Last Updated on January 7, 2021 by Robert Price

Finding a hair loss specialist or dermatologist who offers PRP sessions can be a challenge. And that’s unfortunate. In my research, I’ve yet to come across a more promising new treatment option for hair loss, but many people haven’t even heard of it. PRP can be effective for both men and women, and it can deliver incredible results quickly with almost no side effects.

Below is a segment discussing PRP for hair loss on the television show, The Doctors.

What is PRP?

PRP stands for platelet rich plasma. It’s a hair loss treatment that is derived from your own blood platelets; platelets contain a variety of potent growth and healing factors. The treatment is injected into your desired areas, where hair loss is present. Results can typically be seen within about 3 months. It is often regarded as “lunchtime” procedure, because it can be done in one hour or less.

PRP Cost

According to Real Self, the average cost of a PRP procedure is around $1,500 (source). $400 is the approximate minimum cost. PRP+ACell sessions can yield longer-lasting results, but these treatments cost more. $6,000 is the approximate maximum cost of this therapy. It currently has a 92% “worth-it” rating on Real Self.

How The Procedure is Done

A small blood sample is first obtained from the patient, which is put into a test tube. That test tube then gets placed into a high-speed centrifuge, where the blood is spun and the patient’s restorative, growth-promoting blood platelets are isolated into a special formula. After using local anesthesia, the PRP  is applied directly to the scalp as needed.

PRP is often called the “vampire” hair loss treatment, because the patient’s own blood is used to complete the procedure.

An initial, pre-treatment exam will generally be required. PRP formulations will vary in terms of their potency, depending on the patient’s age, gender, and severity of hair loss. After the PRP is injected into the scalp, a microneedling device such as a Derma Pen is used to induce trauma, helping stimulate additional hair growth. It’s considered to be a relatively pain-free procedure, though some patients will disagree with that assessment.

“But It’s Not FDA Approved to Treat Hair Loss”

You’ll hear this from many PRP skeptics, and they’re right — but their argument is slightly misleading. PRP is an FDA approved treatment, just not specifically for hair loss.

There are many therapies available that physicians use “off-label” to treat a wide range of conditions. Botox is a perfect example. It’s currently only FDA-approved to treat glabella, or number-11 lines, but doctors effectively use Botox throughout the body, for crow’s feet, smile lines, etc. FDA approval is a rigorous, time-consuming, and extremely expensive process — so just because a treatment isn’t FDA-approved to treat a particular affliction, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s ineffective.

Why Some Doctors are Skeptical of PRP

Undoubtedly, a certain percentage of doctors are skeptical of PRP and its effectiveness. Some of those doctors have reservations about it because it is not FDA-approved to treat hair loss, and others just haven’t seen enough evidence that PRP works. It’s usually the doctors who don’t specialize in PRP who are most skeptical of it, based on what I’ve read and reviewed online.

Everyone can be biased at times, doctors included. Finasteride, minoxidil, and hair transplants are all proven, long-term treatment options for hair loss. And PRP is still in its infancy, relatively, as a hair loss treatment, given that it’s only been used for about 5 years.  More physicians will come around in due time and offer PRP services, I’m fairly certain of that.

Popular with Celebrities and Athletes

If you follow sports, chances are you’ve heard about one of your favorite athletes undergoing a PRP procedure. Kobe Bryant, Tiger Woods, Raphael Nadal, Nelson Cruz, and Alex Rodriguez are just a few of the countless athletes who have reportedly utilized PRP therapy for its wound-healing properties. Celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Angelina Jolie have also reportedly undergone PRP sessions.

Who Can Benefit Most from PRP?

Men and women of all ages may see marked, albeit temporary, improvements in their hair thickness, length, and overall health with PRP. It can help treat pattern hair loss or androgenic alopecia, as well as a variety of other types of hair loss. It typically only works on functioning hair follicles — so we’re talking about your weak or thinning hairs. It probably won’t help treat actual bald spots.

Young men suffering from aggressive, early balding, who don’t want to take finasteride due to the risk of sexual side effects, could possibly undergo PRP sessions as an alternative. Granted, they’ll need multiple PRP sessions in order to maintain their results. Women generally don’t have as many treatments available to them as men — transplants aren’t an option in many cases for women, and finasteride is not approved to treat female hair loss. So they may also look to PRP as an effective, temporary means of addressing their hair loss.

How Long does it Last?

Of course how it lasts will vary. Some basic PRP treatments may only last for a few months. More expensive, PRP+ACell treatments can last for anywhere from 1-5 years, according to some physicians. So it’s not a permanent solution, but the good news is that the procedure can be re-done as needed.

Other Resources

Here are a couple of other PRP articles you may find interesting:

1. Platelet Rich Plasma: A Therapy for Hair Growth
2. . New ‘Vampire’ PRP Treatment May Rejuvenate Dying Follicles.

3. Platelet-Rich Plasma in Androgenic Alopecia: Myth or an Effective Tool?

Have you tried PRP to treat your hair loss? If so, what was your experience? If you have any questions or comments to add, chime in below.

Robert Price

Robert Price is a writer, consumer advocate, and hair loss researcher with thousands of hours of experience in the field. His goal is to keep you out of the hair loss rabbit hole, underworld, or whatever you want to call it. He founded Hair Loss Daily, the unbiased hair loss blog, in 2016. You can learn more about Robert in the my story section of this website.