An innovative,l treatment for hair loss is making headlines – Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy allows patients to use their own blood and stem cells to fight against hair loss.
“Since we’re using their own blood, there is no risk of allergic reactions,” Dr.Slater from Buckhead Atlanta said, Dr.Slater is also part of the LaserCap® Physician Provider Network and Medical Director of Buckhead Hair Restoration and Slater Aesthetic as well as Atlanta Stem Cell Treatment Center. Currently, most doctors are using PRP therapy alone or with A-Cell injections. Dr. Slater is one of only a small handful of hair restoration surgeons in the U.S. to use amniotic stem cell therapy or PRP injections, depending on the patient’s budget, both treatments can boost the hair growth response. He includes this powerful blend of growth factors, proteins and stem cells to help strengthen the structure and function of a patient’s hair, leading to longer, thicker, healthier hair.
The blood contains PRP, which has growth factors that rejuvenate damaged tissue. PRP is extracted from the blood in a centrifuge and later combined with amniotic stem cells to be injected into the patient’s scalp. Then, micro-needling is used to make small puncture wounds in the scalp to create trauma, allowing the growth factors to go to work. “This helps activate the cells to help damaged hair follicles.”
The procedure involves two 60 minute in office sessions, a few month apart. The second treatment increases growth resulting from the first treatment and enables hairs to survive. The treatments may cause mild redness and swelling to the scalp, which subsides within 48 hours after each treatment. Because patients are using their own blood, there is no risk for infection. In addition, there is no risk for adverse reactions from amniotic stem cells as they are “immune privileged” tissue. Following up with the LaserCap® will further stimulate hair growth.
Patients will typically see results in four to six months. “While every patient is different, hair growth effects on average may last for up to a year or more before requiring another round of treatments,” Dr.Slater stated. After the second treatment, Dr. Slater meets with patients every 3 to 4 month to monitor progress in their hair’s length and thickness. Results vary with each patient; overall, results are promising and most patients notice hair regrowth.
“It’s successful,” when patients are not suffering from hormonal imbalance, in which case Dr.Slater can assist by doing a hormone balance evaluation, other cases are if the patients are suffering from a genetic disorders, or male pattern baldness. “Doctors who are practicing with PRP or Amnion, are getting rave reviews from patients.” In male pattern baldness PRP can help slow down the process and help regrow some hair and ideally it should be combined with Neograft hair restoration and LaserCap® for home use.
While PRP therapy has recently received a lot of attention, it has been in use for decades in many areas of medicine. Doctors are still researching the use of PRP therapy and stem cells for hair loss and medical ailments. “I think that we need to see long-term effects, because it’s new in the hair restoration industry. “The future is bright. We just need to get more information about it to continue to improve the technique.”
“High-tech devices like LaserCap® and low level laser therapy treatments (LLLT) are making a noticeable difference when combined with other nonsurgical and surgical therapies, such as NeoGraft Hair Restoration.
Many patients use laser treatments while at home, in conjunction with PRP in the doctor’s office.” says LaserCap® Company co-founder Michael Rabin, MD.
“What’s great about nonsurgical treatments in addition to NeoGraft is that they work synergistically,” “A patient can have better outcome by using a multi-therapeutic approach to help improve the function of the hair follicles, enabling them to grow healthier and stronger hair and achieve better results.”
