So yesterday, I had my PRP treatment with Dr. Feller. The treatment itself is quick. It took about 45 minutes from start to finish. The whole thing was done with me sitting in a reclining 'dentist' chair. It commences with a tech drawing a large syringe of blood, which is taken to another room where it is put in a centrifuge that spins it to separate the platelet rich plasma from the other components of the blood. Dr. Feller then numbed the areas of my head we agreed to treat with PRP by injecting them with a numbing agent (probably Lidocaine, but I neglected to ask). This was the only uncomfortable part of the treatment. Those of you who have had a hair transplant will no doubt remember the numerous 'sticks' of these injections. Dr. Feller is adept at giving them and lets you know what to expect with each one ('a stick, and a little pressure'). As the area begins to numb up, the discomfort of successive injections is diminished. Each injection is accompanied by a little 'crunching' sound that is conducted from the site of the injection through the skull. Don't be alarmed.

The tech returned with the syringe of my platelet rich plasma. Because the top of my head was numb, I wasn't entirely sure whether she was injecting the plasma beneath the scalp at various places, but I am pretty sure she was. Once the plasma was used up, she went over the entire area with a needle, making lots and lots of little pricks (which weren't felt because the area was still numb). My understanding is that this activates the platelets. Before the procedure, I asked Dr. Feller about his use of needle pricks versus a perforating wheel, such as the one I saw Dr. Robert Jones (Toronto) use in his video demonstration of his self-administered PRP treatment. Dr. Feller believes that the pricks (which are more labor intensive) should be more effective because they penetrate the scalp, whereas the wheel only irritates the scalp. Anyway, that was it. Done! Today, I have only a little soreness at a couple of small spots.

As I mentioned elsewhere, I wanted to try a PRP treatment in anticipation of having a HT of my frontal third (more like frontal fourth), including the hairline. (I had a very small session of "mini" grafts placed just behind the hairline zone about 15 years ago, but have worn a hairpiece since.) I want to see if moderate miniaturization of hairs comprising about an inch-deep or so strip on top of my head can be stopped or reversed so as avoid having to transplant into that area. I also want to see whether the hair farther back on top of my head leading towards the crown, which has only recently started to miniaturize and thin a bit, can be bolstered and maintained without drugs. Dr. Feller and I also discussed 'turbo charging' my donor area with PRP a couple of weeks prior to transplant.

Dr. Feller was up front about the nascency of using PRP to treat hair loss. At worst, he says, it will do no harm because it is your own blood. What I know of the science and the successful history of PRP for other medical purposes makes me optimistic that it could deliver cosmetically significant benefits for hair loss, but only time will tell. Dr. Feller took 'before' photos. I will be taking photo updates every few weeks or so over the next several months, which either I or Dr. Feller will probably post here. (Note to Dr. Feller: Feel free to post photos with my facial features masked.)

Cheers,
a.j.

Great stuff a.j - thanks for sharing.
Grow well!

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Consultant for Dr. Feller, Coalition Member and Dr. Lindsey, Coalition Member.

See my results --->>My Hair Loss Website

I am not a medical professional and my words should not be taken as medical advice. All opinions and views shared are my own. "Research-Research-Research"

Great stuff aj, keep us posted.

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On Propecia since July 2008 and maintaining.

A.J., thank you for sharing. What is the cost of the treatment?

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My Hair Loss Website - Hair Transplant with Dr. Siporin

Very well written. Thank you for sharing.

A.J.

Thanks for sharing your PRP procedure experience. I certainly do hope that you and/or Dr. Feller will post your photos prior to the procedure and that you'll share photos of your hair progressively over the next few months to see if there's an observable difference.

All the best,

Bill

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Managing Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog and the Hair Loss Forum and Social Community

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To learn about how I restored my hair, view my my hair loss website.

Remember, true beauty radiates from within, not from the skin.

I am not a medical professional and my words should not be taken as medical advice. All opinions and views shared are my own.

very good write up.. I had my prp treatment with feller on the 4th, so you saved me some time writing about it.. Id just like to say that I shared a very similar experience as well... Has the tenderness of your scalp went away yet?

A.J. and Brentipold many thanks for sharing your experience in detail, we look forward to your progress in the next few months.
Please give us a range of cost.

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My Hair Loss Website - Hair Transplant with Dr. Siporin

I paid 600$ but I believe the price may go up to 800$.

Why? is there new evidence it is efficacious?

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Dec. 2004 - 1938 Grafts via Strip
Feb. 2009 - 1002 Grafts via FUE