PRP treatment for hair and scalp: how it works, and who it is for

More hairs in the sink and in the brush. A part that looks wider in daylight. A crown that shows through under strong lighting. If this sounds familiar, you are probably asking yourself whether it can be stopped, and whether you need surgery at all. The good news: every follicle that still produces hair is an opportunity, and PRP gives those follicles the support they need.

This page focuses on PRP for the scalp. For PRP in general, including the differences between preparation methods, see the main PRP page.

How does PRP work on the follicle?

Think of the scalp as a garden: the follicles are the plants, and PRP is a biological fertilizer from your own body that goes straight to the root. Platelets are the blood cells responsible for tissue healing. Inside them, in tiny granules, they store proteins called growth factors. When platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp, the growth factors are released near the follicle and signal it to get back to work².

• They stimulate the follicle: in a laboratory study, activated PRP increased cell division in the dermal papilla, the "engine" at the base of the follicle, and switched on known growth signals such as FGF-7 and beta-catenin. In mice, PRP accelerated the transition of follicles from the resting phase to the growth phase¹.
• They thicken the layer around the follicle: scalp biopsies taken two weeks after a series of treatments showed thicker skin, more follicles, more dividing cells in the follicle's stem cell area, and an increase in small blood vessels around it⁷⁸.
• They extend the growth phase: growth factors such as PDGF, VEGF, IGF-1 and FGF support the formation of new blood vessels and the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the follicle, and help it stay longer in the growth phase².

PRP was not invented for hair: it has been used in medicine for years for tissue healing, and in hair it was first described in 2006, when surgeons added it to hair transplants⁹.

Plasma treatment for hair (PRP): how is it done, step by step?

The treatment is done in a single clinic visit: blood draw, separation in a centrifuge and injection into the scalp. You return to your routine the same day.

1. Assessment before treatment. The type of hair loss is diagnosed with a trichoscopic examination, and you are asked about blood disorders and medications. Anticoagulant or anti-inflammatory medications are stopped before treatment only in coordination with the doctor who prescribed them¹⁰².
2. Blood draw. A small amount, in a few tubes, as in a routine blood test¹⁰.
3. Separation. The tubes spin in a centrifuge, which separates the blood components by weight and concentrates the platelets in the plasma¹⁰¹¹.
4. Injection. The plasma is injected with small, superficial needle pricks, at the depth where the hair roots sit, both in the weakened areas and in the areas next to them, to preserve the hair that is still growing. Most patients describe a feeling of pressure with little pain¹¹¹².

Not all PRP is the same: what affects the quality of the plasma?

PRP is not a single product. The preparation method, platelet concentration and technique make the difference. The preparation methods described in the literature differ greatly from one another, so it is important to work with a fixed, carefully followed protocol that gives a consistent product¹³.

• The right concentration, not the maximum: in a laboratory study, a concentration of about 1.5 million platelets per microliter best stimulated the formation of new blood vessels, and a higher concentration actually stimulated it less¹⁴.
• Activation: in the large meta-analysis, activated PRP increased density and reduced the return of shedding, and non-activated PRP was associated with more side effects³. One way to activate the platelets is light and temperature activation (MCT).
• The preparation system matters: in a small study comparing two different preparation systems, hair density results after six months differed greatly between the systems¹⁵.
• A closed, controlled kit: preparation in a closed, sterile system, with each kit used for one patient only, keeps the product clean and the concentration predictable¹³.

Medical PRP is not cosmetic "PRP". What matters is the platelet concentration, the injection depth and correct distribution over the entire weakened area, which is why the treatment is performed by a physician, after diagnosis.

What does the research say about PRP for hair?

Since 2006, dozens of trials on PRP for hair loss have been published, and the overall picture is encouraging: PRP increases hair density and reduces shedding.

Reviews and meta-analyses, the highest level of evidence:

• A 2025 meta-analysis, 43 controlled trials and 1,877 participants: PRP increased hair density, reduced shedding and improved patient satisfaction. Its efficacy was often similar to, and even better than, standard treatments³.
• A 2019 meta-analysis by a group of physicians and researchers: PRP improved hair density both compared with baseline and compared with placebo, and it recommended three monthly treatments and maintenance every three to six months⁴.
• A systematic review of 12 trials: 84% of the studies reported a positive effect of PRP in hereditary hair loss, without significant side effects¹⁶.
• Further meta-analyses found an increase of about 25 hairs per cm² compared with saline injection¹⁷, and an increase in density after three and six months¹⁸.

Controlled trials, half-head versus half-head:

• 23 men, three treatments one month apart: half of the scalp received PRP and the other half a placebo. On the treated side, there was an average increase of 33.6 hairs in the target area, and of 45.9 hairs per cm² in total density compared with baseline, without side effects⁸.

• 25 patients, a double-blind trial: after three monthly treatments, density on the PRP side rose more than on the control side. The improvement in density was associated with being male, age 40 or younger, and a family history of hair loss¹⁹.

• 40 patients, a comparison of two protocols: a monthly series of three treatments with a booster treatment after three months increased hair count by about 30% after six months, compared with about 7% with spaced-out treatments. 82% of patients were satisfied or very satisfied¹².

• 30 women, PRP versus saline in different areas of the scalp: density and hair thickness improved in the PRP area compared with the control area, the pull test was normal at the end of treatment in 83% of the women, and the improvement was maintained at six-month follow-up²⁰.

Follow-up studies:

• Even when pills and topical products were not enough: 11 patients who had not responded to six months of minoxidil and finasteride received four PRP treatments. Follicular unit count rose on average from 71 to 93 per cm², and the pull test was normal in 9 of them²¹.
• One-year follow-up: shedding calmed down by the third month, and density remained higher than baseline even after a year, with a booster treatment in the sixth month. Average satisfaction was 7.1 out of 10²².
• 64 patients, two independent assessors: some improvement was seen in almost all of them, and clinically significant improvement in 41%–55% of them²³.

What else is important to know: the studies differ from one another in preparation methods, and not every trial found a difference compared with saline²⁴. That is why the 2018 European guideline made no recommendation for or against²⁵, while the 2025 Canadian consensus already includes PRP among the recommended treatments²⁶, and the American Academy of Dermatology describes it as a treatment that can be safe and effective²⁷.

What's new in research (updated November 2026)

Work published in the last two years deals less with whether PRP works and more with how to perform it correctly. Three examples:

• One centrifugation spin or two? (2025): a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials compared PRP prepared with a single centrifugation spin with PRP prepared with two spins. Only three small trials were found, with 90 participants in total, and no significant difference was found between them in hair density or platelet concentration. The practical meaning: the number of spins alone does not determine the quality of the plasma; the entire preparation protocol does³⁹.
• PRP added to minoxidil (2024): a meta-analysis of five randomized trials compared topical minoxidil alone with minoxidil combined with PRP injections. In all the trials the combination produced better results in hair density, and the rate of side effects was similar in both groups. The researchers stress that the certainty of the evidence is low, because of the small number of studies, risk of bias and different PRP preparation methods⁴⁰.
• Injection or microneedling? (2025): in a randomized half-head trial, 20 patients with hereditary hair loss received PRP by intradermal injection on one side of the scalp and by microneedling on the other side, three treatments one month apart. Six months after the last treatment, no difference in hair density or thickness was found between the sides, and pain on the microneedling side was lower. This is a small trial, and its findings need to be confirmed in larger studies⁴¹.

These summaries describe the design of the studies and the researchers' conclusions, and are not a personal recommendation. The decision on treatment is made only after an examination.

PRP and minoxidil: competitors or partners?

Partners. In a meta-analysis of 9 randomized trials and 451 participants, PRP and 5% minoxidil showed similar improvement in hair density, and satisfaction with PRP was higher.⁶ And the good news: you can, and it is worth it, to combine them. In a trial of 93 men, the hair pull test was normal at the end of treatment in 87% of those who received minoxidil with PRP and microneedling, and in 65% of those who received minoxidil with PRP⁵. And in a follow-up of patients who added further treatments, the response to PRP was maintained during the combined treatment²⁸.

Why does the combination work? Because each treatment acts on a different part of the problem: PRP brings growth factors to the follicle, minoxidil extends the growth phase, and medications that block the hormone DHT stop the follicle from shrinking²⁵².

• Prefer a treatment without a daily routine? PRP lets you come to the clinic a few times a year and give your follicles a significant boost.
• Already using minoxidil or hair loss medications? Don't stop. PRP joins your existing treatment and strengthens it.
• Want an extra boost? Microneedling and mesotherapy combine well with PRP.

When do you see results?

Hair grows slowly, so the change builds up gradually. The first sign is usually fewer hairs in the sink and on the pillow.

• Around the third month: in a one-year follow-up, shedding calmed down and density reached a first peak as early as the third month²².
• After six months: in the randomized trial, the increase in hair count after six months was about 30% in those who received a monthly series¹².
• After a year: with a booster treatment, density remained higher than baseline²².

The first sign of success is usually less shedding, followed by thickening and growth. We measure, we don't guess. The change is checked with trichoscopic photography at the same fixed points on the scalp, so the change in hair density and thickness is seen in numbers, not just by how it feels in the mirror. Rarely, there is mild temporary shedding in the first weeks, which resolves on its own²⁵.

How many treatments are needed, and at what interval?

The protocol with the broadest support: three treatments one month apart, followed by maintenance every three to six months.⁴²⁷ In a randomized trial, the monthly series gave faster and greater improvement than spaced-out treatments¹², and a meta-regression found that more treatments at shorter intervals are associated with higher efficacy²⁹.

Why is maintenance needed? Hereditary hair loss keeps working in the background. In a two-year follow-up, most patients maintained the result for a full year after the series, and those who began shedding again were treated again⁸. Once the hair has strengthened, a few maintenance treatments a year preserve what has been achieved.

A plan tailored to your response, not a fixed package. Based on the follow-up measurements, we decide whether to add a treatment to the first series, and whether maintenance can be spaced out once the result is stable.

Who is PRP especially suitable for?

PRP excels in the early and moderate stages of hair loss, when there are still many hairs that have thinned but whose follicles are still alive. The key word is "existing": the treatment strengthens follicles that are still active, so the earlier you start, the more there is to work with.

• Men with hereditary hair loss in the early and intermediate stages of the Norwood scale, including receding temples and thinning at the crown. In a double-blind trial, the improvement in density was associated specifically with men and with age 40 or younger¹⁹. A table by stage and combination with finasteride is on the PRP for men page.
• Women with female pattern hair loss: two randomized trials in women showed improvement compared with placebo³⁰²⁰. What is checked first and how PRP is combined with medication is on the PRP for hair in women page.
• People who prefer a treatment from their own body, without a daily pill, or who stopped medication because of side effects.
• People already in treatment who want an extra boost to their medication.
• People who have had a hair transplant, or are planning one (details below).
• Hair loss runs in your family and you haven't started losing hair yet? This is exactly the time for an examination, and for a plan aimed at preserving your hair for years to come.

What PRP does, and what it doesn't:

• It does: strengthen follicles, calm shedding, thicken thin hairs, and support the hair around a transplant.
• It doesn't: grow hair on a completely smooth scalp where there are no follicles left. There, the right tool is a hair transplant.

If the examination shows that PRP is not the right tool for you, we will say so plainly and suggest a different direction.

Who is PRP less suitable for?

Suitability is checked at the examination, but it is good to know the contraindications in advance.²

• We do not treat when there is a severe drop in platelet count, a platelet function disorder, an active infection or a bloodstream infection, or unstable blood pressure.
• We take care or postpone after taking anti-inflammatory medications in the days before treatment, after a steroid injection into the area in the past month, after oral steroids in the past two weeks, and in cases of fever, anemia, certain types of cancer and smoking.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: the decision is made directly with the treating physician.

What does it feel like, and how is it made easier?

Most patients describe small pricks and a feeling of pressure. In a randomized trial, the average pain score was only 2.1 out of 10.¹² Still, there are many ways to make the treatment even more comfortable:

• Cooling the scalp before and during the injection¹¹.
• Numbing cream applied before the treatment.
• A vibration device that distracts from the pricking sensation. In scalp injections it reduced pain in a controlled trial³¹.
• Nitrous oxide ("laughing gas"), for those who are afraid of needles or especially sensitive. You stay awake, calm and relaxed.

After the treatment

You usually return to your routine the same day. Tenderness and mild swelling of the scalp are an expected reaction and usually last a day or two.¹⁰²⁵ Exact instructions about washing your hair, exercise, sun and hair products are given in writing at the clinic.

When to contact the clinic: spreading redness, local warmth or discharge at the injection site, fever, or pain that gets worse instead of fading. Infection is a rare complication, and contacting us quickly allows it to be treated early²⁵.

PRP and hair transplant: before, during and after

PRP and transplantation are natural partners. In fact, the first described use of PRP for hair was within hair transplants⁹. A transplant moves follicles to the bald area, but the native hair around it continues to be affected by hereditary hair loss. PRP strengthens that hair and preserves the overall look. When to start after the transplant and what studies have found: see PRP after hair transplant.

• Before a transplant: to strengthen the existing hair, and sometimes to discover that the transplant can be postponed.
• After a transplant: a systematic review of three controlled trials and 217 participants found improvement when PRP is added to the transplant³².
• Had a transplant abroad? You can get follow-up and support here, close to home. On recovery itself: instructions after a hair transplant and shock loss after a transplant.

PRP, iPRF, CGF, MCT or stem cells: what's the difference?

All of these are based on material from your own body, and each one brings the follicle something slightly different. PRP is the most studied in the family. A full comparison table is on the comparison of hair restoration treatments page.

• iPRF and CGF: blood concentrates without an anticoagulant, which form a fibrin network and release the growth factors gradually. The full comparison is on the iPRF and CGF page.
• MCT: the same PRP, with a light and temperature activation step before the injection.
• Stem cells - Regenera Activa: micrografts from your own scalp tissue, which also bring living cells to the follicles, usually in a single treatment.
• Nanofat for hair: processed fat from your own body that improves the environment in which the follicle grows.
• From an external source: exosomes for hair and growth factors in mesotherapy.

What are the side effects?

PRP is made from your own blood, so it contains no foreign substance and carries no risk of an allergic reaction to the material itself. Most side effects are mild and temporary. The common ones are tenderness, redness and mild swelling at the injection site. Less common effects include persistent scalp tenderness, a temporary skin reaction and temporary shedding, and very rare ones are infection and scarring²⁵. In meta-analyses of hair trials, no serious side effects were reported¹⁷¹⁸³.

Does PRP help with alopecia areata?

For alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease completely different from hereditary hair loss, there are dedicated treatments with a broader research base. The British guideline states that there is not enough evidence to recommend PRP for this condition, and the German guideline makes no recommendation for or against it. Full details are on the alopecia areata treatment page.

5 things to check before starting a PRP series

1. Diagnosis before treatment: a trichoscopic examination confirming that this is a type of hair loss PRP is suitable for.
2. A closed kit and a fixed preparation protocol, which keep the product clean and consistent¹³.
3. A physician who performs the injection and knows your hair loss map.
4. Documentation and measurement at the same fixed points, at every follow-up visit.
5. A complete plan: a series, maintenance and combination with medication, not a single treatment.

What makes up the cost, and do the health funds cover it?

The cost of a PRP plan depends on several factors: the number of treatments in the series, the type of kit and separation system, combination with additional treatments such as MCT or mesotherapy, and trichoscopic follow-up. That is why the plan and its cost are put together after the examination. PRP for hair is an aesthetic-medical treatment, and in most cases it is not covered by the national health basket. It is worth checking with your supplementary insurance whether there is partial coverage.

PRP versus finasteride and minoxidil: what's the difference and what is the evidence?

Today it is not possible to say with confidence which treatment is better: PRP, finasteride and minoxidil work through different mechanisms, so in many cases they are combined. Minoxidil is a topical product applied to the scalp, finasteride is an oral medication that reduces conversion to the hormone DHT, and PRP is a treatment based on your own blood that is injected into the scalp.

• Finasteride. In a systematic review of 12 randomized trials with about 3,900 men, finasteride increased hair count and improved patient and physician assessments, with evidence rated as moderate quality³⁴.
• Minoxidil. A systematic review of randomized trials found that minoxidil is better than placebo in men³⁵.
• PRP. A meta-analysis of nine randomized trials found an increase in hair density compared with placebo after 3 and 6 months¹⁸. Another meta-analysis rated the quality of the evidence as low, because of differences between studies in preparation methods and schedules¹⁷.
• Head-to-head comparison. In a network analysis of six non-surgical methods, PRP, finasteride, minoxidil and dutasteride appeared close in the average change in hair count, but the quality of the evidence was mostly low to very low, and the researchers called for higher-quality head-to-head trials³³.
• Combination. A meta-analysis of six randomized trials with 343 participants found that PRP together with minoxidil improved hair density and diameter more than either one alone³⁶.

The risks and convenience also differ. With finasteride, an increased risk of sexual dysfunction was found³⁴³⁷, and in 2025 the European Medicines Agency decided to add to finasteride 1 mg products a warning about mood changes, depression and suicidal thoughts, and a patient card in the package³⁸. Minoxidil requires regular, continuous use. PRP requires several sessions with scalp injections, and systematic reviews reported no serious side effects¹⁷¹⁸. Details on the medications are on the pages about finasteride and minoxidil.

PRP for hair as part of a combined plan: what does it look like at the clinic?

At the clinic, PRP for hair is almost always given as part of a combined protocol, not as a stand-alone treatment. Hereditary hair loss relies on several mechanisms at once, and each component of the plan acts on a different mechanism. After the trichoscopic diagnosis, we choose the treatment level together:

• Basic: scalp PRP alone, as a series with follow-up.
• Combined: PRP with an add-on chosen according to the diagnosis, for example MCT or Trichofat.
• Advanced combined: in the same visit, PRP, a scalp mesotherapy cocktail that includes minoxidil and dutasteride (off-label use), and finally LED phototherapy.

Every treatment is done under local anesthesia. The level is matched to your condition, goal and preference, and can be changed based on the follow-up measurements. In most cases, home or medication treatment continues in parallel, because PRP strengthens the follicle from one direction only. When home treatment is enough and when you need the clinic: home treatment or clinic treatment.

Where can you see patient results and reviews?

The best way to judge the treatment is measurement in your own case, but you can also get an impression from other patients. The hair gallery has before and after photos of clinic patients on different treatment plans. Every case is different, and the photos are not a promise of a result. Patient reviews, including from those who had a PRP series or PRP after a hair transplant, appear on the clinic's Google profile.

At the clinic itself, every series is documented with follow-up photos and trichoscopic imaging of the same areas, so the change is seen in numbers and not just by feel. Answers to more questions are gathered on the PRP questions and answers page.

What does PRP treatment for hair look like with Dr. Dana?

With Dr. Dana Buchbut, who has been treating hair loss for 16 years, every PRP series is built after a precise trichoscopic diagnosis and with close follow-up, so the plan is tailored exactly to the pace at which your follicles respond.

Terms on this page: hair density · minoxidil · finasteride · nitrous oxide · androgenetic alopecia · scalp mesotherapy · Full glossary

The information on this page is general educational information only and is not a substitute for an examination, diagnosis or personal medical advice. The decision on treatment is made only after an examination.