- PRP concentrates your own platelets to deliver growth factors where they are needed.
- It performs best in early to moderate hair thinning with living follicles, and as a skin-quality add-on.
- It is a course with maintenance, not a one-time fix.
How it is prepared and delivered
A small volume of your blood is drawn and spun in a centrifuge to separate the platelet-rich fraction. That concentrate — rich in growth factors involved in tissue repair — is injected into the scalp at follicle level, or delivered into the skin alongside microneedling.
Because the material is autologous, allergic reaction is not a meaningful concern. Preparation protocol, platelet concentration and injection technique do vary between clinics, and they influence outcomes.
- Session 1Baseline
Photos, scalp assessment and blood work review. Mild tenderness for a day.
- Month 1–3Monthly sessions
Three to four sessions spaced four weeks apart. Shedding may briefly increase.
- Month 3First review
Compare standardised photos. Reduced shedding usually precedes visible density.
- Month 4–6Density change
Finer hairs thicken. Nutrition and any hormonal driver must be addressed in parallel.
- Month 6+Maintenance
Top-ups every three to six months if the response justifies continuing.
PRP for hair: who responds
The best responders are people in early to moderate pattern thinning who still have miniaturised but living follicles, and who address nutrition and any hormonal driver at the same time. Where the scalp is smooth and shiny with no follicular openings, PRP has nothing to stimulate and a transplant discussion is the honest conversation.
A standard course is three to four sessions at four-week intervals, reviewed with standardised photographs at month three, then maintenance every three to six months if the response justifies it.
PRP for skin
Combined with microneedling, PRP is used for depressed acne scars, dull or thin skin and under-eye quality. It supports healing and collagen response rather than acting as a filler — it does not add volume, and it will not resolve pigmentation on its own.
What to expect on the day
- Blood draw, roughly 15 minutes of processing
- Numbing cream or a ring block for scalp comfort
- Mild tenderness, tightness or a dull headache for a day
- No hair wash for the period your clinician advises, usually 24 hours
Myths vs facts
Frequently asked questions
Is PRP painful?+
Scalp injections are uncomfortable rather than severe, and numbing makes them manageable for most people. Tenderness lasts about a day.
How soon will I see results?+
Reduced shedding at around eight to twelve weeks, visible density change from month four to six. Anyone promising faster is overselling.
Do I need PRP forever?+
Maintenance sessions preserve gains. Stopping entirely allows the underlying pattern loss to continue.
Can PRP be combined with other treatments?+
Yes — commonly with topical therapy, nutritional correction and, for skin, microneedling.
Key takeaways
- PRP needs living follicles to work
- Three to four sessions, reviewed honestly at month three
- Correct nutrition and hormones in parallel or results underperform
- Maintenance is part of the plan
References
- Randomised studies of PRP in androgenetic alopecia
- Nayami Cosmyc medical disclaimer
- Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists — patient guidance
Sumaiya is the founder of Nayami Cosmyc in Mumbai, where she runs both the clinic and the academy. She works across skin, hair, hijama and clinical nutrition, and writes the Knowledge Hub so patients can understand a treatment properly before they ever book one.
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