PRP Hair Restoration
At Laser Spa Group, we perform platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy as a proactive therapeutic option for male and female patients experiencing hair loss. PRP is a non-surgical therapeutic option for patients who require stimulation of hair growth for hair loss conditions. PRP Therapy is a hair loss treatment which involves an injection to the scalp that restores miniaturized hair follicles. The injection helps stimulates follicular progenitor cells to become healthier and larger, promoting thicker hair growth while reducing hair loss.
Approximately half of all men, one third of pre-menopausal and two thirds of post-menopausal women will experience hair loss to some degree in their lifetime. This has the potential to greatly interfere with emotional and social well-being of those affected. Thankfully, there is a growing list of treatment options to which hair loss can be delayed, halted and even reversed, some surgical and others more naturopathic. In our practice, we offer Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP therapy to stimulate the body’s repair system to bring back sufficient nutrient supply to the follicles that have been compromised resulting in in thicker, stronger and healthier hair.
PRP Hair Restoration Therapy offers a safe and effective alternative/adjunct to medication, which can have undesirable side effects. A PRP Therapy program can also be a great way to boost hair regrowth during and after Hair Transplantation to prevent miniaturization of existing original hairs in the area of thinning.
Platelet Rich Plasma works by enhancing and strengthening your own existing hair follicles. One reason for thinning hair is follicles with low hair density. By activating follicular progenitor cells (adult stem cells) the application of PRP causes weak hair follicles to become healthier and larger, producing more robust hair growth. New hair growth can be seen as early as 2 months, but is typically evident between 5-8 months and will continue to improve up to a year after treatment.
Whether you are male or female suffering from hair loss, PRP therapy can repair damaged tissue and produce results.
No Medication. No Hair Transplants. No Downtime. No Cutting. No Pain.
This treatment is best suited for patients who are starting to notice signs of thinning hair and want to be proactive about maintaining their full head of hair! PRP injections are like a “boost” of energy to your existing hair follicles and it has been shown to be very effective in treating hair loss, because it repairs the damaged cells. PRP in combination with vitamin injections prolongs the benefits and effects of repairing the damaged cells, for noticeably enhanced results!
Before and After
Frequently Asked Questions
In order to slow down or even reverse the progression of hair loss, the goal is to stimulate repair of the damaged follicles, create an environment that supports regrowth and prolong the hair’s life cycle. We inject the area with a component of your own blood called platelet rich plasma or PRP. PRP is loaded with essential growth factors, proteins and nutrients that are responsible for tissue healing and regeneration. By creating micro-injuries to the scalp or affected area, we signal the inflammatory cascade to respond to the area and begin the repair process. Sometimes this approach may be combined with other treatment types or medications.
Human blood contains mesenchymal stem cells and contain specific growth factors that assist in tissue regeneration and healing. Published medical literature from Europe and the United States confirms the safety and use of PRP therapy. PRP therapy has established itself to be effective as a medical treatment modality in the specialty fields of oral surgery, neurosurgery, plastic and cosmetic surgery, sports medicine and orthopedics. It has been used extensively in these specialties for the last two decades with positive outcomes.. It is also used commonly by professional athletes for quick return from their injuries. In the field of hair restoration, existing evidence demonstrates PRP therapy as a promising treatment option to promote hair growth. While PRP is in the early stages of scientific research in hair restoration, PRP is not meant to replace current Health Canada approved therapies such as DHT blockers, laser and Minoxidil therapies-a very effective non-surgical therapeutic option for those patients with hair loss.
Blood is drawn in our clinic in a manner similar to having routine blood testing at your physician’s office. The blood is spun in a centrifuge and the PRP is separated and removed from the rest of the blood. The PRP is taken from your body and is specially prepared by spinning down the blood cells to a high concentration. After centrifugation, the platelets and other vital growth proteins raise to the top of the tube. Laser Spa Group uses a precise method for these injections with the use of the U225 Mesogun. The pneumatic power of the Mesogun separates this device from all others in the field. The added power allows faster injection as well as a faster needle movement. The Mesogun also has an innovative feature called needle syringe separation which is a process where only the needle and syringe move as one unit. This provides added stability and less vibration while injecting. There is also no dripping or waste of product therefore you’re getting the full use of the product. There is no pain and no numbing required with the Mesogun not like other systems.
PRP treatments are recommended every 4-6 weeks for a minimum of 3 treatments. More may be recommended depending on the severity of hair loss. PRP is not a cure, so maintenance treatments are recommended 2-3 times per year, depending on the starting point and response to treatment.
The highly concentrated platelet rich plasma (PRP) is injected into the scalp and topically. The PRP contains many growth factors that stimulate the hair follicle’s growth. Every 6-12 months as early data suggests regular or PRP treatments can stimulate hair growth.
It is important to know that the only permanently effective treatment available for Male Pattern Hair Loss is Hair Transplant Surgery.
Male Pattern Hair Loss can be slowed and sometimes halted by hair loss medication such as Finasteride and Dutasteride.
Various medications can help to treat or successfully manage FPHL (Female Pattern Hair Loss)
These include:
- Topical Minoxidil which stimulates hair growth; and
- Anti-Androgen medications such as Androcur, Aldactone and, in rare instances, Finasteride.
Miniaturization is a process that results in affected hairs becoming smaller and finer (with each growth cycle) until they eventually stop growing. It is widely accepted that the main cause of miniaturization is an increase in di-Hydrotestosterone (DHT). Men who are genetically susceptible to MPHL have increased levels of Type II 5 Alpha Reductase – an enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT.
Over time DHT causes gradual miniaturization and potential death of these susceptible hair follicles.
All people (men and women) have DHT, however, only some will suffer from hair loss.
Those individuals who suffer from hair loss have an inherited a genetic predisposition within their hair follicles, involving an increased number of androgen receptors to which DHT attaches.
Male Pattern Hair Loss (MPHL) is a common condition, with up to 50% of males being affected.
It involves progressive thinning (miniaturization) of scalp hair and usually affects the frontal, mid scalp and crown regions (and occasionally the temples).
MPHL is also known as Androgenic or Androgenetic Alopecia because both androgens and a genetic predisposition play significant roles in the development of MPHL.
The Norwood Scale can often be used to categorize hair loss patterns in men.
Hair loss is generally divided into 7 categories (and sub-categories)
Female Pattern Hair Loss
Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL) is a common condition affecting up to approximately 50% of women over 50 years of age.
Miniaturization of the Hair Follicle
FPHL involves gradual thinning or miniaturisation of hair – mainly in the frontal region, mid scalp and crown region of the scalp. The cause of hair loss in women is not as clear as in men. As in Male Pattern Hair Loss, hair follicle miniaturization in FPHL is believed to be due to the presence of DHT (Di-HydroTestosterone) in the scalp tissue, which retards the growth of the hair follicle.
However, as women often suffer from diffuse thinning over the entire scalp, the process may in fact be more complex. The hair follicle becomes smaller over time and produces a smaller, weaker hair. Typically the frontal hairline tends to remain unaffected. Female Pattern Hair Loss is also referred to as Androgenic or Androgenetic Alopecia.
Other Causative Factors in FPHL
Occasionally FPHL thinning is temporary and can be caused by a number of factors that are linked to the actions of hormones, including pregnancy, menopause and thyroid conditions. Where medical illness or underlying hormonal conditions are not the cause, hair loss in women is thought to be caused by DHT acting on increased numbers of androgen receptors in hair follicles (as with males).
The typical price range is $500 per session which lasts 45 minutes to 1 hour. Please note we offer different brands of PRP and we suggest visiting our PRP/PRF page for more information on Arthrex PRP – this service is 700$ per treatment. Arthrex PRP
There is no recovery time, because there is no downtime!
*Please be advised that individual results may vary
Androgenic Alopecia: Female Pattern Hair Loss and Male Pattern Hair Loss
Androgenic Alopecia
Commonly referred to as “male/female pattern baldness”, androgenic alopecia is a hormonal disruption caused by genetic, environmental or lifestyle factors that affects both men and women alike. For men, it causes the hairline to recede, most often at the crown and temples and gradual thinning throughout the scalp. Women experience thinning beginning at the partline and gradually diffuses outward. There are 7 stages of hair loss on a diagnostic tool called the Norwood Scale to classify male pattern baldness and a 3 stages of the Ludwig Classification for women; if treatment begins in the earlier stages it typically leads to better outcomes.
Alopecia Areata
In this type of hair loss, the immune system targets the hair follicle and disrupts its normal function. The exact cause is unknown but it may be linked to some autoimmune conditions or extreme stress and may have a genetic link. It often presents as one or more patches of hair loss anywhere on the body. Addressing the cause as well as directly treating the scalp can be effective at treating this type of alopecia.
It can take up to 6-12 months to notice a thickening of the hair in a mirror, but many begin to see a difference after about 3 months. Results are highly variable as they depend on a number of factors such as: quality of PRP, injection technique, diet and lifestyle, genetics and adherence to treatment plan. At your appointment, we will discuss various ways that you can help improve your results take before-and-after photos to assess progress.
