Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

To promote and enhance hair growth success rate, hair transplantation surgeons nowadays are using Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP). Platelets are biological constituents of blood. Smaller than red and white blood cell, platelets do not have any nucleus, hence cannot be categorized as cells. PRP is blood plasma that contains greater number of platelets than occurs normally in blood. PRP is derived from the patient's own blood. The mechanism is similar to the practice of having patient donate his/her own blood before surgical procedure. Therefore, should a transfusion is needed, the blood is a preferred to blood taken from blood bank. This method allows patient to be free of disease transmission and the risk of immunologic reaction.Technique for producing PRP and utilizing it to enhance tissue healing post surgery have been known for over 30 years. During that period, PRP is mostly used for hospitalized surgical patients. Technical difficulties of producing PRP on adequate potency was limiting the use of PRP. Today, technology advancement has made PRP preparation faster and more efficient. PRP is then used widely in surgical specialties. One of them is hair transplantation surgery.

PRP in Hair Transplantation

The use of PRP is aimed at promoting healing and hair growth after hair transplantation. For this purpose, there are three functions of PRP, including:
1. To preserve and enhance hair follicle viability, throughout and after hair transplantation.
2. To sustain and enhance tissue repair and healing after hair transplantation.
3. To reinvigorate dormant hair follicle and stimulate new hair growth.

How to Make PRP

A. Blood is withdrawn from a patient's arm by syringe, as in common laboratory procedure.
B. Tubes that contain withdrawn blood are placed in centrifuge and spun under certain speed for a period of time to separate blood plasma components.
C. This centrifuging will concentrate the red, white blood cells and platelets at various levels in the tubes. Blood plasma which is rich in platelets is drawn off from certain level. Plasma defined as PRP contains 4 to 8 times the number of platelets found in normal plasma. With a little additional preparation, the PRP is ready for application.