Of all the types of hair transplant available today, follicular unit extraction, or “FUE,” is the most popular. Much of FUE’s popularity comes from the fact it promises quality results with minimally invasive surgery. This makes it a great alternative to its predecessor, follicular unit transplantation (FUT). FUT is still available, but requires extensive surgery. Those who don’t want the pain and long recovery time associated with FUT generally opt for the minimally invasive FUE. Of course, if you would rather avoid going the surgical route altogether, there is an alternative to both FUT and FUE. That alternative is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. We’ll be discussing PRP therapy in this article to help you decide if it’s the best type of hair transplant for you.
What Is PRP Therapy?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has applications far beyond the realm of hair restoration. It is often used as a means of combating joint pain and sports injuries without surgery. By flooding an affected area with concentrated platelets, tissue damage may be repaired, inflammation may be reduced, and yes, hair follicles may be stimulated.
How Does It Work?
The PRP therapy process begins with the extraction of blood from the patient. This blood is then separated into three parts, namely red blood cells, platelet-poor plasma, and platelet-rich plasma. The concentrated platelet-rich plasma can contain as much as ten times more platelets than regular blood. Once it has been treated, the blood is injected into the part of the patient’s body which requires attention. In the case of hair loss, the platelet-rich plasma is injected into the patient’s scalp. This may sound a little unpleasant, but it is really quite painless.
How Much Does It Cost?
As well as being a non-surgical alternative to FUE and FUT, PRP therapy boasts the advantage of being one of the most affordable types of hair transplant available. PRP therapy costs begin at about $500 per session in the United States. They can reach as high as $2000 per session, which is still significantly less than FUE treatment in the USA. If you were to travel to Turkey for your hair transplant, as an increasing number of follicly-challenged Americans do, you would be able to secure PRP therapy for even less than it costs in the United States.
But Does It Really Work?
While there are some people who swear by PRP therapy, there is ongoing debate as to its effectiveness, especially when it comes to tackling hair loss. According to this article, there is no clear evidence that PRP therapy can reverse the effects of hair loss. For this reason, you may want to consider resigning yourself to surgery and going with FUE or FUT treatment instead. If the high price of such procedures is a primary factor in your decision to pursue PRP therapy instead, we encourage you to explore the option of traveling to Turkey for your hair transplant. As mentioned above, Turkish hair restoration clinics offer PRP therapy for a fraction of the cost of their Western counterparts. These low prices extend to other methods of hair restoration, including FUE and FUT. In fact, a medical tourist in Turkey can expect to pay up to 50% less than they would have had they undergone FUE in their home country.
