Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, therapy has gained wide recognition for hair loss treatment. It is because of its non-surgical and pure nature. A small quantity of the patient’s blood is drawn, the platelet-rich plasma is separated, and then it is injected into the scalp. Plasma contains growth factors that might activate the hair follicle, promoting hair growth. This sounds all good, but one must be aware of the possible downsides. This blog is going to talk about the Disadvantages of PRP hair treatment for a fair deal for prospective applicants.
What is PRP?
The PRP refers to Platete-rich plasma injections that are currently gaining wide popularity in the entire world, especially in India. It is becoming famous for a variety of conditions such as from sports injuries to hair loss. It is a treatment that uses own blood cells of a patient, it helps accelerate the healing in a specific area.
Disadvantages of PRP Hair Treatment
It is very important to understand what any treatment encompasses before taking a critical look at the disadvantages of PRP. PRP therapy emanates from the fact that platelets are usually rich in growth factors and hence may promote faster healing for any part of the body, including the scalp.
Prime Drawbacks of PRP Hair Treatment?
Multiple Sessions and Consumes Time
One of the major disadvantages of PRP hair treatment is the number of sessions required. First, most patients have to undergo three to four initial treatments separated by four to six weeks. After these sessions, it may take several months at three- to six-month intervals to maintain the results.
Inconsistent Results
Disadvantages of PRP also include the unpredictable nature of the PRP outcome. It can vary from patient to patient. Results are based on age, genetic predisposition, the extent of hair loss, and the patient’s overall health. Some patients see a significant increase in hair growth, while in others it is quite negligible, thus not always reliable.
Unpredictable Visibility of Results
Patients must not expect quick results from PRP treatments. Unlike hair transplantation procedures, where new hair growth starts to show up after a couple of months, PRP is something one needs to be very patient with.
Maybe an Expensive Treatment Not Covered by Insurance
Generally, PRP hair treatment is considered a cosmetic treatment, hence, most insurance plans do not cover the treatment. It could be quite an expensive option for many due to the financial burden involved with multiple sessions. Treatments are expensive, and one session costs on average $500-$2,000, depending on the clinic and location and practitioner expertise. Continuous maintenance is also required, which further adds to the overall cost.
It’s cheaper in India though!
Pain During and After the Procedure
While PRP is considered a minimally invasive procedure, it nonetheless can result in pain and discomfort. The process involves drawing blood and then injecting the plasma into the scalp, which in itself can be uncomfortable. Some patients report mild to moderate pain in such situations during and after the injections.
- Side Effects and Complications: A host of probable side effects and complications may occur with PRP therapy. These include:
- Allergic Reactions: Though PRP is prepared from the patient’s blood, allergic reactions can rarely occur, especially when using some additives in the preparation process.
- Infection Risks: Infection with any procedure involving Injections is a possible risk. This could be a rare side effect, but likely if the treatment is performed under less-than-sterile conditions by an unqualified practitioner.
Other Drawbacks of PRP?
Following the above two there can be some more disadvantages of PRP hair treatment:
Success in cases of Moderate Hair Loss is questionable!
PRP Therapy is not for Everyone: It may not work well with all kinds of hair loss cases. Patients in the advanced stages of hair loss, where the follicles have become idle or dead, might just not gain much from the treatment. In that case, this non-surgical treatment may be replaced with some surgical treatments like hair transplantation to achieve better results.
Not Suitable for All Medical Conditions
Certain medical conditions are there in which the PRP therapy is contraindicated for specific cases. Individuals with platelet disorder, chronic liver disease, and those on anticoagulant therapy should not be treated by this method.
No Pre-determined Results
One of the major disadvantages of PRP hair treatment is that it does not guarantee results. Some patients, notwithstanding the number of sessions they might have undergone, find themselves right back at the beginning. This would be frustrating to such a patient.
Why Should You Choose the Best Hair Transplant?
The Best Hair Transplant in India will avail the best procedure to be performed by accomplished professionals, giving ample attention to minute details and assured results.
Treatments like PRP are for the remaining hair and HT bald areas. Unlike PRP therapy and hair transplantation techniques like FUE are made for permanent cures for hair loss. In FUE, individual hair follicles are extracted from a donor site and implanted in areas presenting thinning or complete loss of hair on the scalp. This technique is highly effective for several reasons, which in turn are considered as its advantages over PRP treatments:
Higher Success Rate:
Hair transplantation through FUE is more successful and lasts longer.
Quick Results:
Hair transplantation produces quicker and often more noticeable results within several months, whereas PRP does not.
Better for Advanced Hair Loss:
FUE Hair Transplant is particularly best for individuals with severe hair loss in whom other modalities of treatment, including PRP, may not be effective.
FAQs:
1. What Is the Success Rate of PRP Hair Surgery?
Success with PRP treatment tends to vary widely among individuals, although several studies propose the success rate at 60-70%. Results may be very different according to age, health status, and even a degree of hair loss.
2. What is the time taken in the PRP hair treatment session?
The general time for a PRP session is around 60-90 minutes, considering blood collection, processing, and actual injection of platelet-rich plasma into the scalp (local anesthesia cream application and later head wash is done for the majority of people unless someone is allergic to the LA cream).
3. Are there any lifestyle changes that a patient requires after PRP therapy?
Patients are normally advised to avoid excessive sun exposure, heavy exercise, and hair treatments such as coloring or styling for several days after the procedure to minimize any side effects associated with it.
4. Can PRP Therapy Be Combined with Other Hair Loss Treatments?
Yes, PRP therapy can be combined with hair transplants, and medications minoxidil-along with laser therapy produce better results in general.
5. PRP Hair Loss Treatment: Ideal for Women?
PRP hair treatment is ideal for men and women suffering from hair thinning or slight to moderate hair loss. But for women with a more extensive case of hair loss, PRP may not be effective.
Conclusion
About hair restoration, weighing the pros against the disadvantages of PRP hair treatment should be the cardinal rule. Although PRP offers a relatively non-invasive and natural solution for hair treatment, it also has several disadvantages, which include variability in the results and possibly adverse side effects, besides the need for several treatments. Moreover, the amount of money and time may make the treatment unattractive for some people.
Call to Action
If you are facing hair loss conditions, then consider Saraswat Hospital for the availability of the best treatment options. Our team of experts will guide you through everything in person, thereby helping you make a well-informed and right decision.
Informed decisions can only be taken when there are more pros than cons, hence, go ahead and see for yourself how PRP works, and then decide on your own about choosing this treatment or not for restoring your hair growth.
Follow us on:- Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube
Read More:- Does Donor Hair Grow Back?
Leave a Reply