Understanding the practical process of PRP hair treatment — not just the mechanism but what actually happens when you attend for a session — helps patients decide whether it fits their circumstances and expectations.
A PRP session begins with a blood draw — typically 15 to 60 ml depending on the protocol. This is no more than a standard blood test in terms of the discomfort involved and takes a few minutes. The blood is then placed into a centrifuge, which spins at high speed to separate its components by density. The result is stratified layers: red blood cells at the bottom, platelet-poor plasma above them, and the platelet-rich plasma at the top, which is extracted for treatment.
The extracted PRP is drawn into syringes for injection. The scalp is prepared — either with topical numbing cream applied 20 to 30 minutes before, or with local anaesthetic injections for the more sensitive patient. The PRP is then injected in a grid pattern across the affected areas of the scalp, with injections spaced approximately 1 cm apart. A typical session involves multiple small injections across the treatment area.
Post-session, there is minimal downtime. Some patients experience minor scalp tenderness and redness for 24 to 48 hours. Normal activities, including washing the hair, can usually resume the same day or the following morning.
A typical initial course involves three sessions at four to six week intervals, followed by reassessment. Patients who respond favourably may continue with maintenance sessions every six to twelve months. Response to treatment is typically assessed by clinical examination and standardised photography at the three-month and six-month marks.
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