In-clinic treatment
PRP for hair (platelet-rich plasma)
A medical procedure in which your own blood is drawn, spun to concentrate the platelets, and injected into the scalp.
Indicative cost
£350.00–£1,200.00 per course
Downtime
Minimal. Tenderness, small pinprick marks and occasional swelling for a day or two.
Typical course
Commonly three to four sessions a month apart to start
Keeping it up
Often every four to six months
How it works
Concentrated platelets contain growth factors, and the theory is that these support the hair follicle environment. Protocols vary widely between clinics, which is part of why published results vary.
What a session actually involves
Blood is taken from your arm, spun in a centrifuge, and the concentrate injected across the scalp after numbing. The injections sting. Scalp tenderness afterwards is normal.
What people usually consider it for
- Thinning or shedding
- Lack of volume
This reflects what the treatment is commonly used for — not a claim that it will work for you.
When it may not be suitable
- You have a blood disorder, or take blood thinners without clearance
- You have an active scalp infection
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Your hair loss has not been diagnosed
This list is not exhaustive. A qualified practitioner should assess you before any treatment.
Things to weigh up
- — Get a diagnosis before treatment — several causes of shedding respond to entirely different things
- — Costs add up quickly across a course
What the evidence looks like
A medical procedure with promising but inconsistent published evidence for androgenetic hair loss, partly because protocols differ. Hair loss should be diagnosed by a doctor or trichologist before spending on treatment.
Questions worth asking first
Ask who performs the injections and their medical registration, what the protocol is, and how progress will be measured. Get a diagnosis first.
What tends to sit alongside it
- Scalp serum
- Low-level laser device
Others people compare it with
Treatments and devices are listed for information only. Nothing here is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a promise of a result. Suitability depends on your health, skin and the specific device or practitioner — always check with a qualified professional first.