A PRP hair treatment session takes 30 to 60 minutes and involves three steps: drawing your blood, spinning it in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets, and injecting the platelet-rich plasma into your scalp. The entire process is done in-office with no anesthesia, no incisions, and no downtime.
This guide walks through exactly what happens at each step so you know what to expect before, during, and immediately after your appointment.
Before Your Appointment: Preparation
What to Do Before PRP
Proper preparation can improve the quality of your PRP and your comfort during the procedure.
| Timeframe | Action | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week before | Stop blood thinners (with doctor approval) | NSAIDs and aspirin reduce platelet function |
| 3 days before | Avoid alcohol | Alcohol thins blood and reduces platelet quality |
| 1 day before | Drink extra water | Hydration improves blood draw and platelet yield |
| Morning of | Eat a normal meal | Prevents lightheadedness during blood draw |
| Morning of | Wash hair with regular shampoo | Clean scalp for injection site hygiene |
| Morning of | Skip hair products | Gels, sprays, and fibers can contaminate injection sites |
Medications to Avoid
These medications and supplements reduce platelet function and should be paused before PRP (always consult your prescribing doctor):
- NSAIDs: Ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve), aspirin. Stop 7 days before.
- Fish oil and omega-3 supplements: Stop 3-5 days before.
- Vitamin E (high dose): Stop 3-5 days before.
- Herbal supplements: Ginkgo biloba, garlic extract, and turmeric supplements. Stop 3-5 days before.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is safe to take before and after PRP since it does not affect platelet function.
Step 1: Blood Draw (5 Minutes)
The procedure begins with a standard venous blood draw, identical to what you would experience at a lab test. A nurse or technician draws blood from a vein in your arm (typically the inner elbow) using a butterfly needle.
How Much Blood is Needed
| PRP System | Blood Volume | Platelet Concentration |
|---|---|---|
| Eclipse PRP | 11-22 mL | 3-5x baseline |
| Regen Lab (RegenACR) | 10-20 mL | 1.5-3x baseline |
| EmCyte Pure PRP | 30-60 mL | 5-8x baseline |
| Harvest SmartPrep | 20-60 mL | 3-7x baseline |
The blood is collected directly into the PRP preparation kit's specialized tubes, which contain an anticoagulant to prevent clotting during processing.
Step 2: Centrifuge Processing (10-15 Minutes)
Your blood sample goes directly into a centrifuge, a machine that spins the tube at high speed to separate blood components by density.
What the Centrifuge Does
Blood contains three main layers when spun:
- Red blood cells (bottom): The heaviest component, settles to the bottom. Not used in PRP.
- Platelet-rich plasma (middle): The target layer. Contains concentrated platelets and growth factors.
- Platelet-poor plasma (top): The lightest fraction. Sometimes used to dilute the PRP to desired concentration.
The centrifuge spins at 1,500 to 3,500 RPM for 5 to 15 minutes depending on the system. Some systems use a single spin, while dual-spin systems run twice to achieve higher platelet concentrations.
Growth Factors in PRP
The concentrated platelet layer contains several growth factors relevant to hair follicle stimulation:
- PDGF (Platelet-Derived Growth Factor): Stimulates cell proliferation and blood vessel formation
- TGF-beta (Transforming Growth Factor): Promotes tissue repair
- VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor): Increases blood supply to follicles
- EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor): Stimulates cell growth and differentiation
- IGF-1 (Insulin-Like Growth Factor): Promotes hair follicle survival
While the centrifuge processes your blood, the provider typically applies a topical numbing cream to your scalp. This takes 15-20 minutes to take effect, and the timing aligns well with the centrifuge processing window.
Step 3: Scalp Injection (15-30 Minutes)
The PRP is drawn into syringes and injected into the scalp using a fine-gauge needle (30-32 gauge, similar to a Botox needle). Injections are placed approximately 1 centimeter apart across the entire treatment area.
Injection Technique
The provider follows a systematic grid pattern across the thinning zones:
- Mapping: The treatment area is identified based on your Norwood stage and thinning pattern
- Depth: Injections are placed at the dermal papilla level (3-4mm deep), where hair follicle stem cells reside
- Volume: 0.05 to 0.1 mL per injection point
- Spacing: Injection points are spaced 1 to 1.5 cm apart in a grid
- Total injections: A typical session involves 50 to 100 injection points
What It Feels Like
With topical numbing cream applied, most patients rate the pain at 3-5 out of 10. Each injection feels like a small pinch. The most sensitive areas are the temples and frontal hairline, where the scalp tissue is thinnest.
Some providers offer additional pain management:
- Nerve blocks: Injecting lidocaine around the major scalp nerves before PRP injection. Eliminates most sensation.
- Vibration devices: Applying vibration near the injection site disrupts pain signal transmission.
- Cooling spray: Momentary numbing of the skin immediately before each injection.
The injection phase takes longer for larger treatment areas. A patient treating only the hairline and temples may finish in 10-15 minutes. A patient treating the entire top of the scalp from hairline to crown needs 25-30 minutes.
Immediately After the Procedure
What to Expect Right After
You can stand up, drive home, and return to normal activities immediately after PRP. There is no anesthesia to wear off and no wound care required.
Immediate post-procedure effects include:
- Mild redness: The injection sites will be pink or red for 2-6 hours
- Minor swelling: Slight puffiness at injection sites, resolves within 24 hours
- Tenderness: The scalp feels tender to the touch, similar to a mild sunburn, for 12-24 hours
- Small bumps: Tiny raised bumps at each injection point that flatten within a few hours
Post-Procedure Instructions
| Timeframe | Instruction |
|---|---|
| First 6 hours | Do not touch, rub, or wash the scalp |
| First 24 hours | No strenuous exercise or heavy lifting |
| First 24 hours | No alcohol |
| First 48 hours | No swimming, saunas, or steam rooms |
| After 24 hours | Gentle hair washing is fine |
| After 48 hours | Resume all normal activities |
You do not need to take time off work for PRP. Most patients schedule appointments during lunch breaks or after work and return to their normal routine immediately.
What Happens Between Sessions
The 4-6 week gap between sessions allows the growth factors to stimulate follicle activity. You will not see visible changes between session 1 and session 2. Most patients begin noticing new growth or thicker hairs after session 3 (around the 8-12 week mark). Full results appear at 6-12 months.
For more on what results to expect and when, see our FUE vs FUT comparison for surgical alternatives or upload a photo at myhairline.ai/analyze to get personalized treatment recommendations.
FAQ
How long does a PRP hair treatment session take?
A PRP session takes 30 to 60 minutes from blood draw to completion. The blood draw takes 5 minutes, centrifuge processing takes 10-15 minutes, and the injection phase takes 15-30 minutes depending on the size of the treatment area. Most clinics complete the entire process in under 45 minutes.
Does PRP for hair hurt?
Most patients rate PRP injection pain at 3-5 out of 10. The scalp injections feel like a series of small pinches. Providers typically apply a topical numbing cream 20-30 minutes before the injections or use a nerve block to minimize discomfort. The blood draw portion is no more painful than a standard lab test.
How much blood is drawn for PRP hair treatment?
PRP hair treatment requires 10 to 60 milliliters of blood, depending on the PRP preparation system used. Most systems draw 20-30 mL (about 1-2 tablespoons). This small amount does not cause lightheadedness or weakness in healthy patients. The blood draw is identical to a routine medical lab test.