(Dr. Vernikos is no longer offering PRP treatments as he has not seen satisfactory results from his trial patients.)

The injection of platelet rich plasma (PRP) is a technique using the body's own blood to heal itself. Dr Theodoros Vernikos is incorporating its use for the growth of thinning hair, transplanted hair and wound healing. This technique has now been performed on hundreds of patients since 2005, with good success. One of the first patients that will receive this treatment at FUE clinics is Dr. Vernikos himself and his progress will be tracked.

When platelet-rich plasma is used in the transplanted area, the newly transplanted follicles have an increased yield.

The Process

One syringe of blood is removed from the patient, much like during a regular blood test, then the blood is placed into a centrifuge. After centrifuging the platelets, can be concentrated and can multiply their growth factors up to ten times their natural rate. This platelet-rich plasma is then injected into the hair donor site and the hair recipient site to promote healing. Because the PRP is injected into the site where blood would not usually go, it can deliver the body's natural healing instincts.

Benefits

Platelet Rich Plasma is being used in patients with hair loss as well as during hair restoration surgery. In patients with hair loss, early studies have shown hair diameters to increase, causing hair to appear thicker and fuller. During hair restoration surgery, it appears to aid healing of the donor site as well as increase graft survival in the recipient area.

At this time, PRP is still considered experimental. We are in the early stages of seeing where it best fits into a hair restoration practice.

The PRP gel is used in the donor site for the above reasons, and the PRP and concentrated growth factors are injected into the recipient area after the transplantation to promote quicker healing. Infusing PRP into the recipient area may also have a positive effect on the regeneration of the non-transplanted hair, and studies are under way to evaluate this hypothesis.

The Body's Natural Way to Heal

Platelets help the blood to clot and they also promote healing. They are powerful and important components in the healing process. They contain growth factors that promote generation in the body, and they also interact with local cells that start events such as cell division and migration.

The benefits of platelets are apparent to doctors in many fields, and its usage is in its infancy though the promise is there. The use of PRP is likely to change the treatment of hair loss around the world.

(Dr. Vernikos is no longer offering PRP treatments as he has not seen satisfactory results from his trial patients.)