PRP TO FIGHT HAIR LOSS
Hair loss is a common situation for men and women, a source of anxieties and worries not only related to aesthetics. Although contained hair loss is an absolutely physiological phenomenon, it is always good to pay attention to the body's signals to intervene promptly if there is an alteration in normal conditions.
The causes can be multiple: environmental, genetic or pathological. There is certainly a predisposition to hair loss but, in addition, external factors linked to incorrect eating habits, stress or hormonal changes can also occur and, in the case of women, manifest in particular during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Furthermore, it happens that hair loss is caused by heavy pharmacological treatments or, again, pathologies such as anemia, hypo- or hyperthyroidism and alopecia. Knowing the cause of hair loss is essential to set up a targeted therapy which considers, at the same time as treatment, the importance of a healthy and balanced diet and a regulated lifestyle. Smoking and alcohol – it is worth remembering – are also enemies of hair.
11-08-2023
Hair loss treatments
Once the cause of hair loss has been ascertained, the options available can be explored. The range of possibilities is very wide, which is why it is essential to direct the therapy carefully. First of all, it’s important to supplement micronutrients fundamental for the body - orally or intravenously - because their deficiency is one of the main causes of hair loss. There are also drugs, topical or systemic, indicated for the treatment of some types of alopecia as they interact with the enzymes responsible for hair loss.
At the same time, aesthetic medicine provides cutting-edge treatments and technologies, useful allies in case of weakening of the hair: among these, mesotherapy, carboxytherapy and PRP can strengthen the bulb and prevent hair loss, while tricopigmentation can visually tone down the effect of baldness. Finally, for a functional approach to the problem, there are therapies that act on the well-being of the organism to work on hair loss starting from a macro vision of the problem. Among these, oxygen-ozone therapy.
For a definitive treatment of some types of alopecia, the surgical option can be considered.
Methods to stimulate hair regrowth
The causes of hair loss are different and need to be investigated. In some situations, a strengthening therapy that encourages cellular regeneration can be decisive, especially in case of hormonal imbalances or stress. In these cases, it’s recommended to supplement vitamins and minerals, such as iron and vitamin C, capable of improving the oxygenation of the scalp and stimulating collagen synthesis.
Alternatively, there are therapies such as PRP and mesotherapy which, in combination with specific drugs used orally or topically, can turn off inflammation and stimulate hair regrowth. In distinct cases, these therapies can also be adjuvants in a treatment that simultaneously involves transplant surgery.
PRP: platelet-rich plasma for hair loss
PRP-based therapy, an acronym for platelet-rich plasma, is based on cellular repair and regeneration. By isolating the platelet part of the blood, the communication ability of the released proteins (growth factors) is stimulated to produce fibroblasts useful for optimizing the activity of the hair follicles. The treatment involves taking a small quantity of blood from the patient to separate, through centrifugation, the platelet-rich plasma from the other parts. Once the PRP has been obtained, it will be injected subcutaneously into the area to be treated using a dermaroller equipped with microneedles whose entry under the skin is absolutely painless.
The platelet-rich plasma acts locally to strengthen the bulbs and stimulate cell regeneration. The treatment is effective in case of thinning hair, both as an individual therapy and in support of the transplant, speeding up the rooting of the bulbs and accelerating the recovery process of the scalp.
PRP for the treatment of alopecia
Platelet-rich plasma treatment is applied to non-scarring types of alopecia. In case of androgenetic alopecia, PRP is performed both as monotherapy and alongside transplantation. Androgenetic alopecia is the physiological result of a genetic predisposition, advancing age and hormonal interference: with platelet-rich plasma we try to reverse the process of miniaturization of the hair to stimulate the activity of the hair follicles even as prevention.
In the treatment of alopecia areata, a pathological and autoimmune condition, PRP works as anti-inflammatory by strengthening the follicle weakened by the immune reaction and thus stimulating hair regrowth in areas affected by alopecia.
PRP against hair loss: costs and number of sessions
For an effective PRP treatment, it is necessary to establish a variable number of sessions based on the patient's starting situation, which the doctor will evaluate during the first visit. Normally, the sessions are 2/3 scheduled a few months apart so that the regeneration process can materialize. Speaking of cellular stimulation, the results will not be immediate: it will take a couple of months to observe the first improvements.
In the same visit, it will be possible to give a specific idea of the costs of a complete PRP treatment, based on the number of sessions and extension of the area to be treated. Generally speaking, a PRP session to treat hair loss costs around 450 euros.
Non-surgical treatments for hair loss and regrowth
Leaving aside transplant surgery, which is certainly a solution for some pathologies but not always necessary, there are less invasive therapies useful to stop hair loss and stimulate hair regrowth. In order to identify the most effective, however, it is necessary to know the causes of the disorder since, based on the results, a supplementation therapy can be, for example, more profitable than an intervention with platelet-rich plasma or vice versa. To appropriately counteract hair loss or to determine the best method of regrowth, the only solution is an in-depth visit that studies the patient's situation.
Michele Bonaccorso is a medical doctor, specializing in anesthesiology and intensive care, expert in oxygen-ozone therapy and functional medicine.
His studies has led him to be, today, one of the most qualified exponents of functional medicine, a discipline he has applied for over 10 years for the treatment of musculoskeletal pathologies, in the treatment of neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases and in the slowing down of aging.
For platelet-rich plasma therapies, the Bonaccorso Studio uses an innovative closed-circuit technology that eliminates the risk of sample contamination, guaranteeing total asepsis of the entire plasma isolation process.
Safety of PRP treatment and contraindications
The therapy based on PRP is absolutely safe, non-toxic, controlled and managed in a closed circuit which eliminates the chances of infection (albeit minimal) resulting from manual management of the process. There are no particular contraindications to the use of platelet-rich plasma, considering that the use of autologous material avoids the risk of immunogenicity.
Mild and transient adverse reactions may occur, such as itching, erythema or small edema at a local level, which will pass on their own within a few hours. The treatment does not involve anesthesia or particular preventive or post-surgery procedures, so much so that the patient can immediately return to his normal activities. The blood type does not in any way affect the quality of the treatment.
Studio Bonaccorso is available
to answer all questions.
Studio Bonaccorso is available to answer all questions.
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Neural therapy is a medical treatment that, through the injection of highly diluted anesthetic substances such as procaine or lidocaine, modulates the activity of the autonomic nervous system to alleviate pain conditions. The goal is to restore the functional balance of the body, offering pain relief even in case of chronic and disabling conditions. Among the disorders that can be treated with neural therapy are chronic and recurrent forms of headaches and migraines.
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