PRF vs PRP for Hair Loss

There are many causes for hair loss in men and women, leading to bald spots, a receding hairline, and thinning hair. Stress, prescription medications, genetics, medical conditions, or simply aging are all common causes. How your hair loss is treated is largely dependent on the cause, but one thing tends to be consistent for most people: avoiding surgical hair restoration is preferable. That’s why so many people have chosen PRP for hair regrowth injections. Now, however, there’s another option: PRF injections.

In this article, we’ll discuss each type of hair regrowth treatment, the similarities and differences, and why we chose PRF as the preferred hair solution in our Park Ridge medical spa.

PRP (platelet-rich plasma) and PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) naturally occur in your body. When isolated and injected in its concentrated form, it stimulates dormant hair follicles, which then regrow hair.

Both treatments are non-surgical, minimally invasive, safe, and natural for hair regrowth, offering hair loss patients with more options than just hair plugs and topicals.

To collect PRF or PRP for hair regrowth, your provider will perform a blood draw like what you would have done for lab testing. The difference is the blood is placed in a centrifuge to separate the PRP or PRF from the rest of the blood before putting it into a syringe. Using a fine needle, the platelet-rich “liquid gold” is then injected into the scalp, stimulating dormant hair follicles to regrow hair that is thicker and stronger than before.

PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) is very simply more potent than PRP (platelet-rich plasma).

Both include platelets, but PRF also offers some things which PRP does not, including stem cells, which UCLA researchers agree stimulate hair growth in people with hair loss.

For some people, PRF isn’t the right solution. For those who can get PRF and experience positive results and hair regrowth, the decision often lies in the minimally invasive nature of the procedure. Other benefits to PRF over hair plugs and grafting procedures include:

• No significant downtime, as most people return to daily life right away
• No general anesthesia, with only local anesthetic needed
• New hair growth is often thicker, stronger, and healthier

Everything from stress to cancer treatments can cause hair loss. Medications and severe illness can also lead to hair loss; COVID-19 is one notable and recent example of an illness which appears to lead to hair loss in both men and women.

Personal grooming habits can also lead to hair loss, however, including:

• Hair extensions (specifically when placed improperly)
• Styling habits (over-styling or hair styles which pull hair too tightly)
• Hair care products (some ingredients may cause hair loss in some people)

…but just because you notice hair loss doesn’t mean you’re losing your hair. What’s the difference? Quite simply, it matters how much hair is falling out over a period of time. If you notice large clumps of hair, a receding hairline, bald spots, or areas of thinning hair, then you’re likely experiencing hair loss. Small amounts of shedding is normal, otherwise.

Not sure if your hair loss is significant? Compare and contrast! Grab some photos from a few years ago and compare to how your hair looks now. That’s usually rather revealing or reassuring.

If you suspect hair loss, we’re happy to see you for a consultation to determine if you’re losing hair and if PRF hair injections are the right option for you.

Just like with PRP, PRF is also suitable for skin rejuvenation, addressing fine lines and wrinkles, stimulating collagen growth, and facial volume loss. We inject PRF much like we would dermal fillers, restoring facial volume in the cheeks, chin, facial folds around the mouth, and more.