Platelet-Rich Plasma
For many men and women, hair loss can be a major concern and a blow to one’s self-image and sense of confidence. The image of a healthy head of hair can be an important part of self-presentation. While hair loss is common and has a variety of causes, including illness, genetics and age, many people feel a strong sense of identity and pride connected to the appearance of their hair.
Hair restoration treatments at Cold Spring Plastic Surgery can help you to regain that self-confidence and pride while rejuvenating your appearance and minimizing the effects of aging.
One exceptional and exciting treatment for hair restoration is PRP or Platelet-Rich Plasma. Non-invasive PRP treatments can be used on their own or in conjunction with hair transplantation to help you achieve exceptional results for hair regrowth and a natural appearance. PRP hair restoration is suitable for both men and women to help stimulate hair regrowth.
What Is Platelet-Rich Plasma or PRP?
PRP therapy makes use of the Platelet-Rich Plasma contained in your own blood to stimulate hair growth. This means that it is a natural treatment that takes advantage of the restorative powers of your body to help alleviate hair thinning or loss. Platelets in the blood normally help to ensure that your blood clots in case of injury; they promote the growth of collagen and other restorative substances. PRP therapy was originally used in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine and is finding a number of uses in different areas of medicine, including cosmetic surgery and oral surgery. The platelets of the blood contain growth factors; in fact, normal platelets contain seven different growth factors. This hair restoration treatment makes use of these growth factors by applying them directly to areas of hair loss or thinning in order to stimulate the stem cells contained there and enter the area of the hair bulb.
Your Long Island plastic surgeon at Cold Spring Plastic Surgery will use injections to introduce the PRP below the skin of your scalp. By bringing the growth factors contained in your plasma to the scalp, they can help to regenerate tissue and assist you in enjoying a fuller, thicker head of hair.
How Is PRP Hair Restoration Treatment Performed?
When you come in for a consultation with one of the Suffolk County plastic surgeons at Cold Spring Plastic Surgery, your surgeon will discuss with you your goals for hair restoration as well as the medical causes for your thinning or receding hair.
Depending on the cause of your hair loss, your surgeon will recommend a schedule of PRP treatments that can help you access the benefits of this non-invasive, convenient procedure.
When you visit our convenient Huntington, NY, office for your PRP procedure, a medical professional will draw a small amount of blood from your arm. This blood draw is similar to having a blood test performed in a laboratory or a doctor’s office. Next, our experienced, trained staff will spin your blood in our high-quality centrifuge. This treatment will allow your platelet-rich plasma to rise to the top, separating it from the rest of your blood.
We will concentrate it intensely so that you can receive an advanced gel formulation of the growth proteins in your blood. Only your own platelets are used in this hair restoration treatment.
We will apply a topical anesthetic to your scalp in order to prevent pain or discomfort as your Long Island plastic surgeon completes the PRP treatment. Your surgeon will inject your scalp with the separated platelet-rich plasma into specific locations chosen for efficient, effective hair regeneration.
Because PRP is injected directly below the skin of the scalp, growth factors are able to provide stimulation to nearby hair follicles. Multiple treatments can improve the effectiveness of this treatment, either by using monthly treatments for a specific period or spacing out several treatments every three months. Whether used on its own or in conjunction with hair transplantation, the PRP procedure can help you to achieve hair regrowth and a thicker head of hair.
Am I A Good Candidate for PRP Hair Restoration?
Like all hair restoration treatments, results from PRP therapy can vary from person to person. This treatment has shown the greatest effectiveness for people who have not had scarring alopecia and whose thinning hair is due to other causes, including age, thyroid disorders or other concerns. When you visit Cold Spring Plastic Surgery, your surgeon will go over options for you to help you achieve the best results possible for rejuvenating your appearance through hair restoration. PRP treatments for hair restoration make use of only your own blood, handled and centrifuged in our medical-grade, sterile equipment. This means that you can be assured of the safety of the procedure and that allergies, rejection and sensitivity are typically not a factor. You will receive concentrated, reliable PRP therapy developed on-site with our advanced technology.
What Results Can I Expect From PRP Hair Restoration Services?
Within two weeks to a month after your first PRP treatment, you may begin to be able to see and feel results of the therapy. However, it can take up to six months or a year to fully determine how well PRP has helped to restore your hair. Over that period of time, you could see results that are measurable visually in photographs or in the mirror. At Cold Spring Plastic Surgery, we can help to track the density of your hair to see how well you respond to PRP and the potential for additional treatments.
PRP is still under investigation to confirm its effectiveness in restoring hair, so the extent of your successful results is always individualized.
After you receive your PRP therapy, you can immediately return to your normal daily activities. You can wash, shower and shampoo your hair a few hours after your procedure is complete. Discomfort should be short-lived, including some redness and inflammation for several hours. If you perm or color your hair with chemical treatments, you should wait 72 hours to apply them to your scalp after receiving PRP. However, if you use topical hair restoration creams or other treatments, you can apply them the day after your treatment.
Schedule a PRP Hair Restoration Consultation
Cold Spring Plastic Surgery can help you restore the appearance and feel of your natural, youthful hair. Call our office or use our convenient online form to make an appointment at our Suffolk County location to set up a consultation about PRP hair restoration. We work with patients from across the United States and around the world, and we look forward to speaking with you about how we can help you achieve your goals.