When it comes to hair restoration for loss and thinning, surgery is not accessible or affordable for many people. Many social media users have been documenting their journeys with platelet-rich fibrin matrix (PRFM) injections into the scalp to promote more hair growth, so we asked dermatologists if this treatment is worth the hype, and how it can work. Read on for quick tips, suggestions and insight from Dr. Anna Chacon, MD, board-certified dermatologist and writer at My Psoriasis Team.
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First Off, What Is Platelet-Rich Fibrin Matrix (PRFM)?
PRFM, Chacon explains, is similar to platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP), (which is often used in those trendy ‘vampire facials’ or microneedling) but the former uses a much more concentrated solution of platelets referred to as the platelet-rich fibrin matrix. This treatment, Chacon says, “also adds calcium chloride to the platelet mix in order to make it more effective.” Ultimately, PRFM injections “stimulate hair follicles for excellent results in hair growth,” she notes.
As explained by hair expert Janet Gedjeyan, RN, BSN, aesthetic director of Los Angeles’s The Things We Do in conversation with Popsugar, “With hair growth, PRFM is an ideal treatment because the platelets are rich in growth factors that stimulate stem cells, which then strengthen and stimulate the hair follicles.”
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How Does It Work?
Platelet therapy is “quickly becoming an integral aspect of cosmetic treatments,” Chacon acknowledges. PRF (Platelet-Rich Fibrin), she continues, contains “very high concentrations of white blood cells, fibrin, and a small number of stem cells found circulating in our bloodstreams.”
While Platelets normally circulate within the blood and will bind to a scaffold of fibrin, Chacon says that “when platelets bind to the fibrin scaffold, they become activated and release growth factors from tiny granules.” These growth factors then start the wound healing process by “creating new skin cells, collagen, and blood vessels.” When asked if PRFM injections are worth it for anyone struggling with hair loss or thinning, Chacon concludes, “I believe it is a great treatment option for hair loss with lots of benefits included.”
As reported by Hannah Cassidy for Popsugar, these “worthy investment” treatments can be cheaper than other hair restorative surgeries, but can still cost up to “about $1,050 per session,” depending on “where you are in the country and where you go,” which is still important to keep in mind. For more information, Chacon suggests visiting your dermatologist to learn more about which options can best benefit your own hair and scalp.
