WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PRF FOR HAIR GROWTH

When I tell people I recently got PRF injections to the scalp for hair regeneration, they ask me: do you mean PRP? No, I mean PRF not PRP. Most people are familiar with PRP (platelet rich plasma) by now but not yet familiar with its more concentrated counterpart, PRF (platelet rich fibrin).

They are similar in that both contain platelets which have the growth factors that are used for healing and regeneration but their differences lie in how they are prepared, how they work and when they would be used.

Both PRP and PRF are prepared from your own blood; their centrifugation (or the way they are spun) is different. PRP results in plasma that is rich in platelets (hence the name) separated from the rest of the blood cells. When PRF is spun, it results in the formation of a fibrin clot that includes some platelets along with red and white blood cells.

This fibrin clot or matrix is what allows the platelets and other growth factors to release slowly over a period of time, typically 7-10 days. You end up with a higher concentration over time. With PRP, there is an immediate release of growth factors and therefore a lower concentration of platelets.

The higher concentration of platelets over time make PRF ideal for hair restoration. Does that mean PRF is superior to PRP? For hair— maybe. For other situations? Not necessarily! More is not always better. In some clinical situations, you don’t want that clot formation and extended release of platelets ie sexual wellness. For healing of the skin after laser or microneedling, PRP works beautifully.

Other application of PRP and PRF include orthopedic and dental. Fun fact: I had to get an abscessed tooth removed almost 10 years ago, I went to a holistic dentist who cleaned the area with ozone and then applied PRP. Recently when I went for a dental check up, they asked me about that tooth because there was new bone formation in that area! So cool (to me at least).

The beauty of these treatments (pun fully intended) is that it comes from your own body. The downside of these treatments is that it comes from your own body. If you are healthy, you will likely get a good amount of quality cells and growth factors. The opposite is also true, if you are inflamed and in suboptimal health, the quality of your cells will be very different as will your results, or lack thereof. This is one of the reasons that results in treatments like this tend to vary.

I also think it’s a good idea to have a blood test and ensure you are not low in platelets as that will impact your outcome. Lastly, if you have any autoimmune conditions, you should speak with your provider and see if these treatments are appropriate. When I would do these treatments in California, I typically did not do it for anyone with an autoimmune condition. Though I am not providing these treatments currently, I can help you get your body ready to support your outcomes! You can fill out an application to work with me and make sure we are a good fit. I also work with medical grade growth factor based skincare and haircare. Feel free to contact me for more information.