Hair Mesotherapy vs. PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma)

Hair loss has become one of the problems faced by both males and females of different ages. Fortunately, there are many ways to tackle this problem —thanks to technology. If you are one of those people whose head is gradually turning bald because of alopecia, then you are at the right place, this article will help you understand the treatment modalities you can opt for. Much focus will be given to Mesotherapy and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP). So, let’s get to it.

What is Mesotherapy?

Mesotherapy is a non-surgical technique designed to combat hair loss by infusing injections of vitamins, enzymes, and hormones into the mesoderm of the scalp —a layer that is between fat layers and the skin tissue. When using this technique, doctors usually use either the traditional mesotherapy or the needle-free mesotherapy method.

The traditional method can be described as a kind of homeopathic medication method whereby doctors give you some type of injections into your skin as a way of treating it. When it comes to the needle-free method, there are no injections involved only the electrophoresis.

Doctors usually opt for the mesotherapy technique is when the aim is to rejuvenate the skin, remove baggy skin or fatty tissues. In some cases, this technique has been successfully used to break down the fatty tissues under the chin or around the waist. Some people go for this treatment so as to deal with wrinkles that may appear at an early age. This indicates that your appearance can be enhanced by mesotherapy.

One of the reasons why this technique is favored by doctors is because it is safe —meaning, there are no side effects, risks, or any complications that come because of mesotherapy. The substance used in injections is natural, and it does not lead to any infections or any allergy of some sort. To recover for this treatment, you would need a day or two after treatment.

ASLO CHECK: Hair Transplant for Women

What is PRP?

Platelet Rich Plasma, or PRP, is a non-surgical medical procedure that can be used to treat thinning of hair or the problem of hair loss. PRP is performed by using the patient’s own blood so as to enhance hair growth and development.

This is how the PRP works:

• The patient's blood is taken from the body, and the platelets and growth factor proteins which are within the blood are centrifuged to concentrate.
• The next step is to trigger the head via electronic or mechanical micro-needling so as to stimulate the injury-recovery procedure — which is therefore essential for the subsequent use of platelets and growth factors.
• Your doctor will then re-inject into the head, the centrifuged plasma which is rich in platelets.
• The growth factors that are in the platelets are released, so as to reduce hair follicle shrinkage, enhance blood flow, and this promotes new growth of cells.
• PRP is helpful to maintain the hair follicles which are in a growth phase (anagen phase), and they also promote the thickness and length of the hair. This implies that it promotes new growth, at the same time strengthening the follicles of the existing hair.
• Considering that a substance will be injected in the skin, there may be potential risks such as pain at the injection site, nerve injuries, tissue damage, and infection. The advantages of PRP outweigh the potential side effects.

Articulated below, are some of the advantages of this PRP technique:

• This treatment is safe, simple and comfortable
• It is a completely natural therapy
• Non-surgical, and this indicates that possible side effects are not life-threatening.
• It takes an hour to complete the treatment.
• The recovery period is swift.
• No risk of an allergic reaction.
• Hair restoration
• It is cost-effective
• Extremely natural-looking results

Are they worth it?

Even though they can be performed using technologically advanced equipment, traditional hair transplants can leave behind scars after the procedure, and they may be so itchy and irritating sometimes. But if using non-invasive treatment techniques (PRP and Mesotherapy) to combat partial hair loss and thinning, there won’t be scarring that will occur.

Considering that the PRP and Mesotherapy technique effective, have a high success rate, and they are safe, it is worth it to undergo one of the treatment.

Am I suitable for any for Mesotherapy or PRP?

To be regarded as the best candidate for mesotherapy, you have to have the following:

• Balding

• Patchy Hair Loss

• A good healthy status

• Progressive Thinning of the Hair

• Difference between Mesotherapy and PRP

• Mesotherapy injections are administered into the middle layer of the skin, while the PRP can be injected on the layer of the skin that requires treatment.

• PRP is taken from the patient's own blood, but the mesotherapy injections are customized vitamins, enzymes, minerals, and drugs.

• After a hair transplant, PRP can be used to boost recovery. But mesotherapy cannot be used with any other hair transplant procedure.

• PRP involves several injections, whereas the mesotherapy only involves injections of hyaluronic acid.

• With mesotherapy, the patient will need about five to eight sessions, whereas PRP only requires seven to ten.

• Mesotherapy has downtime, while PRP doesn’t have any amount of downtime.

• Usually, mesotherapy is less cheap than PRP

How do these techniques compare to Hair Transplant

Mesotherapy, PRP, and Hair Transplant surgery are different in terms of their implementation and the medications they contain. Otherwise, they all serve the same purpose. The duration of the implementation is also different, as well.

Before and After for Both

Before the surgery, your surgeon will take photos of your head, and the same will also be done after the procedure. This is done so as to show you the difference between before and after the surgery. But it's not to say that you will see the results immediately.

Over to you…

Now that you know what Mesotherapy and PRP are all about, it's all up to you. If you decide to have this surgery, you can book a consultation with one of our expert surgeons, and you will be briefed on how the surgery will play out.

This content is edited by Flymedi Medical Editors in 2023.