Non-Surgical Hair FAQ

Growth factors are released by dermal papilla cells at the base of the hair follicle and activate stem cells in the follicular bulge region. Activated stem cells may differentiate into matrix keratinocytes, migrate and proliferate to begin the formation of a new hair shaft in the proliferative phase. Both dermal papilla and stem cells are reliant on each other, and thus, when they interact through the stimulation of various growth factors, they give rise to the future follicular unit.

Growth factors such as Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF), Keratinocyte Growth Factor (KGF) Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF), Platelet Derived Growth Factor (PDGF) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) are among the most important growth factors for stem cell activation, hair formation and hair shaft size. Collectively these growth factors work to initiate the growth phase, known as anagen, maintain and prolong that growth phase, and resist transition into the resting phase so that the hair may achieve its maximum length and thickness.

Whole blood contains different components such as platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells that differ in size and density. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Cytokine Rich Plasma (CRP) are created by drawing an optimal amount of your blood, separating the blood components into distinct density layers, and removing the key components such as platelets, cytokines and essential proteins. Platelets contain growth factors that, when concentrated, are capable of stimulating biologic activity of cells and tissue. The growth factors work in numerous ways to improve and regenerate hair by stimulating cellular activity, communicating with stem cells and the microenvironment, and promoting new blood supply to the follicle. Additionally, anti-inflammatory proteins are also obtained during processing and are essential to remove harmful inflammation that contributes to hair loss. Overall the effect is to induce the dormant hairs into the active growth phase, maintain and prolong that growth phase, and resist entrance into the resting phase.

Cytokine Rich Plasma, CRP, is simply a more purified form of PRP which contains higher levels of growth factors and anti-inflammatory proteins in a natural extra-cellular protein matrix. CRP/Matrix is a patented technology, which is proprietary to Greco Hair Restoration and may be used alone or in combination with PRP or other regenerative therapies.

A key, distinguishing feature of our Cytokine Rich Plasma is the addition of an extracellular “matrix” (ECM). Growth factor and ECM complexes may be among the most efficient methods to stimulate cell proliferation, as well as tissue healing or regeneration. Greco Hair Restoration uses a proprietary processing technique to create this natural protein matrix from the serum of your own blood. The purpose of the matrix is to provide a biological scaffold for the new cells and growth factors to attach and proliferate. Since it takes the body longer to break down the concentrated protein, the growth factors remain in the target area longer, promoting the formation of new blood supply to the follicles increasing the density of the hair shaft.

The use of PRP in hair restoration surgery has multiple advantages. Carlos Uebel, MD first demonstrated that the use of PRP leads to increased follicular unit yield by 15.1%, suggesting an increase of 480 hairs per every 100cm2 transplanted surface area. Numerous studies have demonstrated the use of PRP in hair transplantation leads to diminished scalp erythema, crusting, decreased patient discomfort, swelling, accelerated hair growth and increased size of follicular units. In 2007, Greco suggested utilization of PRP in donor sites to promote quicker healing, less scarring and infusing PRP into the recipient site to promote vascularization to the new transplanted follicles. Since PRP treated patients hair matured sooner than non transplanted patients, a study was done in 2008 to ascertain effects of PRP on non transplanted hair and it indicated increased hair diameter in the PRP treated group. We have advanced our techniques utilizing our proprietary CRP in both our non-surgical and surgical hair restoration procedures to optimize results and minimize downtime.

Yes, both men and women of all ages may see results such as increase hair density, thickness, texture, as well as a reduction or cessation of shedding. The most important feature of this regenerative therapy is that there are minimal to no adverse side effects since we are using your own biologic material.

Absolutely. In fact we most commonly use combination therapy to achieve the best results. Utilizing multiple therapies with different mechanisms of action to promote an additive or synergistic effect. For this reason, we combine our BioScalp treatment with topical, medical, regenerative, surgical and other non-surgical treatments.

It is not unusual for shedding to continue or even increase when first starting a treatment for hair loss whether it is medical therapy or non-surgical based treatments like our BioScalp. The reason for this is that follicles that have entered the resting phase must first shed the existing hair before the new one can begin to grow into a thicker, stronger hair. Increased shedding after a treatment should only last for a few days to weeks. If it persists longer, contact our office.

Many forms of hair loss can be targeted with our non-surgical therapies including male and female pattern loss, inflammatory induced hair loss such as with alopecia areata, lupus, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, as well as hair loss related to medications, environmental factors, genetics, alterations in blood supply, and more.

A reduction in shedding may be observed in less than one month while increase in hair density may take 4-6 months or longer to become appreciable.

While it may only take one treatment to notice improvements, most often patients seek multiple treatments to optimize the benefits of therapy. Others may require multiple treatments before they start seeing an improvement. Long term maintenance therapy on periodic basis may be performed to sustain results.

Depending on the underlying condition, a single treatment with CRP/Matrix may last for several months, however it is possible to stack initial treatment sessions every 3-6 months for optimal results.

Non-surgical hair therapies are minimally invasive, relatively quick procedures, and very well tolerated. While many patients require no form of anesthesia, a number of pain relief techniques are available including vibration and nerve blocks to make the session go smoothly. Your may feel minimal to no soreness the next day and if you do, Tylenol is recommended.

Most patients can resume normal activities by the next day following treatment. The treatment sessions are relatively quick so they may be fit into a busy schedule and you may return to work immediately after the treatment. For out of town patients, many fly the same day of the treatment.

Causes of hair loss are multifactorial and treatment responses may vary among patients depending on the underlying condition and duration of hair loss. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees and like many hair therapies, once you stop any therapy it is possible that your hair may revert back to where it was before treatment.

Nobody is too old for PRP/CRP. Of course the younger you are the better your results may be due to higher concentrations of growth factors. We have many patients in there 80’s and above who have benefited from our non-surgical treatments.

We deliver the CRP directly to the target tissue via well tolerated injections, intravenously along with advanced regenerative therapies, or topically after microneedling depending on the underlying condition and target location.

Absolutely not, there are many different forms of PRP depending on how it is processed. The amount of cytokines and growth factors vary in each system and so the effectiveness of each type of PRP will vary as well. We use our patented and proprietary system to create a CRP/Matrix in order to produce the optimum concentration of growth factors, anti-inflammatory proteins and natural protein matrix to achieve maximum results.