Does Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy really work?

Does Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy really work? Can it be used instead of Finasteride? How often would one have to go for PRP?

Dear Krangstein, we're still trying to understand what prp can do!
I can only say that Dr Greco told me that prp is a sperimental treatment to understand the role of growth factors in the hair cycle.

This treatment is safe and so patients can try it even if results are still not clear and there is not just one protocol.
For example here in Italy there is a phisician called Dr Schiavone ( in Rome) who uses the Dr Greco protocol, and the treatment is 1 time a year.

Another phisician , Dr Rinaldi( in Milan), uses another protocol and he does 2 treatments (one at the beginning and the second after 3 months) in the first year.

I also know other phisicians who suggest to do 3 treatments in the first 6 months.

The prp acts on platelets' release of growth factors so the action is different from finasteride.

One acts on the hair cycle and the other on dht hormon.

Are there some people who have used it and seen results? even regrow hair?

I am also very interested in this. I actually went as far as e-mailing and talking to Dr. Greco's office and "possibly" setting up an appointment. It would be very beneficial to me, as well as this forum if someone could weigh in on possible results. I was quoted $1,000 for everything...tax included, etc. Anyone have any type of positive results with PRP?

I've been reading this forum for a while and thought I'd reply with my experience. Due to a medical issue, I was forced to stop both Propecia and Rogaine after 10 years of use around 5 1/2 months ago. I was shedding pretty badly and a month ago went and saw Dr. Greco for PRP. Immediately after having the treatment, my shedding stopped completely and my hair felt great - for about a week. Then, the shedding resumed at an even more aggressive rate for another two weeks. I am told this could be normal and could signal that it's actually working. Over the past week (3 weeks after treatment), I have noticed that the shedding is slowing down again, but it has not gone away completely.

The only takeaway I can offer so far is that it definitely did something for me in that it halted a very aggressive shed. However, I cannot yet speak to its longer term efficacy since it has only been one month. I will post again in a few weeks and let you all know what I think.

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Originally Posted by Krangstein

Does Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy really work? Can it be used instead of Finasteride? How often would one have to go for PRP?

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I had PRP done about 5 months ago and it really didn't do much. My hair continues to fall out and the remaining hair continues to thin. I might be one of those people who PRP doesn't work for. I've heard some success stories but there hasn't been much visual evidence. You should get a consultation with Dr. Greco, or any other IAHRS Dr. who provides PRP, to see if they think you'll be a good candidate.

cstella- The price you were quoted sounds about right. I paid the same thing with Dr. Greco.

I started a thread a while back and documented my experience. Here's the link: http://www.baldtruthtalk.com/showthread.php?t=2723

Good luck!

I've done 2 prp and it has helped more than anything ive used!!I am going to get 3rd treatment april 12,2011 this time will be first with acell.

I did 1st 5/10,2nd 9/10 and I will do 3rd 4/12/11 + 3rd time he will prp with acell.I have had hairloss for 20yrs this has made more differnce than anything used!

i had same.but u will see a big difference after 2nd.im getting 3rd w/acell next month.

i have had best results going back for 3rd in april.made my hair better than it has in years!

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Originally Posted by t-bone

i have had best results going back for 3rd in april.made my hair better than it has in years!

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Do you have before and after pictures?

And you say you're going back for your 3rd injection, how long did it take you to get to 3 injections? Is it really once a year or is it less?

where abouts on your head has it helped with hairloss ?

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Originally Posted by PatientlyWaiting

Do you have before and after pictures?

And you say you're going back for your 3rd injection, how long did it take you to get to 3 injections? Is it really once a year or is it less?

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I am going back for 3rd.I spaced the first two 4months apart.The 3rd wil be like 7/8 months.I know each time hair gets stronger and healthier.It is a process.It took 20 years for my hair to get that bad.It would be ridiculous to expect one prp to correct that.

I am excited for 3rd time because dr.yarmann is using acell mixed with prp.Google (acell)

This is not an overnight cure.But for me the prp is working and dr.yarmann does have before pics.So he will post or i will soon.
best of luck

T-Bone-Do you have pics of your progress w/ prp? If you do, please post them. I'm sure everyone would like to see what it has done for you.

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Originally Posted by t-bone

I am going back for 3rd.I spaced the first two 4months apart.The 3rd wil be like 7/8 months.I know each time hair gets stronger and healthier.It is a process.It took 20 years for my hair to get that bad.It would be ridiculous to expect one prp to correct that.

I am excited for 3rd time because dr.yarmann is using acell mixed with prp.Google (acell)

This is not an overnight cure.But for me the prp is working and dr.yarmann does have before pics.So he will post or i will soon.
best of luck

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Okay I see. PRP is supposedly $1k per injection, i'm guessing it's a lot more when it's mixed with Acell? But it has a better success rate.

Well good luck and when you can, show us your before and after pictures.

IT stopped my hairloss but it is a treatment not a cure! i do it every six months.It will make your scalp healthy and it did bring back some new growth.I will continue to do to keep hair.I do not take propecia and I am satisfied.

T-bone:

Your mission is obvious: you are trying to promote prp and acell. We get it. If the treatment has improved your hair, like you claim, post some pics! Several members have asked you to and you keep dodging the request. Also, stop commenting on a thread you created in order to come out on "new posts." No one has addressed you in over 3 months, but you pop out of no where with a rant that has no useful information.

level:

I have no mission but to tell the truth in an industry full of lies!Yes Acell & PRP are things I do believe in.I will comment on anything i feel will help somebody!Maybe you don't like my posts but others do.

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Originally Posted by t-bone

level:

I have no mission but to tell the truth in an industry full of lies!Yes Acell & PRP are things I do believe in.I will comment on anything i feel will help somebody!Maybe you don't like my posts but others do.

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lets see some pics then. people have been asking you for months for pics and you keep saying dr y has them or that you will post them soon. how about today? enough stalling...

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Originally Posted by t-bone

level:

I have no mission but to tell the truth in an industry full of lies!Yes Acell & PRP are things I do believe in.I will comment on anything i feel will help somebody!Maybe you don't like my posts but others do.

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ok... So where are the pics??? I know you want us to take your word but without pics it's hard to believe you. Others might like your posts, but I see them for what they are: a bunch of information that is not backed up by verifiable evidence.

BTW... I levitated last night and teleported myself to Germany and had an amazing doner kebab. I can teach you this skill but you have to pay me $1500. I can't provide you any evidence but my word should be enough. Ha!! :::sarcasm:::

so does it work?

I found this place in Vancouver, BC that offers PRP treatment and the results in the photos look great. I don't know if it's b.s. or not but here's a link to the facility: http://www.mcmedgroup.com/mcprphair.html

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Originally Posted by DepressedByHairLoss

I found this place in Vancouver, BC that offers PRP treatment and the results in the photos look great. I don't know if it's b.s. or not but here's a link to the facility: http://www.mcmedgroup.com/mcprphair.html

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Well that seems kind of interesting... And for only $600..?

remember its not for bald heads or where the hair follicle is lost.

nor am i sure if it helps to protect those hairs that are in the crown from getting lost?

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Originally Posted by fitness-man

remember its not for bald heads or where the hair follicle is lost.

nor am i sure if it helps to protect those hairs that are in the crown from getting lost?

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If it's legit then it's a good start

Ok but is there proof that it works yes or no, can people stop going round the question. If yes how does it help and at what stage or hair loss has it a better chance of working.

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Originally Posted by matlondon

Ok but is there proof that it works yes or no, can people stop going round the question. If yes how does it help and at what stage or hair loss has it a better chance of working.

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I tried finding out if PRP works too and there doesnt seem to be a clear answer anywhere. So yesterday I called up a clinic near where i live in southern california, they said they had plenty of customers who were VERY happy with their results but when i asked them what it actually did she was really hesitant to say anything. According to the rep "It doesnt grow new hair, it doesnt stop hair loss" but their customers are really happy. When i pressed on what exactly they were happy if she sounded dumbfounded and told me to come in for a consultation with the Dr for $125. What I learnt from the convo was that these dr's and their clinics have no confidence in this, at least not yet, even tho this thing has been around since 2009-10 and there should be some sort of proof by now.

I feel they should be ashamed of charging us $1000 for a product they cannot even stand behind. Thats alot of money for most of us but i guess thats what the hair loss industry is, sell shit regardless of whether a product works or not

I don't put too much faith in PRP... I have seen a couple pictures that looked good.... resembled pictures of rogaine results.. but I've read forum reviews that said it was worthless

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Originally Posted by Krangstein

Does Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy really work? Can it be used instead of Finasteride? How often would one have to go for PRP?

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Hi,
I know of someone with a very similar problem who was successfully treated by a medical office in New York. You can call them at 718-544-1444 or 845-425-7997. We were really amazed with the results.

Any pics anyone?? i know level posted some on another thread.

I was thinking of this treatment too

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"We really don't have a good uniform idea of what constitutes platelet rich plasma," Dr. Purita told CNN. "I mean, what is it? You could ask 10 doctors and they're going to give you 10 different answers. We really need to get together and form an idea as to what it is."

One doctor contacted by CNN says the whole process is essentially worthless.

"There are many, many misstatements, direct inaccuracies and errors in the way that growth factors and stem cells are portrayed," Dr. George Daley, president of the International Society for Stem Cell Research, said after reading an informational packet written by Purita, available to patients on his website. "If it were subjected to a critical analysis by experts in the field, it would be dismissed as unfortunately superficial and inaccurate."

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http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/21/health...her/index.html

Any results anyone has had with this? Spencer actually says PRP looks promising in an article on livestrong last year. I'm not an expert in science, but what I find interesting is that many doctors say PRP treatments for arthritis and other problems don't really do anything and there is a lot of unknown. But Kobe Bryant did PRP for his arthritic knee and his results have been amazing. All the recent posters in the replicel thread were kinda discouraging but there is still a lot to be thankful for in life and hopefully prp or Histogen can come through.

I've always thought that PRP held promise (despite that it hasn't really done much of anything so far) since it has some solid science behind it. VEGF, KGF, and other ingredients of PRP have been proven by various scientists to have an effect on hair growth. I think that if PRP was tweaked a little bit, it would have more of a positive effect on hair regrowth. The problem is that only one doctor that I know of (Dr. Greco) is looking to create a better version of it to stimulate hair growth.

i've been to purita several times for stem cell treatment on various body parts and his methods have worked wonders on me. i've also had prp done for various shoulder injuries and knee injuries and it has completely alleviated the pain. i know that there are different ways to process the blood and that makes a big difference on the treatment's effectiveness. as far as doctors in the states are concerned, purita is the man for prp and stem cells. i'm surprised dr glen charles hasn't visited purita since his office is right down the street from his in boca raton (glades road). purita will let any doc view his process.

I actually e-mailed Purita except he said he only limits his practice to orthopedics. But yeah, if some one like Dr. Charles is right down the road from him, he could definitely stop in and see how stem cells could possibly regrow hair on people suffering from hair loss.

Hey guys can PRP help with scars say FUE into a scar?

There have been many mixed reviews about PRP. I could not decide whether it was worth it or not but then I noticed a rapid amount of shedding and thinning. At this point I really wanted to try something new. I live in the NJ area and found there was a place called H+S Antiaging in Rutherford. I went for my free consultation and found out that the two doctors who perform the procedure learned from Dr. Greco. I was so pleased to find out about this so I scheduled an appointment, 3 months later I have noticed a decrease in shedding and fullness in my hair! I also was able to go to work the next day without any problems and nobody knew that I had anything done.

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Originally Posted by slickster

Any pics anyone?? i know level posted some on another thread.

I was thinking of this treatment too

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Dude, if you have MPB forget about it; PRP won't work. If it worked, this forum would be mined with pics of its effectiveness.

Level I agree with you, but I decided to still book my PRP appointment with Dr. Greco for next Friday. He is one of the pioneers of this treatment and his office resides 3 hours from me. I figure it's worth a shot and I have $1k to spare.

If it does nothing, then hey, I'll inform all you guys it's a waste. But as it stands, my hair is getting worse and I'm willing to try a treatment that might yield results. Wish me luck fellas'

Good luck man. I am 4hrs from Dr. Cooley and am considering doing the same thing. I didn't think the price was that cheap though. Did they tell you the price over the phone, or did you have to drive 3hrs for a consultation to get the price? I would do this for 1k, but I've heard most places are charging more like 3k...