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Hair loss is very common, and new medical treatments are consistently improving to help patients maintain healthier and fuller hair. One option is platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which can stimulate hair growth and improve hair thickness using your body’s own growth factors.
In addition, PRP has other applications where it can be used to rejuvenate the skin for improving scarring, wrinkles, or other concerns. Dermatologists like Dr. Damstetter can help patients achieve a youthful appearance without surgery using simple and painless PRP injections.
What is PRP?
Hair loss is very common, and new medical treatments are consistently improving to help patients maintain healthier and fuller hair. One option is platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which can stimulate hair growth and improve hair thickness using your body’s own growth factors.
In addition, PRP has other applications where it can be used to rejuvenate the skin for improving scarring, wrinkles, or other concerns. Dermatologists like Dr. Damstetter can help patients achieve a youthful appearance without surgery using simple and painless PRP injections.
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Who is a Candidate for PRP Treatment?
Platelet-rich plasma therapy is safe and suitable for a wide range of patients who are experiencing hair loss or hair thinning. However, there are some health concerns that could disqualify you from undergoing platelet-rich plasma injections. These include having active infections, blood or bleeding disorders, anemia, or being pregnant.
A good candidate for PRP is typically someone in the early stages of hair loss with some remaining hair, rather than someone with complete baldness. Not all patients will respond to PRP treatment, as individual results may vary. Additionally, poor nutrition can contribute to hair thinning and may affect your candidacy for PRP.
PRP should also not be used in areas with a history of skin cancer. During a consultation, Dr. Damstetter will review your health history to decide whether PRP is recommended for you.
What Does PRP Help With?
PRP is useful for a variety of purposes. As a dermatologist, Dr. Damstetter may recommend PRP to treat hair loss, whether it is caused by progressive hair loss such as male-pattern or female-pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia), alopecia, damage, or other causes.
PRP is often used for individuals experiencing progressive hair loss to help regrow hair by stimulating hair follicles. It is primarily beneficial for patients who are suffering from thinning hair but still have some healthy follicles in the area that can continue the hair growth cycle. PRP can help increase hair thickness and the number of healthy hairs. This treatment is ideal for hair restoration as it can promote hair growth, increase terminal hair density, and produce thicker hairs, improving overall hair quality.
PRP can also be useful in rejuvenating the skin for those who have acne scarring, wrinkles, or aging signs. Often, PRP is paired with laser or microneedling so that the substance can more deeply penetrate the skin, enhancing skin hydration and regeneration.
How Does PRP Work?
Platelet-rich plasma, aside from obviously having many platelets that are important for healing injuries and sealing wounds, contains many growth factors that signal a variety of things to the area it is applied to. For example, to influence hair growth, a PRP injection tells the cells surrounding hair follicles to re-activate, draws additional resources from the body to support the follicle, and triggers the creation of additional blood vessels to make these changes longer-lasting.
Growth factors in PRP can positively affect the hair cycle by promoting the growth phase (anagen) of hair follicles, which helps stimulate hair regeneration and counter hair loss. This makes it a valuable alternative to hair transplant surgery for some patients.
The PRP Procedure
The first step of a PRP procedure is to draw blood. The amount drawn is similar to a standard blood draw at your doctor’s office. The blood is then spun up in a centrifuge to separate the red blood cells from the platelets and plasma, creating PRP.
When used to treat hair loss, the PRP is injected directly into the scalp at the area(s) where the hair is thinning. These scalp injections are performed using fine needles to minimize discomfort and ensure patient comfort. PRP hair rejuvenation treatments trigger the body’s healing process and stimulate new cell growth, which means that they can help patients experience new hair growth. A typical protocol involves three treatments for optimal results, with booster sessions often recommended after the last treatment to maintain and sustain the benefits over time.
In skin rejuvenation, the PRP is generally applied topically just as a serum or other skincare product would be, as well as injected into select areas. Due to the repellent nature of the skin and its oils, this is often performed after a procedure like laser resurfacing or microneedling, where there are microscopic channels for the PRP to infuse into. During a consultation, Dr. Damstetter can explain the procedure steps for your ideal treatment.
Treatment Frequency and Duration
To achieve the best results with PRP therapy for hair loss, most patients undergo a series of PRP treatments spaced about 4 to 6 weeks apart. Typically, an initial course of 3 to 4 sessions is recommended to stimulate hair regrowth and improve hair density.
After this initial phase, maintenance treatments may be scheduled every 4 to 6 months to sustain hair growth and prevent further hair thinning. The exact frequency and duration of your treatment plan will depend on your individual hair growth goals, the extent of your hair loss, and how your hair responds to PRP therapy. Regular follow-up appointments with your provider will help monitor your progress and adjust your treatment schedule as needed, ensuring you achieve the healthiest, most natural-looking hair possible.
Recovery and Results after PRP Treatment
PRP therapy does not require any downtime. You may feel some soreness at injection sites or see redness or bruising where your blood was drawn. These side effects should subside quickly, with all discomfort or swelling improving in no more than a few weeks. Some other side effects can include dizziness, nausea, and irritation. Several treatments are typically necessary for hair regrowth, and a maintenance regimen will be determined based on how your skin or hair responds to the initial treatment.
Dr. Damstetter can give you specific instructions for aftercare as well as inform you when you will start to see results. The beneficial effects of PRP therapy include noticeable improvements in hair regrowth and increased hair density, especially when treatments are performed at the recommended frequency.
Potential Risks and Side Effects
PRP injections for hair growth are generally considered a safe and well-tolerated medical treatment, especially when performed by an experienced healthcare professional. Most patients experience only mild and temporary side effects, such as slight swelling, redness, or bruising at the injection site. These effects typically resolve on their own within a few days and do not interfere with daily activities.
To minimize potential risks, it’s important to choose a qualified provider for your PRP therapy and to follow all post-treatment care instructions. For those experiencing hair loss, the benefits of PRP injections for hair regrowth and restoration usually far outweigh the potential risks, making it a popular choice for promoting healthy hair.
Schedule a Consultation
To learn more about PRP and the procedures we recommend alongside it, schedule a consultation with Dr. Damstetter at Reserve Dermatology. Call our Northfield, IL office or contact us online.
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Dr. Elizabeth Damstetter
Dr. Elizabeth Damstetter is a board-certified dermatologist and esteemed founder of Reserve Dermatology & Aesthetics, who brings expertise in both medical and cosmetic dermatology while maintaining a compassionate, patient-centered approach. With advanced training spanning internal medicine, clinical trials, and dermatology—from the University of Chicago, Northwestern, and Boston University—Dr. Damstetter combines rigorous clinical skill with cutting-edge aesthetic insight. As an Assistant Professor at Rush University Medical Center and active contributor to dermatology research and education, she seamlessly blends clinical excellence with academic leadership.Known for her “reserved cosmetic approach,” Dr. Damstetter delivers subtle, natural-looking enhancements with personalized plans that prioritize long-term skin health and patient confidence.
