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What is the best protocol for Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy?

The best PRP protocol does not yet exist. PRP has been used for nearly a decade in both hair transplant surgeries and also to help stimulate hair growth in people with thinning or losing hair. What we know is that most people will see hair stabilization with the PRP treatments. This means that you should reduce or stop the excess shedding of your hair. 

Many studies have been done and published or presented internationally on the best protocol for PRP therapy. A common protocol that provides very good results is to do 3 PRP treatment sessions within 3 months. The goal of these first treatments are to bathe the scalp with the healing and growth factors from your PRP. Doing several treatments within a few months presumably kick-starts the dormant follicles, repairs damaged follicles, and stimulates hair restoration. Some doctors suggest doing up to 5 or 6 treatments in a row. However, there is no solid evidence saying that more than 3 PRP treatments are better.

Following your initial 3 PRP sessions, you will need a periodic single PRP treatment session to maintain your results. Currently the studies suggest that we should do these maintenance treatments at intervals of 4 – 6 months. However, some doctors think that it might be okay to spread them out even further apart. Again, we don’t have good evidence on how frequently the maintenance treatments should be done.

PRP therapy is a newer treatment and the science is good. However, in science it takes time for best practice and best protocols to be properly tested in trials and get to publication. At Pinette Hair Restoration Clinic, we are always reviewing the hair restoration literature and we will adjust protocols if required if better evidence is published.