Pre Injection Protocol
- Make 3 appointments one month apart
- Eat a normal breakfast and/or lunch prior to your appointment time
- Drink 16 ounces of water 30-60 minutes prior to your appointment time
- Arrive to clinic with hair that is clean and dry
- Hair cut style must be consistent throughout treatments
Hair Loss Types
- Diffuse and Acute – Telogen or Anagen Effluviom
- Diffuse and Chronic Progressive Miniaturization – Androgenic Alopecia
- Focal and Acute – Alopecia Areata or Traumatic Alopecia
- Focal and Chronic – CCCA, Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia, Lichen Planopilaris, Pseudodopelade, Trichotillomania
- Successive – Alopecia Areata
What is PRP?
PRP is a concentrated autologous biologically active blood product that is enriched in a range of growth factors, cytokines, and other plasma proteins. Platelets are blood particles without nucleus from the fragmentation of megacaryocytes. They live approximately 10 days. They contain alpha granules which contain growth factors. More than 60 growth factors have been identified (Mazzucco, BL, Transfusion). The degranulation and activation begins 10 minutes after activation and most are secreted in the first hour.
Growth Factors in PRP
Platelet Derived Growth Factor, Transforming Growth Factor-Beta, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Epidermal Growth Factor, Insulin Like Growth Factor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Nerve Growth Factor. Cytokines are also present.
Mechanism of Action
Extremely high concentrations of biologically active agents modulate pathways of tissue repair and inflammation in the scalp.
What to Expect
- Blood drawn from a vein in your arm, amount will be less than an ounce
- Short wait while blood is spun and PRP is harvested and prepared
- Photos will be taken
- Scalp will be cleansed with alcohol
- Anesthetic will be provided by pain ease numbing spray. Most patients rate pain at a 3 on a scale of 1-10 (1 being the least amount of pain, 10 being the most amount of pain).
- PRP harvested will be administered via 12-14 injections just below the skin’s surface of the scalp. Injection sites will be concentrated at the most concerning sites of hair loss, and then placed throughout the scalp.
- It is recommended that you take a hot shower and shampoo your hair within one hour of the procedure.
- Make a follow up appointment after your 3rd treatment to return for photos and reevaluation. Your first maintenance treatment will be determined at that time.
- Use of the Theradome Helmet and nutritional support provided by Nutrafol supplements will enhance the PRP treatment and most likely increase the duration between the recommended maintenance treatments.
- Maintenance treatments should be anticipated every 6-12 months
- Do not color hair for 48 hours post treatment
Patient Indication for PRP Treatment
- Primary: Anndrogenic Alopecia (Lower Ludwig and Hamilton and preferred, avoid highest)
- Secondary: Alopecia Areata
- Under Study: Traction Alopecia
Contraindications: Scalp Disorders
Telogen or Chronic Telogen Effluvium, Traumatic Alopecia, CCCA, Frontal Fribrosing Alopecia, Lichen Planpilaris, Pseudopelade, Trichotillomania, Discoid Lupus, Infection, Injury
Contraindications: Other
Pregnancy or breast feeding, cancer or chemotherapy, keloid development, history of HgB less than 10, platelet count less than 105, local infection, hematologic/coagulation disorders, history of untreated thyroid disorders, untreated anemia, severe scalp psoriasis, history of untreated Vit. D deficiency, body dysmorphic disorder, history untreated PCOS, untreated Hyperandrogen Syndromes
