Reviewed by Dr. Caio Trentin, MD ·
What PRP Actually Is
PRP starts with a standard blood draw. The sample is spun in a centrifuge to separate the platelet-rich fraction from red cells and most of the plasma. Platelets carry growth factors — signaling proteins the body uses for tissue repair. Concentrated and injected into the scalp at the level of the follicles, those growth factors are intended to support follicles that are miniaturizing but still alive. The mechanism matters because it defines the boundary: PRP works with follicles that exist. It does not create new ones, and it cannot restore areas that have gone fully bald and scarred over. This is why timing and candidacy decide outcomes more than the injection itself.
Who It Suits — and Who It Doesn't
PRP is best positioned for early-to-moderate, pattern-type thinning where the follicles are weakening rather than gone. Patients who notice a widening part, a thinning crown, or reduced density along the hairline are often reasonable candidates. It tends to disappoint when loss is advanced, when the cause is unaddressed (thyroid disease, iron deficiency, certain medications, rapid weight change, or scarring conditions all change the plan), or when expectations are set around dramatic regrowth. Part of a FORMA consultation is ruling those factors in or out — a scalp that is shedding for a medical reason needs that reason treated, not a series of injections layered on top. Dr. Trentin reviews your history and examines the scalp personally; this evaluation is not delegated to an injector working from a template.
Why It's a Series, Not a Single Session
PRP is a building protocol, not a one-time fix. Hair grows on a slow biological clock, and the follicular response to growth-factor stimulation accumulates over months. Most evidence-based approaches use an initial sequence of sessions spaced a few weeks apart, followed by periodic maintenance. Anyone promising a transformation after one visit is mismarketing the treatment. Results, when they come, show up first as reduced shedding and improved hair caliber, then as gradual density changes — assessed over a horizon of months, not weeks. The exact number of sessions, spacing, and whether maintenance continues is individualized and determined at consultation. FORMA would rather set a conservative, honest schedule than oversell a fast result that does not materialize.
The Visit, Downtime, and Honest Expectations
A session involves the blood draw, a brief processing time while the sample is spun, and a series of small injections across the treatment area, often with topical numbing or cooling for comfort. Most people return to normal activity the same day, with possible scalp tenderness, mild swelling, or pinpoint marks that settle quickly. Because PRP is autologous — derived from your own blood — it avoids the allergic considerations of foreign materials, though it carries the ordinary risks of any injection. PRP also pairs well with other scalp approaches in a coordinated plan; for some patients a combination strategy is more sensible than PRP alone. No outcome is guaranteed, and no treatment replaces the underlying medical workup. If thinning is on your mind, a consultation with Dr. Trentin is the right first step — it confirms the cause, defines whether PRP fits, and sets a realistic plan before anything is committed to.
Questions
How soon will I see results from PRP?
Hair responds slowly. Reduced shedding and improved hair quality typically come before any visible density change, and results are assessed over a span of months rather than weeks. Because PRP is a series-based protocol, the full picture isn't clear until the initial sessions are complete and maintenance has begun.
Is PRP a permanent fix for hair loss?
No. Pattern hair loss is an ongoing biological process, so PRP is best understood as management rather than cure. Most plans include periodic maintenance to hold gains. The specific cadence is individualized and determined at your consultation.
Is PRP safe, given it uses my own blood?
PRP is autologous, meaning it's prepared from your own blood, which avoids the allergic concerns tied to foreign materials. It still carries the ordinary risks of any injection, such as tenderness, minor swelling, or pinpoint marks. Dr. Trentin reviews your history and screens for any reason PRP would not be appropriate before treating.