PRP is the in-clinic hair loss treatment patients ask me about most. It sounds natural, because it comes from your own blood, and it is often marketed as a way to avoid medication or surgery. The truth is more useful than the marketing: PRP has real evidence behind it, but it has limits, and how it is prepared and used makes a big difference.
On this page I explain what PRP is, what the research says about whether it works, who it suits and who should avoid it, why not all PRP is the same, what happens in a session, how many sessions you need and when you will see results, how I use it with hair transplants, how it compares with minoxidil, PRF, exosomes and mesotherapy, what the risks are, and what it costs. For an overview of every option, see my hair loss treatments guide. If PRP is part of a transplant plan for the beard, brows or scalp, my hair transplant treatments page compares the procedures.
What Is PRP Hair Treatment?
PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. Platelets are small blood cells best known for helping blood clot, but they also carry growth factors, proteins that signal cells to repair and grow. To make PRP, a small amount of your blood is spun in a centrifuge to separate the platelets and concentrate them in plasma. The concentrated plasma is then injected into the thinning areas of the scalp.
The growth factors are thought to prolong the growth phase of the hair cycle, support the cells at the base of the follicle and improve the blood supply around it. In practice, that means thicker, stronger hair from follicles that are weakening, and less shedding. In this short video my colleague explains how PRP differs from mesotherapy.
Video: PRP or mesotherapy, which does your hair need?
Does PRP Work for Hair Loss?
For pattern hair loss, the answer is yes, with realistic expectations. PRP has been tested in more randomised trials than any other in-clinic hair treatment. A 2025 meta-analysis of 43 randomised trials with nearly 1,900 participants found that PRP increased hair density and reduced hair loss compared with placebo, though it did not make individual hairs thicker. A 10-year randomised study published in 2026 found that hair density was about 31% higher than baseline one year after three sessions, and still above baseline years later, especially with maintenance.
What PRP does not do is just as important:
- It does not regrow hair where follicles are gone, such as a bald, shiny crown or a receded hairline.
- It does not stop the cause of pattern hair loss; without maintenance, gains fade over time.
- It does not work equally for everyone. Some patients respond well, some modestly, some hardly at all.
- It is not clearly better than minoxidil; studies show similar effects on density, and combining them works better than either alone.
Who Is PRP For, and Who Should Avoid It?
Usually a good fit
- Early to moderate pattern hair loss in men, with hair still present in the thinning areas.
- Female pattern hair loss, especially thinning along the parting.
- Patients who cannot or do not want to use certain medications, or want more than medication alone.
- Patients before and after a hair transplant.
- Some cases of shedding after the trigger has been treated.
When PRP is not suitable
- Low platelet count or platelet function disorders, and other blood disorders.
- Blood-thinning medication; never stop it yourself, but tell me so we can plan.
- Active scalp infection or inflammatory scalp disease in the treatment area.
- Active cancer or ongoing cancer treatment, severe anaemia or uncontrolled systemic illness.
- Pregnancy, and breastfeeding after individual assessment.
- Bald areas where follicles are gone, and scarring alopecias, which need other treatment.
Women have additional causes of hair loss to rule out first, which I explain on my female hair transplant page.
Not All PRP Is the Same
“PRP” describes the idea, not a single product. Clinics use different kits and protocols, and this is one reason study results vary. These are the variables that matter:
You do not need to become an expert, but a good clinic should be able to tell you which system they use, how they prepare the PRP and why. If the answer is vague, ask more questions.
A PRP Session Step by Step
How Many PRP Sessions Do You Need?
In this short video Dr. Mehmet Erdoğan explains whether PRP is better before or after a hair transplant.
Video: PRP before or after a hair transplant?
PRP Results Timeline
PRP and Hair Transplant
PRP is most valuable to me as part of a hair transplant. A transplant creates hundreds of tiny wounds in the donor and recipient areas, and grafts depend on new blood supply in their first days. Growth factors have a clear role there.
Studies support this. A systematic review found that adding PRP to hair transplantation was associated with higher density, better follicle survival and earlier growth, and a 2026 study found that PRP roughly doubled the speed of donor-area wound healing in the first 24 hours. In this video you can see a PRP session on the same day as a patient’s hair transplant.
Video: a hair transplant journey with a same-day PRP session, Smile Hair Clinic.
PRP supports careful surgery; it does not make up for poor technique. You can read about how I perform transplants on my hair transplant and techniques pages.
PRP vs Minoxidil, PRF, Exosomes and Mesotherapy
A simplified guide; plans are adjusted for each patient.
These treatments are not rivals. Medication addresses the cause of pattern hair loss every day; PRP adds growth signals in sessions. Studies show that PRP combined with minoxidil gives better results than either alone. Read more on my exosome hair therapy, hair mesotherapy and ozone hair therapy pages.
What the Research Shows About PRP for Hair
Side Effects and Aftercare
Before your session
- Tell me about every medication and supplement, especially blood thinners.
- Avoid anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen or aspirin for a few days before and after, unless your doctor says otherwise; they can reduce platelet activity.
- Eat and drink normally before the blood draw.
After your session
- Do not wash your hair or use hair products for the rest of the day.
- Avoid saunas, swimming and heavy exercise for about 24 hours.
- Do not massage or scratch the injection sites.
PRP Hair Treatment Cost
PRP is priced per session or as a course. The total depends on the system used, the number of sessions and whether PRP is combined with other treatments. These are typical 2026 market ranges per session:
Because a course plus maintenance is what produces results, compare the full plan, not a single session price. A very cheap session may use a low-concentration system or skip the assessment that tells you whether PRP is right for you.
Six questions to ask before you pay for PRP
- Is my type of hair loss likely to respond to PRP?
- Which PRP system do you use, and how is it prepared?
- How many sessions, how far apart, and what is the full course price?
- How and when will we judge whether it is working?
- What else should I use alongside it?
- Would a hair transplant serve me better in some areas?
Frequently Asked Questions About PRP Hair Treatment
Does PRP really work for hair loss?
For many people with pattern hair loss, yes. Dozens of randomised trials show that PRP increases hair density and reduces hair loss. It works best on hair that is thinning, not on bald areas, and not everyone responds.
How many PRP sessions do I need for hair?
Usually three sessions four to six weeks apart, then maintenance every six to twelve months if it works.
How long do PRP hair results last?
Gains can last for years with maintenance. Without it, they fade gradually, because the underlying cause of hair loss continues.
When will I see results from PRP?
Shedding usually slows in two to three months; density improves from three to six months. Judge it at around six months.
Is PRP painful?
Most patients feel pressure and stinging. Numbing cream, cooling or local anaesthetic make it comfortable.
Is PRP better than minoxidil?
Studies show similar effects on hair density. Combining PRP with minoxidil gives better results than either alone.
Can PRP regrow a bald area?
No. PRP works on follicles that are still present. Bald areas need a hair transplant.
Is PRP done during a hair transplant?
I apply PRP on the day of surgery to support healing in the donor and recipient areas, and further sessions usually start about one month later.
Who should not have PRP?
People with platelet or blood disorders, those on blood thinners that cannot be managed, active scalp infection, active cancer treatment, and pregnant women.
Can women have PRP for hair loss?
Yes. PRP is used for female pattern hair loss, after the cause of thinning has been checked.
Find Out If PRP Can Help Your Hair
Send me clear photos of your hairline, crown and parting, and tell me how long you have been losing hair and what you have tried. I will tell you whether PRP is likely to help, what I would combine it with, and whether a transplant should be part of your plan.Get a Free Consultation