What is the process of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy for treating androgenetic alopecia?

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Process for Androgenetic Alopecia

For androgenetic alopecia, administer PRP as three intradermal scalp injections spaced one month apart (months 0,1, and 2), combined with topical minoxidil 5% twice daily for superior outcomes compared to either treatment alone. 1, 2

Blood Collection and PRP Preparation

• Draw 9-15 cc of autologous whole blood from the patient using standard venipuncture technique 3, 4
• Centrifuge the blood using a commercially available PRP kit for approximately 5 minutes to separate platelet concentrate from other blood components 4, 5
• This yields 2-6 cc of concentrated PRP ready for injection 4, 5
• Use nonactivated PRP without additional activation steps, as it demonstrates 31% greater increases in hair count and total hair density compared to activated PRP 1, 2, 6

Injection Technique

• Inject 2-3 cc of PRP intradermally into the affected scalp areas using an insulin syringe or similar fine-gauge needle 4
• Distribute injections evenly across areas of hair thinning or loss 1
• The procedure is performed under sterile conditions 3

Treatment Protocol

• Administer three treatment sessions, each spaced exactly one month apart (at months 0,1, and 2) 1, 7
• Concurrent topical minoxidil 5% should be applied at 1 mL twice daily throughout the treatment period and beyond 1
• Maintenance PRP injections every 6 months are required to sustain results 6

Expected Outcomes and Timeline

• At 2-3 months: Initial improvements in hair density become visible, with a 25% improvement at 2 months predicting sustained response at 6 months 1
• At 6 months post-treatment: Hair density increases by 1.74 times, hair diameter increases by 14.3 times, and telogen phase hair decreases by 9.3 times 1, 3
• Terminal to vellus hair ratio improves in 60% of patients 3
• Patient satisfaction scores average 7.29-7.42 on a 10-point scale 1, 5

Critical Clinical Considerations

Combination therapy is essential: PRP combined with topical minoxidil 5% is significantly more effective than either PRP alone or minoxidil alone, and both monotherapies are superior to placebo 1, 2, 8

Avoid activation: Do not activate PRP before injection, as nonactivated PRP produces superior clinical outcomes 1, 2

Continuous treatment required: All benefits require ongoing maintenance therapy; discontinuation results in loss of gains 6

Best candidates: Mild to moderate androgenetic alopecia responds most favorably, with more severe grades showing variable results 1

Safety Profile

• No remarkable adverse effects have been reported in clinical studies 3
• The autologous nature of PRP makes it inherently safe with minimal risk of allergic reactions 5, 9
• Pain during injection is the primary complaint, though PRP is generally better tolerated than some alternatives 1

Alternative Considerations

• Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is emerging as a potentially superior alternative, offering theoretical advantages over PRP with similar efficacy and lower cost 1, 6
• PRF can be administered as intradermal injections using the same three-session protocol 1