PRP for Hair Loss
If you have accident-related hair loss, you may be overwhelmed and wondering what to do. Every time you look in the mirror or run your fingers through your hair you are reminded of the incident. Perhaps you were in an accident that was someone else’s fault, or there was negligence. Consequently, you may be considering a hair restoration treatment, like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, but are eager to know if the cost of treatment is included in the accident-related damages.
If you’re already working with an attorney on filing a personal injury claim, you’ll likely want to let them know about your accident-induced hair loss. And you may want to choose a hair treatment doctor who can provide the needed support to help justify your need for hair replacement.
PRP Therapy for Hair Growth
PRP is gaining more and more popularity around the world within the last few years. PRP may be an ideal treatment option for hair loss, as it has numerous scientifically-backed reports of its efficacy. It’s been shown to increase hair thickness and hair count, and extend the growth phase of the hair cycle.
The liquid portion of blood, called the plasma, contains platelets which have abundant growth factors. Growth factors are substances that play the role of messengers, signaling cellular function. They have been used in medicine to treat a wide range of health issues, including arthritis, degenerative joints and discs, and other signs of aging. For people with thinning hair, growth factors can enhance, activate, and stimulate the activity of the hair follicles and that leads to new hair growth.
Hair starts growing from a root in the bottom of a hair follicle. The hair root is made up of cells laden with protein. Blood vessels in the scalp feed the root, which creates more protein-packed hair cells and causes the hair to grow. PRP can promote a healthy scalp and hair follicles, leading to hair growth.
PRP Therapy: The Process
There is a meticulous process involved in using PRP for hair regrowth. It starts with a standard blood draw from a vein in the patient’s arm. Next, the tube of blood is placed into a machine called a centrifuge, which spins the blood tube at a high velocity. The centrifugal force created by the high-speed spinning pushes heavier materials to the outside, so separates the red blood cells from the plasma.
The plasma portion, which is rich in platelets and growth factors, is then injected with a small needle directly into the scalp at the level of the hair follicles. The entire procedure typically takes less than an hour from start-to-finish.
PRP Therapy Is Safe and Effective
For the most part, there’s little risk associated with PRP. Both women and men experiencing hair loss are typically good candidates for PRP therapies. It seems to work particularly well for people with early hair loss and androgenic alopecia, which is a hereditary type of patterned hair thinning. People who have lost or thinning hair as a result of an accident or injury may benefit as well.
If you’re curious to know if PRP therapy can help with your hair loss situation, schedule a consultation with a hair treatment doctor to get personalized answers to your questions and concerns.
Resources:
Wikipedia, Hair Treatment
