Alternative medicine has become a specific focus in the treatment of illnesses and what ails you. Hair Loss has not gone unnoticed and as a billion-dollar industry there are plenty of “solutions” for those exploring new types of treatments. In this article we will focus on three, which include PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma), the Derma Roller, and Mesotherapy. Very different in their approach to Hair Loss, these 3 treatment options offer something a bit off the beaten track, but in some instances proven effective as a hair growth treatment abroad.
What is the PRP treatment for Hair Loss?
This type of treatment uses platelets from the patients own blood which is then injected into the region of the wound. Removing the platelets from the blood happens in a centrifuge which spins at high speeds to separate the two. It’s a common practice in medicine and more specifically research.
PRP is a treatment method for many healing issues not just hair loss. In short PRP is used for the healing of wounds and the soft tissue. Ligaments, joints, muscles and other injuries can be candidates for these injections into the ankle, knee, hip, wrist, elbow and shoulder.
The idea is that by injecting the patients own platelets into the area needing treatment, it will increase the time and method of healing. With 5x to 10x more platelets than the patient’s normal blood supply, it is believed that this amount will provide a better and faster chance of healing. Because your injecting the patient’s own blood into the specified area, there are no real side effects as there are no foreign substances as part of the treatment.
As with other treatments using PRP, the hair loss treatments are done the same way. Blood is taken from the patient, the blood is put in a centrifuge to separate the platelets, and then the platelets are injected into the scalp. The belief is that the injections will stimulate blood flow to the balding areas, to trigger and maintain growth.
This treatment method has been used since the 1980s and is claimed to work on patients. Of course, there are many factors which contribute to the success such as health, lifestyle, amount of injections, etc. The cost in the U.S. is approximately $1,500 – $3,500 which is a bit less than what it would cost to fly to Budapest, Hungary for a Hair Transplant.
The final verdict is still out there for these PRP treatments to restore hair growth. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence to support the claims, although there has not up until this point been significant research to substantiate many of the claims. If you are not a suitable candidate for a hair transplant or would rather not use Rogaine or Propecia for health reasons, then PRP treatments are an alternative. Do your research and speak with your doctor to see if this treatment plan is right for you.
Is Mesotherapy successful in treating Hair Loss?
Let’s first delve into what exactly is Mesotherapy for Hair Loss and the pros and cons of this treatment and whether it works or not. Mesotherapy, in short, is another injection method such as PRP treatment for the treatment of hair loss. The difference between the two treatment methods is that Mesotherapy injects nutrients, vitamins and other natural cocktails to stimulate hair growth. There are no chemicals or body fluids from the patient used as a solution. Its is all natural and considered to be safe, although with any type of injection, there is a chance that the area can become infected. A special injection gun is used which should limit the chance of infection.
This is done every week and usually includes 5-8 sessions, which in comparison to other treatments, is a bit longer. The cost for Mesotherapy treatment can cost anywhere from $250 – $650 per session. The treatment is not cheap by any means, although if it does work, it is a small price to pay for slowing, stopping or regrowing your hair.
All of this begs the question of whether Mesotherapy is a viable solution for hair loss. Just as with PRP there are numerous antidotes of people regrowing their hair with wonderful results. There are also those who claim that it does not work and is just a waste of time and money. Clinically speaking there is no real evidence that Mesotherapy is a solution for Hair Loss. Independent studies have shown that in most cases it does not work and although there are some people who experienced hair growth, in general it is not a viable option.
Do Derma-Roller work for treating Hair Loss?
The Derma-Roller seems to be the new panacea to curing all your skin issues as well as regrowing hair on the scalp. A bit medieval looking, the device is a hand-held roller with micro needles attached to it. As the name implies, you roll the device on the effected areas which pokes holes in the skin and reduces wrinkles and creates elasticity. Although many dermatologists use the device, they do not recommend this as a “do it yourself” treatment at home.
For Hair Loss the idea of the Derma-Roller is the same as for treating skin issues, although for hair, a topical solution is added for best results. In this case Minoxidil (Rogaine) is used to stimulate the scalp with the micro needles while the Minoxidil is absorbed into the scalp. A novel approach to hair loss and one which in many cases does work for the patient.
As with the other two alternatives, the Derma Roll is more anecdotal than a treatment such as Rogaine or Propecia. Because it does involve a drug for the hair loss, there is more information on this alternative than the others.
Which one of these treatments is the “Magic Pill” for Hair Loss?
As with life and health there is no “magic pill” and it is always good to remain skeptical about any guaranteed fixes for what ails you. In the Hair Loss industry, promises and guarantees are a dime a dozen. Some do work, but if it sounds too good to be true it usually is.
The three aforementioned alternatives have been known to stop hair loss as well as regrow hair. The problem is that because they are not controlled substances such as Rogaine and Propecia or invasive surgery such as a Hair Transplant, the studies have been minimal. In the case of medication and surgery there are tests, studies, research and trials which the drug and/or techniques must go through to be certified.
PRP, Mesotherapy, and the Derma-Roll have all been proven to work on certain patients. The problem is that know one has data for those it has not worked for and what the success rate is. There will most likely be more studies and hopefully a bit more controlled, but for now it’s a bit of a shot in the dark. In some cases, the treatments can be somewhat expensive and cost almost as much as a Hair Transplant in Hungary. But unless a Hair Transplant is not an alternative, then these treatments are an option.
It’s a slippery slope whether to go down the road with one of these alternatives, but with no real side effects, it’s a road that should be discussed with your doctor and health professional. Best of Luck!