PRF Hair Restoration: Effectiveness, Side Effects, and Cost

Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) hair restoration is a hair loss treatment that uses your own blood to encourage hair regrowth. It involves taking platelets and healing factors from your blood and injecting them into your scalp. 

PRF helps awaken dormant hair follicles, supporting natural regrowth over time. It's particularly useful for treating androgenetic alopecia (male pattern hair loss).

Compared to hair transplants, PRF hair restoration is more affordable and involves less downtime. But, as with all hair loss treatments, it has its drawbacks and limitations. 

Read on to learn how it works, if it’s safe, and what it costs.

PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) hair restoration is a non-surgical treatment that uses your body’s own healing factors to support hair regrowth. 

The process starts with a small blood draw. That blood is then spun in a centrifuge at a controlled speed to separate red blood cells from other components, namely:

• Platelets 

• White blood cells

• Stem cells

• Fibrin, a protein  

The blood components are then injected into areas of the scalp that show signs of hair thinning. This encourages tissue regeneration, which can speed up wound healing, boost hair density, and encourage healthy hair growth. 

Unlike its cousin PRP (platelet-rich plasma), PRF has a denser mix of regenerative elements and no added anticoagulants, which allows for a slow, sustained release of growth factors after it’s injected into the scalp.

Research suggests that this treatment may be effective for both men and women experiencing androgenetic alopecia (pattern hair loss), as it slows down hair thinning. It’s sometimes used to support regrowth after a hair transplant.

But PRF isn’t for everyone. A good candidate for PRF therapy will still have active hair follicles in the desired treatment areas. It’s not suitable for people who are completely bald or have advanced hair loss.

PRF hair restoration treatments are typically done at a dermatology clinic. 

Here’s how each session works:

• Preparation: A healthcare provider draws a small blood sample and processes it to isolate the fibrin-rich layer.

• Application: This concentrated mix is injected directly into thinning or balding areas of the scalp — for example, the hairline or crown of the head.

• Stimulation: Once in the scalp, PRF stimulates tissue repair and encourages hair follicles to re-enter the growth phase of the hair cycle.

Each PRF session typically takes less than 10 minutes, and a full course usually involves at least three treatments spaced six to eight weeks apart.  

After each appointment, patients are advised to avoid washing the treated area for eight hours and minimize sun exposure for several days. New hair growth can appear within three to six months, depending on individual response. 

PRF is similar to platelet-rich plasma (PRP) hair restoration.

But there are a number of key differences between PRF and PRP treatments that make PRF hair restoration the preferred method.  

Since PRF is extracted from your blood with no additives, this treatment is extremely safe, with no risk of allergic reaction and very little risk of infection or complications.

But as with all medical procedures, PRF treatments can have potential side effects. You might need a day or two of downtime after the session.

Side effects of PRF include:

• Pain

• Swelling

• Minor bruising at the injection sites

Since the patient’s own blood is used, you might experience some lightheadedness — think about the symptoms you might experience when you donate blood.

In a review of three patients who underwent PRF hair restoration treatments, mild bruising and inflammation of the scalp only lasted a few days, and no pain medication was necessary.

One of the main issues with PRF treatment is accessibility.

Platelet-rich plasma and platelet-rich fibrin treatments can cost between $500 and $2,500 per session. You’ll typically need at least three sessions. 

Costs can vary depending on location, facility, and the expertise of the provider performing the treatment. We should also note that few insurance plans cover the cost of PRF treatment for hair loss.

If PRF isn’t for you, there are other (more affordable) hair loss treatments out there, like finasteride (Propecia^®) and minoxidil (Rogaine ^®). Finasteride is a prescription-only oral medication, while minoxidil is an over-the-counter topical product.

PRP hair loss treatments can be an effective way to slow down hair loss and support healthy hair growth. It can be costly, though, so be sure to weigh up the pros and cons.

Here’s the TL;DR on PRF hair restoration:

• PRF uses your own blood to stimulate hair growth. It involves taking your blood and using it to create a fluid with a high concentration of growth factors, and then injecting this into your scalp. 

• It’s effective at stimulating natural hair growth. It may be even more effective and safe than PRP hair restoration.  

• It can be costly. While it’s not as expensive as hair transplant surgery, PRF sessions can range between $500 and $2,500 per session.

If PRF hair restoration treatments are out of your budget, that’s okay — there are other treatment options, like minoxidil and finasteride.  

Explore more hair loss treatments on our telehealth platform, and consult an online healthcare provider to discuss whether PRF hair restoration is right for you.

Whether your treatment plan includes PRF injections will be based on variables only a healthcare professional can help you navigate. So if you want to preserve the hair you have, with or without PRF, reach out today.