What you need to know about PRP therapy

There are many different hair restoration treatments to suit different kinds of people, and the technology is ever evolving. There is even a treatment that only requires a few blood samples with no surgical procedures, and you can grow your own healthy, natural hair. 

PRP with ACell injections is an exciting new hair restoration treatment. Platelet-rich plasma therapy has been used in other fields for years. Professional athletes like Tiger Woods and LeBron James have relied on it to help them recover from injuries. It's also been used in dentistry and other types of plastic surgery, and now it's being used to help restore natural hair. But what is it?

What is PRP?
Platelet-rich plasma is blood that has been taken from the patient's scalp, modified with a protein cocktail and reinserted back into the patient's scalp. Platelets are parts of the blood which can stimulate growth and immune system responses. This treatment can help to stimulate natural hair growth when injected by stimulating the stem cells in the scalp. Think of it as waking up sleeping hair cells. 

What is ACell?
ACell is a protein that helps to promote healing and regeneration in stem cells. Even in a balding scalp, these stem cells are still present. Adding PRP with ACell helps to re-start these cells to promote hair growth. 

Is PRP with ACell therapy safe?
There is no risk for disease transmission because the procedure uses your own blood. There are a number of injections into the scalp, but the soreness only lasts for a day or so and you are administered a topical anesthesia. 

Is this treatment right for you?
PRP with ACell injections is very effective for patients with alopecia areata, as a safer substitute for steroid injections. There are a number of reasons why this treatment may not be right for you. If any of the below affects you, then you should discuss other options with your doctor:

• Clotting deficiencies or other bleeding problems
• Low blood pressure
• A long history of smoking
• Low platelet counts
• A recent history of cancer

Baldness affects many men, but the good news is they don't have to live with it. If you're concerned about hair loss and would like to learn more about hair restoration treatments, schedule an appointment with Marotta Hair Restoration today! Dr. Marotta is a dual-board certified facial plastic surgeon with a hair loss clinic on Long Island. Check out the rest of our website to learn more about all of the treatment options we offer to our clients.