PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy)

At Fakih Hospital, we have been performing PRP therapy as a proactive therapeutic option for male and female patients experiencing hair loss. PRP is an exciting non-surgical therapeutic option for patients who require stimulation of hair growth for hair loss conditions. Recent scientific research and technology provides the medical community with new understandings of wound and tissue healing. As a result of these scientific studies, we recognize PRP is an all-natural autologous medical procedure performed in physicians offices for scalp, skin, and hair stimulation. While studies are slowing being published in the medical literature on the success of PRP, the hair restoration community remains cautious about making claims for hair restoration using exclusively PRP. In a recent study published in Dermatologic Surgery, physicians in Korea published data supporting the clinical application of PRP in hair restoration. A we encourage it and prescribe PRP therapy as a compliment to a nonsurgical approach for those patients who are not eligible for surgery or who want to delay hair restoration surgery. As a non-surgical treatment option, we recommend PRP therapy along with Minoxidil and DHT blockers or for those patients who can not tolerate or have side effects with these medications.

How does PRP works?

Human blood contains esential and specific growth factors that assist in tissue regeneration and healing. Published medical literature from Europe and the United States confirms the safety and use of PRP therapy. It has been used a medical adjunct therapy for over two decades for skin and wound healing. PRP therapy has established itself to be effective as a medical treatment modality in the specialty fields of oral surgery, neurosurgery, plastic and cosmetic surgery, sports medicine and orthopedics. It has been used extensively in these specialties for the last twenty years with generally positive outcomes and success. In the field of hair restoration, evidence supports PRP therapy as a promising treatment option to promote hair growth. 

What should I expect from my consultation?

During your consultation, you will learn about the PRP, its limitations, and discuss your needs and concerns. Dr. Nabil Fakih will carefully examine your hair and determine what type of procedure would best maximize your result. After your consultation we will take photographs for your medical record and we will discuss the treatment fees and scheduling dates. Prices can be discussed during your consultation. You should come to the consultation prepared to discuss your medical history. You should provide any relevant information from your health doctors. Also provide information about any medical conditions, drug allergies, medical treatments you have received, previous surgeries and medications that you currently take. It is important for you to provide complete information.

How the procedure is performed?

Blood is drawn in our office as though you are having routine blood testing at your primary care physician’s office. Through a simple blood draw (between 80 - 100 ml of blood, equivalent to 10-18 bottles of blood) from an individual into a sterile tube and is placed in a centrifuge and spun in order to separate the blood from the growth factors and platelets. We ensures a lot of PRP in comparison with others clinics who they withdraw 1-2 tubes only. We use a closed sterile system and the platelets are concentrated to 3X the normal blood values. The system eliminates granulocytes which hurts tissue regeneration and wound healing. An anesthesia block is given to nerves of the scalp so the patient does not feel any pain. The highly concentrated platelet rich plasma (PRP) is then injected into the scalp. The patient’s hair is then washed and the patient may drive home. PRP contains many growth factors that stimulate the hair follicle’s growth. PRP can be used preoperatively, intraoperatively, or post operatively. Some patient’s chose to have PRP performed every three (3) to four (4) months as early data suggests regular or semiannual PRP treatments that may stimulate hair growth. PRP is a potential emerging non-surgical based therapy for natural hair follicle stimulation for thinning hair. We offer to do it with Local Anesthesia or with Sedation (by our certified anesthesiologist doctor). We can offer the treatment combined with Vitamins mesotherapy that contains essential vitamins for hair regrowth as biotin and stem cells booster. 

The Science about PRP

PRP contains special cells called Platelets, that can theoretically cause growth of the hair follicles by stimulating the stem cells and other cells in the microenvironment of the hair follicle. These special Platelet cells promote healing, accelerates the rate and degree of tissue healing and regeneration, responds to injury, and formation of new cellular growth. The primary purpose of using PRP in hair restoration is to stimulate inactive or newly implanted hair follicles into an active growth phase. Inside the Platelets are many intracellular structures such as glycogen, lysosomes and alpha granules. These granules within the PRP contain clotting and growth factors that are eventually released during the healing and repair process.

 PRP specific cells that causes hair growth include:

 • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF)—promotes blood vessel growth, cell replication, skin formation;

 • Transforming Growth-Factor-Beta (TGF-b)—promotes growth of matrix between cells, bone metabolism;

 • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)—promotes blood vessel formation;

 • Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)—promotes cell growth and differentiation, blood vessel formation, collagen formation;

 • Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 (FGF-2)—promotes growth of specialized cells and blood vessel formation; and,

 • Insulin Like Growth Factor - (IGF)—a regulator of normal physiology in nearly every type of cell in the body

PRP therapy offers the opportunity for hair growth for those patients who are not candidates for surgery or those patients wanting a more aggressive nonsurgical approach to treatment. For our surgical patients PRP therapy is performed at the same day as the hair restoration surgery or before for an ideal preparation. Whether you are looking for additional hair stimulation, or are looking to have hair surgery with the addition of PRP. Results will vary from patient to patients.

Who should not have PRP Procedure?

Medical diagnosis such as platelet dysfunction syndromes, thrombocytopenias, hypofibrinogenaemia, hemodynamic instability, sepsis, acute and chronic Infections, chronic liver disease, anti-coagulation therapy, chronic skin diseases or cancer, metabolic and systemic disorders.