PRECISION PRP™ THERAPY

ABOUT PRECISION PRP™ THERAPY

Platelets are a component of blood that contain specific proteins and growth factors. These growth factors once introduced into the scalp, slow down hair loss, re-thicken thinning hair, and can possibly generate new hair growth by stimulating dormant hair follicles. It is also used during hair transplant surgery to assist in healing of the skin and helps stimulate hair transplants to grow while improving hair graft survivability. While PRP therapy has recently received a lot of attention, it has been in use for several decades. PRP is currently used in many areas of medicine, including orthopedic and sports medicine, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery and cardiovascular medicine, as the growth factors found in platelets have been shown to accelerate wound healing, tissue repair and skin rejuvenation.

When considering the use of PRP to enhance hair growth, it is extremely important that we reach an ideal platelet concentration to achieve optimal PRP concentrations. Studies have shown that a platelet concentration of at least 1.5 million platelets/microliter stimulates follicular angiogenesis (blood vessel formation), which is a major factor in rejuvenating thinning hair. This angiogenesis event also allows for better blood flow, oxygen and nutrients to penetrate the hair follicles. If a person has low platelets and the same amount of blood is drawn for someone with optimal platelet levels, one will not achieve this 1.5 million platelet/microliter level.

Since platelet levels differ from person-to-person and change from day-to-day, it’s important to know one’s platelet level before proceeding. Unfortunately, with current PRP techniques, the act of drawing one’s blood, separating out the PRP, and re-injecting back into the scalp is performed without ever testing platelet levels. Therefore, if someone were to have low platelet levels their PRP concentrations would be sub-optimal, unless the correct amount of blood volume is drawn. That is why not all PRP systems are the same and because there is no universal protocol, results vary greatly.

Dr. Yaker’s customized Precision PRP™ system, is one of the first in the country that verifies your platelet levels in real time using a specialized cell analysis software. This unique software can calculate and validate a patient specific PRP treatment dose based on your platelet levels and blood volume to provide consistently high concentrations of PRP. With the ability to quantify the platelet levels and thus the PRP levels, we see more consistent outcomes resulting in more re-thickening of thinning hair.

What sets Precision PRP™️ apart?

Below are slides from the same patient on the same day. The pictures below show the difference in PRP concentrations between our Precision PRP™️ system (right) and a well-known brand name system (left). What is clearly visible is a higher concentration of PRP (depicted by multiple orange dots) as compared to a regular system.

WHAT TO EXPECT

As a non-invasive solution, the treatment therapy is a short 60-minute in-office visit. The process begins with real-time testing of platelet levels through a gentle prick of the finger. Next, a small amount of blood is acquired and spun at high speeds in a special machine in order to separate the platelets from the rest of the blood components. While the blood is spinning, a local anesthetic is applied to the scalp and the concentrated platelet rich plasma is reintroduced into areas of the patient’s scalp that show hair thinning. Finally, microneedling is performed on the scalp to create micro-trauma and micro-channels into the skin, which activates the PRP and allows them to penetrate deep into the skin.

ARE THERE RISKS?

Because PRP is made from your own blood, there is no chance of allergy or rejection.

RECOVERY & RESULTS

There is no downtime following this procedure, with virtually no limitations or restrictions. Most commonly, patients may develop some redness, minimal swelling and mild tenderness to the treated areas. These symptoms may last up to 48 hours. While results differ for each patient, cosmetic benefits are typically seen around 4 to 6 months after the first treatment, and will continue to improve up to a full year following treatment. As PRP is not a permanent solution for hair loss, repeat treatments are recommended every 9-18 months. It is important to note that PRP does not grow new hair follicles in areas where you are already bald. It is used to help reverse the miniaturization of hair follicles so they will produce healthier, thicker, longer hair fibers.