to be limited (allergic reactions are a rarity) because injections are created from an individual’s own blood.
Please note that all treatment responses and recovery times are dependent on the individual patient.
For maintenance between treatments the Scalp Facial is a feel-good option to cleanse the scalp of debris and stimulate follicular blood flow.
PRP can work excellently as a booster to Mesotherapy, where a cocktail of active pharmaceutical or homeopathic preparations (vitamins and nutrients) are dispensed into the skin via micro-injections. PRP is administered first, followed by the ‘meso-cocktail’ or treatments such as the polynucleotide Nucleofill Hair or Calecim®.
As with other all-natural treatments that don’t require the support of any synthetic products, the pure healing properties of PRP mean it can be used in conjunction with any other treatment.
For those looking for other remedies for hair loss, also see TrichoTest™.
We also offer a low-level laser therapy (LLLT) hair cap – a device renowned for producing superb results – as an accompaniment to hair loss treatments.
The success of PRP is directly linked to a patient’s 360° approach to health and wellbeing; smokers and diabetics may experience less impressive results. Similarly, because the treatment draws on the body’s own capacity to naturally rejuvenate itself, younger people will generally see more pronounced improvements.
Here are a few final things that you might like to know before taking things forward. If you have any other questions we haven’t thought of yet, no problem! Please email us at hello@thelovelyclinic.co.uk and one of the team will get back to you as quickly as they possibly can.
We use the cutting-edge, award-winning cryotherapy device TargetCool (a device which calms the needled skin and increases the penetration of any product placed onto it) to make the treatment more comfortable for anyone with especially sensitive skin.
We advise at least three treatment sessions in order to see substantial results, depending on the severity of the hair loss/condition.
The only adverse effect with PRP for Hair is bruising when the patient’s blood, which is used to create the Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) concentrate, is taken.
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