PRP and Follicle Survival Rates – What Does the Research Say?

Clinical studies and trials show that platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP) can improve post-transplant follicle survival rates, increase hair growth density, and accelerate healing, making it an evidence-based approach to achieving the best possible outcomes.

Each treatment involves the extraction of a small blood sample, which is concentrated to create an injectable growth factor compound containing between two and six times the normal number of platelets, as an optimal way to activate tissue regeneration.

PRP can stimulate healing, promote angiogenesis (the formation of blood vessels), and support cell regeneration, all of which are linked to improved survival rates for hair transplant grafts.

What Research Is Available About the Effectiveness of PRP?

Numerous studies demonstrate the efficacy of PRP in post-hair transplant recovery, including those summarised below.

1. Systematic Review of PRP Connected to Hair Transplantation

A 2025 study analysed 217 patients [1], examining graft survival after a hair transplant and whether PRP could improve those survival rates. It found that participants receiving PRP:

• Had increased hair density
• Experienced improvements in follicle survival rates
• Saw hair growth begin earlier post-transplant

While this project noted that factors like the variations in how PRP treatments are prepared can skew real-world results, and the need for standardisation in the administration of PRP, it has clear, demonstrable benefits.

2. Placebo-Controlled Trial of PRP in Hair Regrowth

A separate study involved 20 male participants, with some given a placebo and others PRP. [2] The research determined that:

• Men saw significant levels of hair regrowth after three PRP treatments
• Those receiving PRP had improved follicular health, as checked through dermoscopic assessment
• Ki-67 markers were higher, indicating an increase in cellular activity

Importantly, this trial found that the effects of PRP were sustained over time and that only a small proportion of the men who received the treatment required follow-up therapies.

3. Clinical Study Analysing PRP for Pattern Hair Loss Patients

This third research analysed how well PRP works for patients with androgenetic alopecia, or pattern hair loss, and how it compares with other strategies, such as topical treatments and medications. [3]

Over three years, from 2019 to 2022, outcomes included standard results for participants receiving post-hair transplant medication, as well as higher follicle survival rates, stronger hair, and faster growth for those receiving PRP alongside post-transplant medications.

Therefore, PRP has been shown as a powerful way to enhance hair transplant results, rather than a replacement for hair restoration medications.

How Does PRP Compare to Other Hair Restoration Treatments?

What Types of Hair Loss Is PRP Used to Treat?

While usually combined with a hair transplant to improve recovery times and follicle survival rates, PRP can also be used in conjunction with a surgical procedure or as a standalone treatment approach to address a wide range of hair loss concerns.

Reports indicate that:

• PRP can increase the density of hair growth per square centimetre on the scalp for people with androgenetic alopecia or pattern hair loss and boost the thickness of each follicle.
• Treatments for female pattern hair loss are as effective, with thicker hair shafts and benefits for women with thinning or diffuse shedding.
• Autoimmune hair loss conditions like alopecia areata may respond to PRP, which can also be an alternative treatment for patients with intolerance or resistance to conventional steroid treatments.
• Scarring or cicatricial alopecia can be treated to some extent with PRP, and although regrowth may be limited, the therapy can help reduce inflammation and improve overall scalp health.

The success of PRP depends equally on how well the treatment is administered, the platelet concentration in the sample, and how often patients attend PRP sessions. However, it can also be affected by lifestyle factors like poor hydration, nutrition, smoking and high levels of stress.

Is PRP Safe for All Hair Transplant Patients?

Typically, yes, there are very rare comments about negative side effects following PRP therapies in clinical literature, and in most trials and studies, no adverse symptoms have been recorded whatsoever. This is because:

• PRP uses the patient’s own blood, without anything synthetic
• There is no risk of rejection
• Temporary side effects are very mild, including redness and swelling

This makes PRP a low-risk, widely suitable procedure that can be performed without anaesthetic in a clinical setting.

KSL Clinic says, ‘PRP is one of the many advanced regenerative tools practitioners have to treat hair loss, and we’ve seen consistent results over many years, making the treatment a highly advantageous therapy for patients following a hair transplant.’