PRP for Hair Loss: What Actually Happens, Session by Session

PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) therapy for hair loss has become one of the most commonly offered treatments in dermatology clinics. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most inconsistently performed and over-promised treatments. Let me explain what PRP actually does, how it should be done, and what realistic results look like.

What PRP Is — And What It Is Not

PRP is your own blood, processed to concentrate the platelets and their growth factors. Platelets contain over 30 bioactive proteins including PDGF (platelet-derived growth factor), VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), TGF-beta, and EGF (epidermal growth factor).

When injected into the scalp, these growth factors:

• Stimulate dormant hair follicles to enter the growth (anagen) phase
• Prolong the anagen phase (longer growth period = longer hair)
• Increase blood supply to the hair follicle (angiogenesis)
• Reduce inflammation that contributes to miniaturization

What PRP is NOT: A cure for baldness. PRP cannot revive dead follicles — once a follicle has been miniaturized to the point of death, no growth factor can bring it back. PRP works on existing, weakened follicles that still have the potential to grow.

The PRP Procedure at Vernon

Step 1: Blood Draw (5 minutes)

Approximately 20–30ml of blood is drawn from your arm — similar to a routine blood test.

Step 2: Centrifugation (15 minutes)

The blood is placed in a centrifuge that spins at controlled speed to separate the components. The goal is to concentrate the platelets to 3–5x their normal blood level. The resulting PRP — a golden-yellow liquid — is separated from the red blood cells and platelet-poor plasma.

Important quality factor: The centrifugation protocol matters enormously. Different kits and protocols produce different platelet concentrations. At Vernon, we use double-spin centrifugation to achieve consistently high platelet counts. Single-spin "quick PRP" produces lower concentrations and less effective results.

Step 3: Scalp Injection (20 minutes)

PRP is injected into the scalp at 1cm intervals across the areas of thinning, at a depth of 1–2mm (at the level of the hair follicle bulge). We use topical numbing cream applied 30 minutes before injection to minimize discomfort.

The total session takes approximately 45–60 minutes.

Session-by-Session Timeline

Session 1 (Day 1)

What you will feel: Mild scalp tenderness for 24–48 hours. Some patients notice minor swelling at injection sites that resolves within hours. What is happening: Growth factors are being released from the platelets over the next 7–10 days, initiating the cascade of follicle stimulation.

Session 2 (Week 4)

What you will notice: Likely nothing visible yet. Growth factor stimulation is beginning to shift dormant follicles toward the anagen phase, but this takes time. What is happening: Angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation) is increasing blood supply to treated follicles.

Session 3 (Week 8)

What you will notice: Reduced hair fall is typically the first sign. Many patients notice fewer hairs on their pillow and in the shower drain. What is happening: Follicles that were in telogen (resting/shedding phase) are now entering anagen (growth phase).

Session 4 (Week 12)

What you will notice: Fine, new hair growth may be visible in areas of previous thinning. The hair shaft may initially be thin and lightly pigmented. What is happening: New hairs are emerging from stimulated follicles. Existing hairs are growing thicker as the follicle receives improved blood supply and growth factor stimulation.

Sessions 5–6 (Weeks 16–24)

What you will notice: Progressive improvement in hair density and thickness. The new hairs become thicker and more pigmented with each growth cycle. What is happening: Sustained neovascularization and growth factor stimulation are producing measurable improvement in hair caliber and density.

Maintenance Phase

After the initial 4–6 sessions, PRP moves to maintenance frequency — typically every 3–4 months. Without maintenance, the benefits gradually diminish over 6–12 months as the growth factor effect wears off.

GFC vs PRP: The Next Generation

GFC (Growth Factor Concentrate) is a newer preparation that isolates and concentrates growth factors without the platelets themselves. This produces a purer growth factor preparation with higher concentrations and potentially better results.

At Vernon, we offer both PRP and GFC. The choice depends on your specific situation — GFC tends to be more effective for patients with significant miniaturization, while PRP works well for early-stage thinning.

Realistic Results

After a full initial course (4–6 sessions) plus maintenance:

• Hair fall reduction: 60–80% of patients report significantly reduced shedding
• Hair thickness improvement: Measurable increase in hair shaft diameter on trichoscopy
• New growth: Variable — some patients see significant regrowth, others mainly see thickening of existing hair
• Best results in: Early-stage thinning (Norwood II–III), diffuse thinning, post-transplant optimization

PRP is not a replacement for hair transplant in advanced baldness. It is a complementary treatment that optimizes the health of your existing hair and enhances transplant results.