✓ Medically reviewed✍️ HairBase editorial team📅 Last updated: June 14, 2026⏱ 1 min read
💡 Quick answer
PRP (platelet-rich plasma) is a procedure in which a sample of your own blood is drawn, spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelet-rich plasma fracti
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Evidence B · Promising
PRP (platelet-rich plasma) is a procedure in which a sample of your own blood is drawn, spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelet-rich plasma fraction, and then injected into the scalp. It is based on the idea that growth factors contained in platelets stimulate follicles to increase hair thickness and density. Its evidence tier is promising but somewhat uncertain (B/C) and off-label: several small randomized trials have reported positive gains in hair count and density.
The biggest limitation of PRP, however, is that the technique is not standardized. The spin protocol, number of sessions, and whether the platelets are activated vary considerably between clinics, which makes results inconsistent. In other words, a report that it worked for some people does not guarantee the same effect for everyone.
In practical terms, PRP carries a low allergy risk because it uses your own blood, but it requires repeat sessions to maintain any effect, and those costs add up. It's therefore best approached as a complement to proven drug therapy rather than a replacement, with the clinic's protocol and realistic expectations confirmed before you start.
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2006Uebel et al. publish the first controlled use of platelet-rich plasma in androgenetic alopecia hair-transplant surgery, soaking follicular-unit grafts in PRP and reporting roughly a 15% higher follicular-unit yield/density on the PRP-treated side (Plast Reconstr Surg, vol. 118).
2014Period of rapid expansion of small open-label, observational and pilot PRP studies for AGA (e.g., Schiavone et al.; Khatu et al.), establishing the typical injection protocol (about 3 monthly sessions) later used in controlled trials and review articles.
2015Gentile et al. publish a widely cited randomized, placebo-controlled, half-head trial of injectable PRP for male AGA (Stem Cells Transl Med, 4(11):1317-1323), reporting significant hair-count/density gains over placebo after 3 sessions at 30-day intervals.
2016Alves & Grimalt publish a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, half-head trial (Dermatologic Surgery, 42:491-497), confirming a positive PRP effect and framing PRP as an adjuvant therapy for AGA.
2018European S3 evidence-based guidelines on androgenetic alopecia classify PRP at evidence level 3 for both male AGA and female pattern hair loss, reflecting promising but low-quality/heterogeneous evidence.
2024PRP for AGA remains FDA-unapproved and off-label; PRP is an autologous blood product (preparation kits/centrifuges are 510(k)-cleared devices, but PRP itself is not FDA-approved as a labeled hair-loss treatment), so it is used off-label despite multiple positive trials.
Key clinical studies
Gentile et al., 20152015
Randomized, placebo-controlled, evaluator-blinded half-head trial; 23 men enrolled, 20 completed; 3 PRP sessions at 30-day intervals; followed up to 2 years
At 3 months the PRP-treated scalp half gained a mean of ~45.9 hairs/cm2 versus a ~3.8 hairs/cm2 decrease on the placebo half (and ~33.6 more hairs in the target area vs placebo), differences reported as statistically significant (p<.0001); 4 of 20 needed retreatment by ~12 months.
Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2015;4(11):1317-1323
Six months after the first session, the PRP side showed significant increases over baseline in mean anagen hairs, hair density (~179.9) and terminal hair density (~165.8) (p<.05); authors conclude PRP has a positive effect and can serve as an adjuvant therapy for AGA.
Dermatologic Surgery 2016;42(4):491-497
Latest research: Recent work (2023-2026) has shifted from asking whether PRP works to standardizing it and combining it: studies and network meta-analyses increasingly test PRP alongside minoxidil, microneedling, and growth factors (e.g., PRP plus basic fibroblast growth factor ranking highly for added hair-density gains), while reviews emphasize the need for standardized PRP preparation/dosing protocols and position newer regenerative options such as exosomes and stem-cell-derived therapies as the next frontier.
Summaries reflect published, peer-reviewed research and are not medical advice. See the linked sources for details.
Several small studies report positive gains in hair count and density, but because the technique isn't standardized, results are inconsistent. A benefit in some people doesn't guarantee the same for everyone, so it's more realistic to view PRP as a complement to proven medications rather than a replacement.
How many sessions do I need, and how long does it last?
PRP requires repeat sessions to maintain any effect, and the recommended number and spacing vary by clinic. A single session is unlikely to give a permanent result, and the costs accumulate. Confirm the clinic's protocol, maintenance plan, and cost before you start.
Is it safe? Are there side effects?
Because it uses your own blood, the risk of allergy or rejection is low. Still, as an injection procedure it can cause pain or swelling at the injection site and, rarely, infection. Having it done hygienically by experienced clinicians matters, and you should mention any underlying conditions beforehand.
Not medical advice. General education only; it does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a licensed professional. Consult a board-certified dermatologist before starting, stopping or changing any treatment.