Human hair loss is a common and psychologically discomforting problem, which is found in a huge number of people around the globe, bringing their self-confidence down and eventually affecting their overall well-being. In the last few years, genes of technology have been birth through different kinds of hair restoration treatments, which carry a ray of hope among all those looking for the best results. These techniques include platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment and growth factor concentrate (GFC). In these cases, PRP and GFC therapy have seen the most success in the non-surgical alternatives category.
In the blog, we put together the details about PRP and GFC for hair loss in terms of effectiveness, techniques, and costs. By underlining safety issues as well, it will be possible to get an integrated view of any high technology. We aim to cover the broad picture in which you will have an opportunity to compare and come to the most accurate conclusion about what treatment is most appropriate for your hair loss issues.
Understanding the Basics
Before choosing between PRP and GFC treatments for hair loss, it’s important to know their differences.
1) What is PRP?
PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma, a concentrate taken from your body as your own blood, which is overloaded with growth factors that are powerful. These growth factors are like little messengers working hard to catch the attention and provide the tendency of the cells to grow and regenerate. For PRP, a small amount of your blood is taken and spun in a centrifuge to get the platelet-rich plasma, which separates the plasma fraction enriched with platelets. In the second step, this gold serum is administered to the scalp in the areas of hair thinning. The concentrated growth factors get right to work, stimulating follicles and increasing circulation in the scalp.
2) What is GFC?
GFC, or growth factor concentrate, is created from a sample of your blood using a special filtration system. The process isolates and concentrates wound healing factors, growth factors, and proteins that awaken sluggish hair follicles. The main difference is that with GFC, the red blood cells and plasma are removed, leaving a serum with a higher concentration of growth factors compared to PRP. The GFC serum is applied topically to the scalp or injected to bathe the follicles in a reparative solution. This signals hair follicles to shift from a resting phase to an active growth phase.
The Procedure
Both PRP and GFC are specifically designed procedures to address hair loss. Let check out how do they differ:
1) How is PRP Administered?
For PRP treatment Doctor will take a small portion from your arm in the same way as they do for the blood tests. The centrifugal technique is a special method of its own because it doesn’t take plasma, nor does it take the red blood cells of the donor. Unlike the normal process, in this method, the blood is spun through a centrifuge, which separates the red cells from the remaining plasma, which constitutes the platelet-containing fluid. The start going through of the process is the partialt-rich plasma being drawn into a syringe. After that, a topical local anaesthetic cream will probably be added to your scalp for the silent body. Then, PRP is diluted by adding some FDA-approved medications and carefully injected into the thinning areas of your scalp by using a grid-shaped technique. A typical process involving all the steps takes about 1 hour. When you are done with the treatment, your scalp could be a little bit tender, but you can carry on with everyday activities as usual, though.
2) How is GFC Administered?
The GFC process starts similarly by drawing a sample of your blood. However, the blood then goes through a special multi-step filtration process to isolate the growth factor concentrate instead of being spun in a centrifuge. The final GFC product is a clear serum that can be used in two ways. It can be spread topically across the scalp and left to soak in, or for deeper penetration, the GFC serum can be injected into the scalp like PRP. A series of GFC treatments are typically recommended for optimal results. Your provider will design a treatment plan customized to your degree of hair loss.
Effectiveness and Results
With regard to outcomes of hair restoration, PRP is demonstrating a solid track record of data from clinical trials. In a 2019 research the effect of PRP was to up-regulate the hair count in the placebo injection than in others. At the end of the three months, the hair count increased by more than 25%, and thickness followed. There was further improvement as reported in the six months. Another study saw total hair density increase by 28% after 4 PRP treatments. Most patients report noticing less shedding, followed by new growth and thickening of existing hairs within 3-6 months of starting PRP therapy. Results can last up to 2 years before maintenance treatments are needed.
Research on GFC for hair growth is still preliminary but shows exciting potential based on the high concentration of beneficial growth factors. One study found that GFC significantly increased the proliferation of hair follicle cells in a test tube model compared to PRP. Early clinical data on GFC injections for hair loss have shown measurable improvements in hair count and density at 6 and 12 weeks post-treatment. Patients report thicker, fuller hair within a few months of starting GFC treatments. While large-scale studies are still needed, GFC could offer similar or even better hair regrowth results than PRP by delivering a higher concentration of growth factors.
Safety and Side Effects
PRP is an extremely safe treatment method since the cells are extracted from your own blood. Hence, you cannot suffer from allergy or reaction to the treatment. Similarly, the most common after effects are expected and show up only temporarily and as redness, pain or swelling on the site of the entry, which most oftentimes disappear within two or three days. However, the extreme side effects, which are very rare, involve the chance of a patient getting infected or experiencing nerve damage if the injections are not conducted with precision and accuracy by a licensed provider. Overall, PRP possesses a very low-risk profile, which is true if it is used by a skilful physician.
Similar to PRP, GFC is derived from your own blood, which minimizes safety concerns. The filtration process used to create GFC removes red blood cells and inflammatory components, resulting in a highly purified serum. This could theoretically lead to fewer side effects compared to PRP. Mild, temporary side effects can include redness, swelling, or pinpoint bleeding at the application or injection site. Serious complications are extremely rare but could include infection if the treatment is not administered under sterile conditions.
Conclusion
PRP and GFC treatments for hair loss are both promising non-surgical options. But which is the better choice? While they work similarly by delivering concentrated growth factors, GFC offers a more purified serum with a higher concentration of active ingredients. This could potentially lead to enhanced hair regrowth, but more studies are needed to confirm this. PRP has a more established track record of safety and effectiveness. Both involve a relatively simple in-office process with minimal downtime and side effects. Cost is comparable between the two treatments. Nevertheless, in the end, you would still be the one who should make the decision about which alternative is most suitable for you, taking into account your present situation and your life plans. Talk to our doctors for specialist hair restoration professionals, who can asses and advise the best solution for your case to regain the natural look of healthy, thick hair again.
Cosmique, as one of the best skin and hair clinics in Kochi, provides the best treatments based on personal requirements. If you are worried about your hair loss, contact us.
