PRP is the abbreviation for Platelet-Rich Plasma and it is used for the medical treatment of a number of different issues. Among other things, PRP has been used for the treatment of osteoarthritis and it has also been used for a range of different sports injuries such as knee sprains and pulled hamstrings.
However, only recently have we discovered that it can be used to help treat hair loss. But it is a new treatment and is not available everywhere. In fact, at Silicon Valley Hair Institute we are one of very few hair restoration companies in the Bay Area that can provide it, and many residents who are looking for PRP in San Mateo are delighted to find that they can now have the treatment here in Foster City just down the road.
Now it has to be said that PRP for hair loss is not for everyone. It is perfect treatment or those who suffer from thinning hair but is not suitable for the treatment of totally bald areas. This is because it appears to promote the growth of thin miniaturized hairs into thicker terminal hairs. Having said that, it can also be used to help with the growth of hairs which have been transplanted into a bald area.
How Does It Work?
So How Does PRP Work?
In humans, the blood consists of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. When you cut yourself and start to bleed, the platelets are what begin the process of coagulation and help to heal the wound.
PRP is created from a sample of your own blood which is spun in a centrifuge for about 15 minutes. What this does is to separate the solid parts of the blood from the liquid, and the resulting solid mixture contains anywhere from 3 to 5 times the number of platelets in the blood that was circulating in your body.
We then add some platelet activators such as thrombin, calcium chloride, and sometimes collagen, and the resulting mix is injected into the areas of thinning hair, or those which have just received transplanted hair. It seems that the platelet-rich plasma can accelerate the process of wound healing and boost the growth of the hairs.
The process of preparing and injecting the PRP only takes about an hour. It needs to be repeated after four weeks and eight weeks and then – depending upon your response – at three-month intervals.
If you think that PRP in San Mateo would help you, then make an appointment to see our Dr. Miguel Canales. He will be able to assess the condition of your scalp and see if you are suitable. If that is the case, your first treatment can be given straight away.