PRP Therapy in Pune: Platelet-Rich Plasma for Hair and Skin

What is PRP therapy?

Blood contains red cells, white cells, platelets and a liquid called plasma. Platelets help blood to clot and release proteins called growth factors that take part in healing. Platelet-rich plasma is plasma with a higher concentration of platelets than normal blood, prepared by spinning a small sample of your blood in a centrifuge.

When PRP is injected into the scalp, the idea is that these growth factors support hair follicles that are shrinking in pattern hair loss, helping them produce thicker hairs and stay in the growth phase longer. PRP is also used in other areas of medicine, such as sports injuries and some chronic wounds, and in skin treatments such as acne scars.

Who may benefit, and how is suitability assessed?

PRP is most often considered for:

• Pattern hair loss in men and women, in the early to moderate stages, while follicles are still present.
• Thinning hair alongside medical treatment, or as an option for people who cannot use some medicines.
• Acne scars and skin texture, usually combined with microneedling or laser.

Before PRP, the doctor checks the cause of hair loss, because thyroid disease, low iron, recent illness or childbirth, tight hairstyles and alopecia areata are treated differently. A blood count may be checked. PRP is usually avoided in people with platelet or bleeding disorders, active scalp or skin infection, current cancer treatment, or during pregnancy.

How does PRP compare with other hair-loss treatments?

Treatment	Evidence	Points to consider
Minoxidil	Long-established medical treatment	Daily use; benefit fades if stopped
Finasteride (men)	Long-established medical treatment	Prescription tablet; side effects discussed with your doctor
PRP	Reviews of trials report gains in density and thickness	Methods not standardised; repeat sessions
GFC	Fewer, smaller studies than PRP	Similar process to PRP with a different preparation
Hair transplant	Established surgery	For bald or very thin areas; limited donor hair

PRP is generally used alongside, not instead of, medical treatment. Reviews that compare PRP with minoxidil, finasteride and other treatments note that studies differ widely in how PRP is prepared and given, which makes results hard to compare. A review of studies in women found improved hair density and thickness, mostly in small pilot studies.

How is PRP therapy performed?

1. Blood sample: a small amount of blood is taken from the arm.
2. Centrifuge: the sample is spun to separate the platelet-rich plasma from red cells.
3. Comfort: numbing cream, local anaesthetic or cooling is applied.
4. Injection: the PRP is injected into the thinning areas of the scalp with a fine needle, or applied with microneedling for skin.
5. Aftercare: you can usually return to normal activities the same day.

How should you prepare, and what should you ask?

• Eat a normal meal and drink water beforehand.
• Tell the doctor about all medicines; aspirin and painkillers such as ibuprofen can affect platelets.
• Avoid alcohol and smoking around treatment days.
• Come with clean hair and no styling products.

Questions to ask:

• Is PRP likely to help my type of hair loss?
• How is the PRP prepared, and how many sessions do you advise?
• What should I use alongside PRP?
• How will we measure whether it is working?

What is recovery like?

Time	What to expect for most patients
Same day	Mild redness, tenderness or tightness; small bleeding points
Days 1-2	Tenderness settles; wash hair as advised
Months 3-6	Less shedding and thicker hair, if PRP is working

What are the risks of PRP therapy?

Because PRP comes from your own blood, allergic reactions are not expected. Side effects are usually mild:

• Pain during injection and tenderness afterwards.
• Redness, swelling or bruising.
• Headache, occasionally.
• Infection, rare with sterile technique.
• No response in some people.

Contact your doctor for increasing pain, redness, swelling or fever after a session.

What results can you expect?

People who respond usually notice reduced shedding first, then thicker hair after several months. Changes are often modest, and hair loss continues over time, so maintenance sessions or other treatment are needed to keep any benefit.

Is treatment necessary, and what are the alternatives?

Pattern hair loss is not harmful to your physical health, and many people choose to leave it alone. It is, however, gradually progressive: follicles keep shrinking over years, and PRP can only help follicles that are still present, so treatment tends to be more useful in the early or moderate stages. Hair loss caused by thyroid problems, low iron, illness or childbirth is different, because treating the cause often lets hair recover. The main alternatives to PRP are minoxidil, finasteride for men, a hair transplant for bald areas, and non-medical options such as a shorter hairstyle, hair fibres or a wig.

Common myths about PRP for hair

• “PRP can grow hair on a completely bald scalp.” It works only where follicles remain; areas that are fully bald need a hair transplant.
• “One course of PRP fixes hair loss for life.” Pattern hair loss continues, so maintenance sessions or other treatment are needed to keep any benefit.
• “PRP replaces minoxidil and finasteride.” It is generally used alongside medical treatment rather than instead of it.
• “Because it is your own blood, anyone can have it.” People with platelet or bleeding disorders, active infection, current cancer treatment or pregnancy usually should not.

What affects the cost of PRP therapy in Pune?

• Number of sessions in the initial course and for maintenance.
• Preparation method and the kit or equipment used.
• Area treated: scalp, face or both.
• Combined treatments, such as microneedling or medicines.

PRP for hair or skin is cosmetic and is usually not covered by insurance.