PRP for hair loss: what the research shows, who it suits and what a session involves
If your hair is thinning, you have probably seen PRP offered as a treatment. This guide explains what PRP for hair loss involves, what the research says in plain numbers, who tends to be a good candidate, what to expect after a session, and what it costs at The London PRP Clinic. We will be honest about what is known and what is not, because you should decide with the facts in front of you.
Short answer
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) uses a concentrate from your own blood, injected into the scalp. In a 2024 meta-analysis of 10 randomised trials (555 treatment areas from 318 people) with androgenetic alopecia, hair density was higher after PRP than in control groups, by an average of 25 hairs per square centimetre (95% confidence interval 9 to 41). Hair diameter did not differ significantly. The authors note that effects looked stronger in men, and that more research is needed, particularly in women.
What the evidence says, and what it does not
The positive finding: PRP monotherapy increased hair density versus control in the pooled trials (mean difference 25.09 hairs per square centimetre, 95% CI 9.03 to 41.15, p = 0.002).
The limit: the same analysis found no significant difference in hair diameter.
The caveat: trials were small and varied in design, and hair density was higher in trials with fewer than 30 participants, which can overstate effects.
The standard care pathway: NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries list topical minoxidil and oral finasteride 1 mg as the drug treatments for male pattern hair loss, and note that improvement is likely to be reversed if they are stopped. PRP is not part of that pathway.
So PRP is best seen as an option to consider after a proper diagnosis, alongside or after standard treatments, not as a guaranteed fix.
Who may be a good candidate
The cited meta-analysis studied androgenetic alopecia, not every cause of hair loss. Its pooled results do not establish suitability for each person or stage. Ask for a diagnosis and a comparison with standard treatments before deciding on PRP.
Get the diagnosis right first
NICE CKS advises considering specialist referral where the presentation is atypical, the hair loss is extensive, or the diagnosis is uncertain. If your hair loss was sudden, patchy, or came with other symptoms, see a doctor first. At your consultation we will talk through your history and whether tests or other treatments make more sense before PRP.
What a session involves
The cited hair-loss meta-analysis describes PRP prepared from blood and injected into the scalp. Protocols differed between trials. Ask which preparation, session schedule and review point are proposed for you.
Ask how many sessions are proposed, why that schedule was chosen, and when the plan will be reviewed. The £1,215 three-session package below is a price option, not a promise that three sessions will suit everyone.
After your session
Ask your treating clinician for written aftercare, expected recovery and contact details. The hair-density finding in the cited meta-analysis is not a recovery timetable or a guarantee of benefit.
Red flags: contact us or seek care promptly
NHS Cellulitis advises an urgent GP appointment or NHS 111 for skin that is painful, hot and swollen: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cellulitis/
Price
Hair PRP is £450 per session, or £1,215 for a course of three. The price is confirmed before you book.
Book your consultation
Call 020 3951 3429.
Message us on WhatsApp: https://wa.me/447961280835
This article is general information and not a diagnosis or a promise of results.
Written by The Wellness Team and medically reviewed by The Wellness Clinical Team.
Sources
Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Androgenic Alopecia: A Meta-Analysis. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10980625/
NICE CKS, Male pattern hair loss. https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/male-pattern-hair-loss-male-androgenetic-alopecia/management/management/