PRP hair treatment causes mild to moderate discomfort that most patients rate between 3 and 5 out of 10 on a pain scale. The procedure involves a series of small injections into the scalp, and while nobody would call it painless, the discomfort is brief and manageable for the vast majority of patients.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
What the PRP Procedure Feels Like
The PRP process begins with a blood draw from your arm, identical to what you would experience at a standard lab appointment. This part causes minimal discomfort and takes just a few minutes.
After your blood is processed in a centrifuge for 10 to 15 minutes, the concentrated platelet-rich plasma is injected into targeted areas of your scalp. This injection phase is where patients feel the most discomfort. Your provider uses a fine needle to deliver small amounts of PRP across the treatment area, spacing injections about 1 centimeter apart.
Each injection feels like a quick pinch or sting. The sensation is similar to getting a vaccine, but repeated across multiple points on the scalp. The scalp has a rich nerve supply, which is why the injections register more than a shot in your arm would. The entire injection phase typically takes 10 to 15 minutes.
Pain Management Options
Most clinics offer one or more approaches to reduce discomfort during PRP treatment:
- Topical numbing cream: Applied 20 to 30 minutes before the procedure, lidocaine-based creams dull surface sensation across the scalp. This is the most common approach and reduces pain noticeably without adding complexity to the procedure
- Local nerve blocks: Some providers inject a small amount of local anesthetic at key nerve points around the scalp before starting PRP. This provides more complete numbness but adds a few extra injections at the start
- Ice or cooling devices: Cold applied to the scalp before and between injections helps numb the area and reduce the sting of each injection
- Vibration devices: Some clinics use handheld vibration tools near the injection site, which distracts the nerve pathways and reduces the perception of pain
Ask your provider about their pain management protocol during your consultation. The approach varies significantly between clinics, and choosing one that prioritizes patient comfort can make a real difference in your experience.
Areas That Are More Sensitive
Not all areas of the scalp have the same sensitivity level. Patients consistently report that certain zones feel more uncomfortable than others during PRP injections:
- Temples and hairline: These areas have thinner skin and more nerve endings, making injections feel sharper
- Crown and vertex: Moderate sensitivity, generally tolerable for most patients
- Donor area (back and sides): Typically the least sensitive area, with thicker skin that cushions the injection sensation
If you are getting PRP for a specific area of thinning, your provider may only need to treat that zone rather than the entire scalp. Patients undergoing targeted treatment to the crown, for example, often report less overall discomfort than those receiving full-scalp coverage.
After the Procedure: What to Expect
Scalp tenderness following PRP is normal and resolves quickly. Most patients describe it as a mild soreness, similar to the feeling after bumping your head lightly. The tenderness is most noticeable when touching or pressing on the treated areas.
Recovery Timeline
| Time After Treatment | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| First few hours | Mild tenderness and possible slight swelling at injection sites |
| 24 hours | Tenderness gradually decreasing, redness fading |
| 48 hours | Most tenderness resolved, scalp feels normal for most patients |
| 1-2 days | Any visible redness at injection sites fades completely |
You can wash your hair the next day after treatment. Avoid strenuous exercise on the day of your PRP session, as increased blood pressure and sweating can aggravate scalp tenderness and swelling.
Managing Post-Treatment Discomfort
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is generally safe to take after PRP for any lingering tenderness. Many providers advise against NSAIDs like ibuprofen or aspirin in the days surrounding PRP treatment, since these medications can affect platelet function and may theoretically reduce the effectiveness of the therapy. Check with your provider about their specific recommendations.
Does PRP Get Easier Over Multiple Sessions
Results from PRP become visible after 3 to 4 sessions, typically over a period of 3 to 6 months. Many patients report that subsequent sessions feel less uncomfortable than the first one. Part of this is knowing what to expect, which reduces anxiety. Part of it may also be that the scalp tissue becomes healthier with each treatment, potentially responding less dramatically to the injections.
Maintenance sessions every 3 to 6 months help sustain results long term. Each session costs between $500 and $2,000 depending on the provider and system used. For a complete pricing breakdown, see our PRP cost guide.
Understanding your current stage of hair loss helps determine which areas need treatment and how many sessions to plan for. You can reference the Norwood scale guide to identify your pattern.
Get Your Personalized Assessment
Want to find out whether PRP is the right treatment approach for your hair loss pattern and stage? Upload a photo at myhairline.ai/analyze to get an AI-powered evaluation of your current situation and personalized treatment recommendations.