PRP in Thunder Bay, ON

To stimulate and reactivate hair follicles, we treat them with platelet-rich plasma. Your blood naturally contains this substance, so we first need to complete a standard blood draw. Once we have a sample of blood, we place it in a centrifuge and spin it quickly. The rapid rotations separate the blood into its different elements, isolating the PRP. When separated, the plasma looks like a translucent, yellowish liquid. A provider extracts the PRP with a syringe and injects it back into your scalp, so the natural growth factors can begin repairing the hair follicles.

Unlike typical hair restoration procedures, injections with PRP in Thunder Bay are not painful. During a hair restoration surgery, surgeons extract strips of skin with healthy hair follicles and transplant them to the head, but you won’t need to go under the knife for a PRP injection. You may feel some slight irritation during the blood draw and the PRP injections, but if you’ve ever received a flu shot or had blood drawn for a lab test, then you should have some idea of what to expect. Some patients feel a bit sore in the days following their injections, but this should abate on its own within about a week.

Unlike a major surgical procedure, PRP does not require any extensive preparation. There are, however, some steps you should take to ensure you’re safe throughout the treatment process. First, it’s important that you aren’t on any blood-thinning medications during the procedure. When you come in for a PRP injection with our team, we will go over your medical history and discuss any medications you currently take. If any of those medications thin your blood, we may recommend you stop taking them if possible until your procedure is complete.

We also suggest you avoid drinking alcohol and smoking for at least a week prior to your treatment, as these can thin the skin and impact your results. Also, wash your hair and scalp before coming in for your injections. Avoid using any gel, hair spray, or other products, which can also interfere with your treatment.

Following injections of PRP in Thunder Bay, you can go home and rest. You may notice some side effects, like swelling or tenderness at the injection site. These symptoms are normal, so avoid itching, scratching, or otherwise tampering with the treatment area. Touching the injection sites can interfere with the healing process.

If you feel any pain, be sure not to take any medication that thins the blood. Your provider can offer a recommendation.

Furthermore, take care of your skin after your injections. Do your best to avoid direct sunlight, and don’t engage in any intense exercise as the injection sites heal. We don’t want sweat to contaminate the treatment area. If you have any questions about the recovery process, be sure to ask your provider. We can answer all your questions and give you the advice you need to experience the best possible results.

The number of PRP treatments you need depends on several factors, like your overall treatment goals and your starting point. That said, we traditionally recommend patients undergo 4 to 6 sessions for the best results.

We try to space these treatments approximately a month apart, and we do this for a couple reasons. First, it gives the scalp time to heal and recover following the injections. Secondly, this also allows us to treat the scalp at different intervals in the hair growth cycle, which produces better results.

The results of PRP are not permanent. You may experience renewed hair growth for 6 to 12 months, but if you want to enjoy those results for longer, just reach out to your provider. We can perform maintenance sessions so you can experience healthier, thicker hair indefinitely.

PRP injections are suitable for people of any race or gender, but they may not be right for everyone. PRP hair treatment may not be right for you if you have a bleeding disorder. We also recommend avoiding this treatment if you’re pregnant. Thinning hair is a common side effect of pregnancy, so you should not consider this treatment until after childbirth, as your hair growth may return naturally.

To get started with injections of PRP in Thunder Bay, reach out to our team and schedule a consultation so we can determine if this treatment is right for you. If you’re interested in exploring our other treatment options, consider trying our online treatment planning tool. Just answer the provided questions, and we will reach out with a treatment recommendation tailored to your needs.