PRF Hair Restoration
What is PRF hair restoration?
Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) hair restoration is a completely natural organic process shown to stimulate hair growth in both men and women suffering from hair loss. It involves drawing your blood, separating the cells and factors that promote hair growth in a centrifuge and reinjecting it into the scalp.
Hair Loss
Hair loss affects 50 million men and 30 million women in the US. It may start as early as puberty and increases with age. By age 50, 50% of men are affected and by age 70, 40% of women are affected.
There are many causes of hair loss, most common being genetic and hormonal. Androgenetic alopecia is the most common form hair loss in both men and women. It caused by a hormone called DHT (Dihydrotestosterone), a byproduct of testosterone, which attacks the hair follicles causing hair to fall out and stop growing. This type of hair loss also carries a genetic component. In men it's called male-pattern baldness and is evidenced by a receding hairline and progresses to baldness on the top of the head. Female-pattern baldness results in a frontal hairline that is typically spared with diffuse hair loss and widening of the anterior part.
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Other reasons for hair loss include medications, vitamin deficiencies, and certain medical conditions (anemia, thyroid problems). Poor diet and lifestyle can also cause hair loss as well as harsh hair care products and styles that can cause hair breakage (bleaching, perms, heat, tight styles with prolonged tension).
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Although there is no cure for hair loss, there are many treatments available that can significantly improve this condition. There are topical treatments such as minoxidil and oral medications and supplements. Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) / Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections are a patient-derived approach thought to stimulate and strengthen existing hair follicles. PRP/PRF has been scientifically validated for hair and skin applications.
PRF and PRP benefits people in early stages of hair loss; therefore, it’s crucial to start treatments as soon as possible for most effective results. It can be combined with other treatments to optimize results.
What is PRF and how does it differ from PRP?
PRP (platelet rich plasma) and PRF (platelet rich fibrin) are used for their regenerative and rejuvenating properties in different areas of medicine. For many years, Platelet rich plasma (PRP) has been used mainly in orthopedics for for tissue regeneration and PRF has been used in regenerative dentistry. More recently, however, both treatments have been applied in esthetic medicine for skin and hair rejuvenation.
Both PRP and PRF treatments are derived from patients own blood which is spun down in the centrifuge to separate the platelets from other cells. Platelets are naturally occurring substances in your blood that play an essential role in clotting and activating stem cells and growth factors to promote tissue healing and regeneration.
To make PRF blood is spun at lower speeds for shorter times, in the centrifuge, without any anticoagulant additives therefore it becomes thicker with time. That thick fibrin matrix traps platelets, and other cells leading to more growth factors which are released over a longer period of time (one week) optimizing healing and regeneration.
To make PRP blood is spun at higher speeds and for longer times, in the centrifuge, with an anticoagulant additive to prevent clotting and fibrin formation. This lack of fibrin matrix, not only decreases the concentration of growth factors but also stimulates their release over much shorter period of time (hours) which can decrease the overall effectiveness of the rejuvenation process.
Currently there is some scientific evidence on the effectiveness of PRP or PRF treatments of the scalp. PRP/PRF has been shown to have overall rejuvenating effects on the scalp by strengthening existing hair follicles. However PRF a is more superior method as it's been shown to contain more platelets and growth factors compared to PRP.
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Day of Treatment
Your blood is drawn into 2-4 vials. The blood is then spun in a centrifuge to separate platelets, white blood cells from red blood cells, and plasma. This process concentrates the platelets and separates out helpful factors. This fluid, rich in fibrin is then injected into the scalp using a small needle. PRF causes a mild inflammation that triggers the healing cascade. As the platelets organize in the clot they release a number of enzymes to promote healing and tissue responses including attracting stem cells which release growth factors to repair the damaged area. The full procedure takes approximately an hour.
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Results are generally visible at three weeks and continue to improve gradually over the next three to six months. Generally, three treatments are advised spaced at one month apart, however, more may be indicated for some individuals. Current data shows results may last 18-24 months. Once your results are achieved yearly treatments will be required to maintain your results.
PRF scalp injections can also be combined with serums containing growth factors derived from bone marrow to maximize hair rejuvenation. AnteAge® growth factor serums are specifically formulated for hair growth. AnteAge® is a professional and reputable evidence-based skin care line. A microchanneling device is used to create tiny punctures in your scalp and the growth factors are applied topically which are absorbed into the skin. If you are interested in this procedure please discuss with your provider during your consultation.
Alternative treatment
​​PRP/PRF does not create new hair follicles or restore follicles that have already died. Thinning hair is believed to benefit from PRP/PRF treatments, but PRP/PRF is not believed to treat complete baldness. There are alternative forms to PRP/PRF scalp treatments that are non-surgical and surgical. The non-surgical alternatives consist of pharmaceutical therapy such as 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, topical treatments such as minoxidil, and homeopathic treatments, red LED light therapy. The surgical alternatives of aesthetic injectables are Follicular Unit Extraction and FUT (strip procedure) or hair transplants. Risks and potential complications are associated with alternative forms of treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Call us and we would be happy to discuss your concerns!
References
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Gupta AK, Cole J, Deutsch DP, Everts PA, Niedbalski RP, Panchaprateep R, Rinaldi F, Rose PT, Sinclair R, Vogel JE, Welter RJ, Zufelt MD, Puig CJ. Platelet-Rich Plasma as a Treatment for Androgenetic Alopecia. Dermatol Surg. 2019 Oct;45(10):1262-1273. doi: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000001894. PMID: 30882509.
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Gentile P, Garcovich S, Bielli A, Scioli MG, Orlandi A, Cervelli V. The Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Hair Regrowth: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2015;4(11):1317-1323. doi:10.5966/sctm.2015-0107
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