Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy | Dr. Joseph Greco Ph.D. Answers Your Questions

[iwannakeephair1674]

I really want to get this treatment done Dr. Greco! Where can I send you pictures of my hair "wet" and talk to you about seeing if I am a good candidate and possibly scheduling a visit soon. I would really like to get in contact with you about doing this as a yearly treatment.

Destin

[Dr Joseph F. Greco]

Would you recommend this treatment for younger people who are not good candidates for a surgical hair transplants yet? Dr. Robert Jones is performing this now in Toronto which is not far from home... I don't want to go under the knife as in HT this early just in case, you know? Anyway he was trained by you and apperintly theres another doctor in Vancouver who is performing this now as well but by using a different technique. Could you try and explain his technique and how it differs from yours? Also I'd like to get off the Mino because it's kind of a pain in the ass putting it on and stuff, I mean I want to be able to go camping and not have greasy lotion in my hair. Just take a pill every second day and possibly this procedure twice a year. Easy.

First, if you are experiencing results with Mino stay with it. If it seems like you are leveling off then adding the PRP treatment may be an option.

I do not know what technique the Dr from Vancouver is utilizing so I cannot comment on that.

I use PRP or PRP with the protein matrix (Orogen Plus). The technique is the same, but the OP formula is proprietary and requires a second processing step to create the extra cellular protein matrix. At this point we have not disclosed that formula.

[Dr Joseph F. Greco]

What are the chances of shock loss after the traumatizing of the scalp?

Good question. Never say never in medicine. Depending on the method and how aggressive you stimulate would directly relate to shock loss. It is not necessary to use a needle longer than 1mm and it is not necessary to cause any bleeding. GF's will not cause shock loss, but if you traumatize to aggressively you may certainly cause shock loss.

[smileyface19]

Would you recommend this treatment for younger people who are not good candidates for a surgical hair transplants yet?. I don't want to go under the knife as in HT this early just in case, you know? There is a doctor in Vancouver who is performing this now as well but by using a different technique. Could you try and explain his technique and how it differs from yours? Also I'd like to get off the Mino because it's kind of a pain in the ass putting it on and stuff, I mean I want to be able to go camping and not have greasy lotion in my hair. Just take a pill every second day and possibly this procedure twice a year. Easy.

[Dr Joseph F. Greco]

Dr. Greco

I am 19 years young and have been fortunate enough to save my hair (at least as of the present). I'm on propecia and r-squared and am simply curious... How does this procedure work for kids with mpb (not saying that I'm a child anymore... (but still youthful). I'm no guinie pig or lab rat or anything like that, simply curious and would like to know how this procedure would take place. Very interesting using stem cells to stimulate follicles. Is it the native follicles that are injected with the stem cells or is it these artificial punctured (1mm depth i believe i read) holes which become the new residual resting place of these stem cells? Thanks for your time and for doing a good thing.

Great thought process..some of us need to listen to what you are saying.

First, PDGF signals are involved in both epidermis-follicle interaction and the dermal mesenchyme interaction required for hair canal formation and the growth of dermal mesenchyme, respectively.(Takakura et al, 1996)

In 2001, ( Yano et al) identified VEGF as a major mediator of hair follicle growth and cycling providing the first direct evidence that the improved follicle vascularization promotes hair growth and increases follicle and hair size.

This is what we feel is going on with GF's and hair, especially, in younger patients where miniaturization is beginning to occur.

Stimulation of the scalp initiates Stat 3 migration and inducing an early antigen response.

[smileyface19]

What are the chances of shock loss after the traumatizing of the scalp?

[smileyface19]

Dr. Greco

I am 19 years young and have been fortunate enough to save my hair (at least as of the present). I'm on propecia and r-squared and am simply curious... How does this procedure work for kids with mpb (not saying that I'm a child anymore... (but still youthful). I'm no guinie pig or lab rat or anything like that, simply curious and would like to know how this procedure would take place. Very interesting using stem cells to stimulate follicles. Is it the native follicles that are injected with the stem cells or is it these artificial punctured (1mm depth i believe i read) holes which become the new residual resting place of these stem cells? Thanks for your time and for doing a good thing.

[Dr Joseph F. Greco]

Last May I contracted a scalp fungal infection from a beauty salon that was misdiagnosed by my doctor as psoriasis. For 4 painful months I was using topical steroids in an alcohol base as treatment - which was doing nothing except perhaps making a stronger fungus, inflicting severe pain and making my condition worse.

I finally found a decent dermatologist who immediately recognized the real problem and arranged a correct treatment program. The pain, itching and flaking has now stopped, but it took a really long time to arrest the situation.

Hair regrowth has been SLOOOOW. Glacially so . . They say that now I am experiencing hair loss from stress and that my scalp suffered an injury and needs time to heal and balance out.

Under these circumstances - do you think this PRP treatment would be helpful to me? Is this effective for women and men? (I'm a woman) Thanks

Hello Robyn,

Sorry to hear about your problem and fortunately you have found a Dermatologist that is treating your problem. I would continue to follow your Dermatologists protocol and be patient.

I really do not know if PRP would be helpful in your case, but I would not want to do anything to change your treatment at this time. Sometimes the enemy of good is better!

From our experience females do just as well as males with PRP.

[Dr Joseph F. Greco]

Dear Dr. Greco: I am wondering if this therapy would help those who have been scarred in past Hair transplant surgeries? Such as in the donor area(via strip method) or in scalp reduction scars. Congrats on you work on this. --David.

While objective biopsy comparative studies of wounds treated with PRP have demonstrated faster healing, less scar collagen and higher tensile strength (Carter et al, 2003) for these reasons we utilize PRP in the donor area. Literally, thousands of Cardiac surgery wounds are closed yearly with PRP because of anti bacterial effects and the implications of mortality if an infection occurs.

Unfortunately, I do not feel that the use of PRP to reduce scaring years after a surgery in a donor area would be effective.

[Dr Joseph F. Greco]

How long after the procedure can the treated area be exposed to sun / UV light? I am usng UV light therapy for dermalogical conditions.

Hello Costanza, I would say that within a few days you could use UV.... it should not have any negative effects immediately after. Actually, having the high concentrations of growth factors and protein in the scalp may be helpful for your condition.

[Refuse2GoBald]

Robyn,

While I wouldn't know anything about your particular situation, I would definitely contact Dr. Greco regarding this. He has done a lot of work in the PRP arena. I met with him last week and he performed the simple procedure on me. Also, I've read posts from Dr. Allen Feller and he appears to be very knowledgeable on the subject as well. I would contact him as well. Best of luck and please keep us posted.

[Robyn]

Last May I contracted a scalp fungal infection from a beauty salon that was misdiagnosed by my doctor as psoriasis. For 4 painful months I was using topical steroids in an alcohol base as treatment - which was doing nothing except perhaps making a stronger fungus, inflicting severe pain and making my condition worse.

I finally found a decent dermatologist who immediately recognized the real problem and arranged a correct treatment program. The pain, itching and flaking has now stopped, but it took a really long time to arrest the situation.

Hair regrowth has been SLOOOOW. Glacially so . . They say that now I am experiencing hair loss from stress and that my scalp suffered an injury and needs time to heal and balance out.

Under these circumstances - do you think this PRP treatment would be helpful to me? Is this effective for women and men? (I'm a woman) Thanks

[geminidb8]

PRP Therapy for scarring

Dear Dr. Greco: I am wondering if this therapy would help those who have been scarred in past Hair transplant surgeries? Such as in the donor area(via strip method) or in scalp reduction scars. Congrats on you work on this. --David.

[Costanza]

How long after the procedure can the treated area be exposed to sun / UV light? I am usng UV light therapy for dermalogical conditions.

[Dr Joseph F. Greco]

Would it be best to cut the hair really short before treatment?

Not really 1 inch is fine

Do you treat the front of the scalp with PRP, as well, even though the best resuts are achieve on the crown?

Yes, we do if we are doing everything on top. Can't hurt as long as patients know where it has demonstrated better results.