PRP vs. Hair Transplant: Which Hair Restoration Treatment is Right for You?
A lot of guys come in for hair consultations and say they just want PRP treatment and would prefer to avoid an FUE transplant (the surgical route for hair restoration). The short answer is that different treatments are suited to different hair issues, and many who request PRP aren’t actually ideal candidates for it.
Let’s briefly clarify the differences between PRP and hair transplants. PRP, or Platelet-Rich Plasma, involves drawing your blood, spinning it in a machine to concentrate the platelets, and then injecting this concentration into your scalp. The Arteriocyte Magellan System, which we use, creates a highly concentrated PRP solution rich in growth factors that can stimulate hair growth. (PRP acts like a fertilizer).
PRP is most effective for those with early signs of hair thinning or density issues—think of it as a treatment to improve the health of thinning hair and to halt hair loss progression. It’s great for individuals with slight thinning or early-stage hair loss, but it’s not a cure for more advanced cases.
For those with receding hairlines or significant bald spots, PRP alone won’t be sufficient. It works better as a complementary treatment alongside a hair transplant. If you have areas with no hair at all, PRP can’t replace the need for hair follicles, which is where an FUE or FUT hair transplant comes in.
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), involves removing individual follicular units one by one. If you were to magnify a person’s scalp, you’d see tiny holes where each follicle exits, with each hole containing one to four hairs. In FUE, we carefully extract these follicular units and transplant them to the top of the head, creating a very natural appearance. When done correctly, FUE is virtually undetectable; it’s extremely effective and can blend seamlessly with your existing hair.
In our practice, we use a highly advanced device for FUE. The size of the extraction punch has significantly improved over time. While older methods used punches as large as 1 to 1.4 millimeters, our current technology employs punches that are just 0.5 to 0.6 millimeters in diameter—about the size of a needle. This tiny size ensures there is no noticeable scarring on the back of the head. Even a close inspection by a hairdresser or anyone looking very closely at a freshly cut, short hairstyle would not reveal any evidence of the procedure.
In simpler terms, PRP is like fertilizer for thinning hair, while a hair transplant involves actually planting new follicles. If your hair loss is more advanced or involves large bald areas, investing in a transplant may be the more effective solution. If you’re unsure which treatment is right for you, give us a call. We’d be happy to evaluate your situation and recommend the best approach.