06.01.2020

What Is the Downtime After PRP Hair Treatment?

There are some inevitable signs of aging. Fine lines, wrinkles, and skin laxity will eventually make their way onto most of our faces. With hair loss, it can seem like luck of the draw. It’s not just age: many young men, and some women, are also faced with this unwelcome change in their hairline. If you’re dealing with unwanted hair loss and are ready to find solutions, call ProMD Health in Baltimore, MD and ask about PRP hair treatment.

What Causes Hair Loss?

It is estimated that over 50% of men over the age of 50 will have to deal with male pattern baldness. This type ofย hair loss is genetic, meaning there’s a family history of it. It’s associated with male sex hormones called androgens. These hormones serve many functions, one of which is hair growth regulation. People who suffer from male patterned baldness have a disruption in their hair growth cycle.

The Normal Hair Growth Cycle

Our hair grows in the hair follicle, or root, just below our skin. At the base of the follicle, blood vessels feed our hair, giving it the nutrients it needs to grow. These blood vessels come together to make keratin, the protein that comprises our hair and nails.

Between just starting to grow and falling out, our hair will be in one of four phases of the growth cycle. Each of our hairs is in a different phaseย at any given time.

Anagen Phase

This is called the growth phase. Anagen lasts between two and seven years and how long this phase lasts determines how long our hair can grow. Not everyone can grow hair to the middle of their backs, for instance. It depends on the length of this phase.

Catagen Phase

Also called the transition phase, Catagen lasts about 10 days. During this time, the follicle shrinks and pulls away from the deep layer of skin.

Telogen Phase

This is the resting phase and can last up to three months. The follicle has already pulled away from the skin but the old hair hasn’t fallen out yet. While the old hair is resting, another is starting the growth phase in a new follicle. 10-15% of our hair can be in this phase at all times. If hairs enter this phase too early, you can lose more hair and a visible thinning can occur.

Exogen Phase

This new hair phase is when the resting, old hair falls out making way for the new hair to continue to grow unobstructed. On any givenย day, we can lose between 50-150 hairs.

The Alopecia Hair Growth Cycle

When someone has male pattern baldness, the entire hair growth cycle weakens and the hair follicle permanently shrinks. This causes new hair to be thinner and shorter until the growth cycle for each hair strand ends and no new hair is regrown to take its place.

Characteristics of Alopecia

While this is generally seen in older men, it can start as early as the teenage years, depending on the genetics of the individual. This hair loss starts at the temple or the crown of the head. Some men get a single bald spot, while others experience receding hairlines that form an โ€œMโ€ shape. Some men will find their hair recedes until there is little to none left.

What Is PRP?

Platelet rich plasma, or PRP, is getting a lot of press lately in the anti-aging world. In medicine, it’s been used for decades. PRP is taken a sample of the patient’s blood that has been spun in a centrifuge until it has separated. This spinning separates the platelets from the other components so they can be used in PRP treatment.

How Does PRP Work?

Platelets are what our bodies send to the site of any injury. Platelets are rich in growth and healing factors. They initiate repair and attract stem cells to the injury or wherever they’re injected. In short, PRP triggers, stimulates, and speeds up the body’s natural healing process. This treatment has been used in operating rooms and in rehabilitative medicine with amazing success. Now it’s working to reverse the signs of aging and stimulate the growth of new hair.

How Does PRP Hair Treatment Work?

This innovative treatment uses your own blood to stimulate hair growth. PRP contains all those growth proteins and cytokines which have been studied and shown to stimulate and enhance follicle function. Remember, hair loss is caused by a shrinking of the follicle until it either produces thin and short hair or no hair at all.

This treatment strengthens those weakened follicles. A very small sample of your blood will be taken and spun in a centrifuge. Once the PRP is extracted from that sample, small, shallow injections will be made into the skin but on the same level as the hair follicle to ensure it reaches the exact place it needs to be to maximize results.

What to Expect

You and your doctor will have an in-depth consultation. Your scalp will be examined to ensure you’re a good fit for PRP hair treatment. You and your specialist will go over the treatment and set realistic expectations. The amazing part of this effective treatment is the low risk of adverse side effects because you’re using your own blood. This is whatย makes PRP hair treatment so well tolerated by so many clients.

Pre-Treatment

There are a few pre-treatment instructions to follow to make sure you get the most out of your session and lessen the already low likelihood of bruising at the injection site. A week before your appointment stop taking any blood-thinning over-the-counter medications or herbal supplements. This includes:

  • Aspirin
  • Ibuprofen
  • Naproxen
  • Garlic
  • Vitamin E
  • Gingko Biloba
  • St. John’s Wort
  • Omega-3

 

The Day of Your Appointment

When you arrive, your doctor may apply a topical numbing cream to the injection site, though many clients don’t receive this and still say the treatment is very comfortable. Your blood will be taken and spun in a medical-grade centrifuge until the plasma is separated from the rest of the blood. This non-surgical, in-office treatment takes about 30 minutes. When you’re done, you’re free to go.

Post-Treatment

There is no downtime associated with this treatment. Once you’re home, you can shower, shampoo, and condition as normal. Ask your doctor about any harsh chemical treatments like hair dye and how long you should wait before getting those.

Results

Results aren’t immediate. Remember, the growth cycle for a new hair to grow from the follicle out of the skin is three months, so it will take even longer than that to see longer hair making a difference in your appearance. You’ll start noticing results between six to twelve months after your first treatment.

Some clients may experience the results they want right after PRP treatment first session. Your doctor will make a treatment plan recommendation for you based on the condition of your hair and how much you’d like to grow back. The best results come from repeated treatments once a month for three months. Most people return once a twice a year to maintain the results they’re happy with.

Extend and Improve Your Results

PRP hair treatment can be used in conjunctionย with at-home treatments your doctor recommends. There are effective topical treatments available, and those are made even better once a client has had PRP hair treatment.

Formula 82M

This is a prescription solution that restores hair growth and revitalizes existing hair through the use of anti-inflammatories, antioxidants, and anti-androgens. Formula 82M contains minoxidil, one of the most extensively researched substances proven to stimulate hair growth. This treatment usually comes in drop form.

Formula 82S Shampoo

This is a take-home, daily shampoo made to promote new hair growth and strengthen the hair you have. This eco-certified shampoo contains only natural ingredients so you can feel good about using it every day. Some restorative hair treatments can leave hair dull, brittle, and looking tired and dried out. This shampoo leaves hair shiny and soft. Your hair will look and feel healthy. This is a great treatment for female hair loss and works great for men too.

Nutrafol

Nutrafol is an oral medication that delivers hair restoration through keratin support and the use of amino acids. There are two unique formulas: one for men and one for women. This medication should be taken once a day with food. It’s gentle enough for people with sensitive stomachs.

PRP for Facial Rejuvenation

If you love the idea ofย PRP hair treatment, ask your doctor about the benefits of PRP for facial rejuvenation. This treatment can address:

  • Fine lines, wrinkles, and folds
  • Skin laxity
  • Uneven skin tone and texture
  • Lost areas of volume
  • Hyperpigmentation
  • Acne scarring
  • Stretch marks
  • Cellulite

When injected into the treatment area, the growth factors in the plasma trigger the body to make more collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid.

Collagen, Elastin, and Hyaluronic Acid

When PRP is injected into your areas of concern, it triggers your body’s natural healing process. This includes building up the protein collagen in the dermal layer of your skin. When we’re young, collagen forms a strong and smooth foundation for the surface of our skin to lie on. It’s also where our healthy cells regenerate, keeping our skin smooth, firm and bright.

Elastin keeps our skin flexible. When we’re young, we’re able to pull and pinch our skin and it will snap right back into place. Hyaluronic acid is a sugar our bodies produce to keep our skin hydrated. Youthful skin always looks dewy and supple because of hyaluronic acid.

Aging Skin

Aging skin loses all three of theseย powerhouses. When collagen declines, our foundation cracks allowing wrinkles, folds, and lines to form. Our cells don’t regenerate the way they used to so we can see uneven tone and texture. Hyaluronic acid no longer keeps our skin supple or as easily hydrated.

Results

Once your skin is injected with the PRP, it begins to repair itself from the inside out by increasing its production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. Over time, wrinkles, lines, and folds will fill in, texture and tone will even out, and a brighter complexion will be revealed.

The results are transformative and may take up to nine months to be fully realized. Most clients can enjoy these results for up to two years. Talk to your doctor about the right follow-up schedule to enjoy seamless results.

Call Today for Your Transformative Treatment

Why put off looking and feeling your best for one more day? Call ProMD Health in Baltimore, MD for your consultation. We’re committed to giving our clients unparalleled service and amazing results. We believe if you look your best, a new self-confidence can be renewed that spills over into every aspect of your life. We look forward to speaking with you soon!

06.01.2020
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