Platelet-rich plasma therapy is one of the popular treatments for hair loss. This procedure involves injecting growth factors into the scalp to stimulate hair regrowth, gaining positive results from patients with androgenetic alopecia and other types of hair loss. Most patients are satisfied with its radical methods, but some find its need for maintenance treatments a downside, especially given the costly price per injection.
So how long can you go until your following PRP hair restoration injections? How long you’ll wait until your next PRP shots depend on the span you’ve been receiving the treatment. Those who just had their initial injections can go until 6 weeks between their next shot. Patients finished with their months of treatment can delay their maintenance injections up to 6 months.
How Long Can You Go Between Your PRP Hair Regrowth Shots
Receiving platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for treating male and female pattern hair loss has been gaining traction today due to patients reporting positive results. This effective treatment offers a simple procedure for resolving hair thinning and other hair loss problems.
The window for your plasma injections depends on how long you’ve been receiving it. Those not finished with the 3 treatment sessions recommended at the beginning of the therapy can go for as long as 6 weeks until getting the following injections. Patients are advised to receive these initial injections for an interval of 5 to 6 weeks.
Patients who had already finished their initial injections but would need to return for touch-ups can go as long as 6 months. Experts would usually advise them to receive maintenance shots at 4 to 6-month intervals because the results of PRP hair restoration injections aren’t permanent. Your PRP hair loss treatment results last only up to 18 months, though some patients report its effects until 2 years.
How PRP Treatment Grows Your Hair
Platelet-rich therapy for hair loss requires patients to receive regular injections to maintain its effects on hair growth. It provides your scalp with nutrients that will activate the scalp’s dormant hair growth cycle, so it doesn’t really resolve the root cause of your hair loss. Because of this, you’ll need to maintain these shots to ensure your scalp keeps on receiving the right growth factors to improve hair density.
How It Works
Your platelet-rich plasma injections contain the plasma and platelets, which are the protein-filled liquid portion of your blood and the cells responsible for the body’s healing process as it promotes wound healing, tissue repair, and other regenerative abilities, respectively. These growth factors are processed and concentrated into a single serum for a more targeted boost of rejuvenation.
These concentrations of platelets repair hair follicles with their boost of nutrients. Injecting PRP into the scalp will trigger a healing response and allow the hair follicles to enter the anagen phase or growth phase. There might be numerous causes of hair thinning and hair loss, but they’re usually the common denominator: either they’re attacked, or they just receive fewer nutrients, resulting in shrinking or dormancy.
Meanwhile, injections of platelet-rich plasma can promote cell growth, as well as increase stem cells and collagen production, which helps the hair shaft to be more intact onto the hair follicle. Because of this, the hair follicles open up and blood vessels get wider. This results in an enhanced blood flow that will deliver better oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicle, supporting hair growth.
When to Expect Results
The newly-introduced concentration of platelets into your scalp needs time to process. Patients usually start seeing improvements in 2 weeks after initial injections. These changes include having thicker hair and noticing new hairs growing. After 3 to 6 months, they’ll start experiencing significant results.
How to Care for Your PRP Hair Treatment
The success of this effective treatment for hair loss also relies on how you follow its aftercare. This may also be a factor if you still want to have the best results despite waiting a long time until your next injections. Some of these include avoiding warm temperatures, pressure, NSAIDs, hair products, and harsh chemicals.
1) Avoid Warm Temperatures
PRP for hair growth may be a minimally invasive treatment, but the injections still leave tiny wounds and slight trauma. Dermatologists or practitioners advise avoiding warm temperatures at least 2 days after your treatment. These include steam rooms, saunas, sun exposure, or anything that has direct heat.
2) Avoid Pressure
Some of the common adverse effects of PRP hair treatment are skin irritations and scalp pain. Because of this, avoid pressing, rubbing, or touching the treated area for at least 8 hours. It’s also important to wait for the PRP to settle in the injected site.
3) Avoid NSAIDs
It’s also common to experience a negative side effect, such as headache or scalp pain, but don’t take NSAIDs for at least 2 weeks after your procedure: this includes avoiding them a week before receiving the injections. Some of these medicines are the following:
- Advil
- Aleve
- Aspirin
- Ibuprofen
- Motrin
- Naprosyn, etc
The goal of PRP for hair loss is to create inflammation. These medications, which limit inflammation, could interfere with how the concentrated platelets work in our bodies. These precautions involve food supplements with anti-inflammatory effects, such as the following:
- Cod liver
- Flax oil
- Garlic
- Ginkgo Biloba
- Omega 3 fatty acids
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin E
The side effects you may experience usually resolve within 2 to 5 days after treatment. If you need medications to ease pain or discomfort, you may take Tylenol or products with Acetaminophen.
4) Avoid Hair Products and Harsh Chemicals
As your scalp is still healing, you must avoid hair products for at least 6 hours after your treatment. You must also steer clear first from hair procedures involving harsh chemicals, such as perming, relaxing, or hair dyeing 72 hours after the treatment. These products may worsen your skin irritation. Use pH-Balanced Shampoo instead for the next 3 days.
How to Enhance Results of PRP Hair Treatment
There are other tips for enhancing and prolonging the results of your PRP hair treatment, so delaying your next injection wouldn’t be much of an issue. These involve improving your diet, engaging in more cardio exercise, and leading a healthy lifestyle.
1) Do High-Intensity Cardio Exercises
Ramping up your fitness with high-intensity cardio exercise can improve your blood supply and strengthen your immune system. Producing higher levels of blood elements with cardio exercises gives you a better source of PRP. Having a reliable immune system will also help enhance the results of your PRP injections.
2) Improve Your Diet
If you’re focusing on improving your diet for more enhanced and prolonged PRP results, consume more green leafy vegetables and food rich in vitamin B-12. Adding more leafy greens to your diet improves your platelets, increases immunity, and regulates hormones. Increasing your B-vitamins also improves your red blood cells and hemoglobin levels. Here are the nutrients in B-vitamins:
- Cobalamin
- Biotin
- Folate
- Niacin
- Pantothenic Acid
- Pyridoxine
- Riboflavin
- Thiamine
Reduce processed, sugary, and fatty foods, and it’s more advised to eat in smaller portions.
3) Avoid Smoking, Drinking, and Doing Drugs
If you’re receiving PRP injections for your hair, it’s best to start limiting your consumption of cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs, as they affect its results. It reduces the platelet-rich plasma you can receive from your blood.
More than this, the toxins found in cigarettes hamper the function of your stem cells. Nicotine, hydrogen cyanide, and carbon monoxide affect the body’s healing process. Avoiding smoking will also help you lessen the causes of hair loss.
4) Take At-Home Hair Treatment
You may consult your dermatologist for prescriptions of at-home hair treatments for better and more prolonged results of your PRP hair treatment. Topical ointments and solutions may provide additional support for your hair and scalp other than the PRP injections. Some of these products are minoxidil, herbal restorative shampoos, and oral medications.
Know More About PRP Hair Treatment at FACE Med Store
Platelet-rich plasma therapy offers long-lasting results, but it’s not permanent–that’s why patients are still advised to receive follow-up injections. They can go until 6 months before getting these touch-up shots. Those not yet finished with their 3 initial treatment sessions can go as late as 6 weeks before their next injections.
Know more about platelet-rich plasma injections and other options for hair growth here at FACE Med Store. We have an updated catalog of the best beauty and medical supplies for practices and everyday users, including PRP hair treatments. Browse our online store or get in touch with us today to see our stock list.
Learn More: What Happens If You Stop PRP Hair Treatment?
