IN THIS POST:
- 01 Understanding Postpartum Hair Loss
- 02 What is PRP Therapy?
- 03 What are the steps for PRP hair treatment?
- 04 What are the benefits of PRP?
- 05 Why should I choose PRP?
- 06 What to expect after PRP hair treatment?
- 07 What is the best way to care for hair?
- 08 Restore Your Hair with PRP at Martin’s Rejuvenation
TL;DR: Postpartum hair thinning is a concern for recent moms. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy uses your body’s natural healing processes to stimulate hair growth and restore thickness.
**Take note that this blog is purely for educational purposes. During your consultation, you can get more personalized details and further clarification.
As a new mother navigating the period of postpartum, one of the challenges often overlooked is postpartum hair thinning.
It’s (not) just hair.
While it can be a natural occurrence that comes about from hormonal fluctuations following childbirth, this increased hair shedding or visible thinning is distressing. Often characterised by finding hair strands on your pillow, in shower drains, on hairbrushes, everywhere, this condition significantly affects a lot of mothers whether experiencing childbirth for the first time or having previously done so. Getting precise numbers can be tricky, but the American Pregnancy Association estimates that 40-50% of new mothers will experience hair loss after childbirth.
For us at Martin’s Rejuvenation Centre, we’ve found that Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy offers a promising solution, using your body’s natural healing processes to stimulate hair growth and restore thickness. With PRP, you can address postpartum hair thinning effectively, helping you regain confidence and focus on enjoying your time with your new baby.
Below, we’ll look at how to prevent postpartum hair loss, including extra hair care tips.
Understanding Postpartum Hair Loss
During pregnancy, high levels of estrogen cause hair to enter a prolonged growth phase, resulting in thicker and more luscious hair. But after childbirth, these estrogen levels drop, causing more hair follicles to enter the shedding phase simultaneously, leading to noticeable hair thinning or full-blown loss.
Postpartum hair thinning usually begins about two months after giving birth and can last for several months, tapering off by the time your baby is around six months to one year old.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is one of the most effective answers to addressing postpartum hair thinning, especially when persistent.
What is PRP Therapy?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a non-surgical, minimally invasive treatment designed to promote natural hair growth and minimise hair loss.
PRP itself is a potent substance derived from a component of blood samples that is rich in growth factors. When we inject it to the scalp, it stimulates hair regrowth.
What are the steps for PRP hair treatment?
PRP for hair restoration has 4 steps:- Blood Collection: It starts with drawing a small sample of your blood.
- Separation Process: The blood sample is placed in a centrifuge to separate the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from red blood cells.
- Scalp Application: The PRP is injected into the scalp at the level of the hair follicles, targeting areas of thinning or hair loss.
- Follicle Stimulation: The growth factors in the PRP stimulate hair follicles, leading to thicker and healthier hair growth.
What are the benefits of PRP?
The characteristics of PRP are closely tied to its benefits. These include:
- Minimally Invasive: While it does involve injections, PRP uses your body’s own platelets to stimulate hair follicles, promoting natural hair growth with little to no downtime required.
- Effective: Regular PRP treatments can lead to thicker and denser hair, improving overall hair volume and appearance.
- Safe: Because PRP is derived from your own blood, there’s minimal risk of allergic reactions and other adverse effects.
The recommended number of treatments is 4-6. Although individual outcome varies, you can expect visible results by the 6-month mark after the first treatment.
Why should I choose PRP?
When comparing common treatments for hair loss, PRP therapy stands out.
While medications like Minoxidil can be effective, they come with the need for continuous use and the risk of side effects. Hair transplant surgeries offer a more permanent solution but are invasive, expensive and have significant recovery times and risks.
In contrast, PRP therapy is effective in addition to avoiding the risks of scarring, infections and systemic side effects associated with medications and hair transplant surgeries.
What to expect after PRP hair treatment?
The side effects of PRP treatment are generally minimal, mild and temporary (could last for a few days). These include:
- Discomfort during treatment
- Redness and swelling at the treated area
- Itching
- Headache
- Numbness at site
No major side effects, such as scarring, panniculitis, haematoma or allergic reactions, have been documented following treatment.
What is the best way to care for hair?
In addition to this treatment, practising healthy hair care practices is important for maintaining hair health and reducing the risk of hair loss.
These tips include:
- Gentle brushing with a soft-bristled brush to help distribute natural oils and prevent breakage.
- Limiting the use of hot styling tools such as flat irons and blow dryers to minimise heat damage and breakage.
- Avoiding tight hairstyles like braids or ponytails to reduce tension on the hair follicles, decreasing the risk of traumatic hair loss.
- Regular haircuts to remove split ends and prevent further damage.
- Have a healthy diet that’s rich in iron, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium and beta-carotene to provide essential nutrients for hair growth and strength, promoting overall hair health and vitality.
Restore Your Hair with PRP at Martin’s Rejuvenation
Postpartum hair thinning is a common issue that can really stress out new moms, especially if it’s their first baby. Sometimes, this may even reveal underlying alopecia that had gone unnoticed.
New mothers are already sleep-deprived and stressed about caring for their baby and postpartum body — hair loss shouldn’t be an added worry.
Unfortunately, many moms don’t realise there’s a non-invasive and natural solution with PRP.
But it’s not enough to know; consulting with a qualified professional is equally important to determine if PRP therapy is right for you, considering your medical history and specific needs. If you’re looking for PRP treatment near you in Barrie, Ontario, to manage hair loss, look no further.
Schedule a personalised consultation with us today to address hair loss.
