The Effect of Plasma Rich in Growth Factors Combined with Follicular Unit Extraction Surgery for the Treatment of Hair Loss: A Pilot Study

October 2017 in “ Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology ”

Roge M. Navarro, Ander Pino, Asunción Martínez‐Andrés, Consuelo Molina, Ana María Malalana Martínez, Nahikari Martinez, Gorka Orive, Eduardo Anitua

plasma rich in growth factors PRGF follicular unit extraction FUE hair loss follicular cell proliferation follicular transfer units FTUs post-surgical inflammation hair fixation

TLDR Combining plasma rich in growth factors with hair transplant surgery may lead to faster recovery and better outcomes for hair loss treatment.

The 2017 pilot study evaluated the safety and efficacy of combining plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) with follicular unit extraction (FUE) surgery for hair loss treatment. The study involved 30 patients, with 15 undergoing standard FUE and 15 receiving FUE combined with PRGF. PRGF was shown to induce follicular cell proliferation and migration in vitro, and clinically, it improved the integrity of follicular transfer units (FTUs), reduced healing time, and decreased post-surgical inflammation, pain, and itching. The PRGF group experienced faster crust healing and hair fixation (9 ± 1 days) compared to the control group (18 ± 5 days), and a shorter postoperative inflammation period (1 ± 2 days for PRGF group vs. 6 ± 5 days for control). No adverse effects were observed. The study concluded that PRGF could be a promising treatment for hair loss, offering faster recovery and better postoperative outcomes, but noted the need for further trials with more participants and longer follow-up to confirm these findings.

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