Comprehensive Guide | Updated December 2024 | 9 min read
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy involves injecting concentrated growth factors from your own blood into your scalp to potentially stimulate hair follicles.
The promise: Natural, low-risk regrowth stimulation using your body's own healing factors.
The reality: Mixed evidence, high cost, variable results.
How PRP Works (Theory)
Blood is drawn, spun in centrifuge to concentrate platelets (which contain growth factors like PDGF, VEGF), then injected into thinning areas.
Growth factors theoretically:
- Stimulate follicle stem cells
- Increase blood vessel formation
- Prolong anagen (growth) phase
- Reduce inflammation
The Clinical Evidence
Positive studies: Some trials show 20-30% increase in hair count after 3-6 PRP sessions
Negative studies: Other trials show no significant difference vs placebo
Major issue: No standardization. PRP preparation varies wildly between clinics (platelet concentration, activation method, injection depth).
Cost Analysis
Typical protocol: 3-4 sessions spaced 4-6 weeks apart, then maintenance every 6-12 months
Per session: $500-$2,000 (average $800)
Year 1 total: $2,400-$8,000
Compare to:
- Finasteride: $240/year
- Minoxidil: $360/year
- Hair transplant: $5,000-15,000 one-time
Who Should Consider PRP?
✅ Maybe Try PRP If:
- Finasteride causes side effects you can't tolerate
- Early thinning (Norwood 1-2) looking for mild boost
- Post-transplant to enhance graft survival
- Money is not a limiting factor
❌ Skip PRP If:
- Budget is limited (spend on finasteride/minoxidil first)
- Moderate-severe hair loss (PRP alone won't reverse)
- Looking for dramatic regrowth (wrong treatment)
🔬 The Honest Assessment
PRP may provide marginal benefit for some men, but the evidence is weak compared to finasteride/minoxidil. The lack of standardization means results vary dramatically between providers.
It's a "maybe helps, probably won't hurt" intervention—but at $800/session, there are better uses of money for most guys.
Want Proven Results?
Finasteride has 30+ years of clinical evidence. Minoxidil is FDA-approved. PRP is experimental. Start with what works.
Get Finasteride + Minoxidil →Next Steps
- Finasteride Guide: The gold standard DHT blocker
- Microneedling: Fraction of PRP cost, better evidence