Regardless of your gender or age, thinning hair, a receding hairline, and patterned balding can leave you feeling self-conscious. If you’re looking for a non-surgical method of stimulating regrowth, there are exciting new advances. At the top of our list is the combination of PRP and Nutrafol for hair growth.
Let’s explore what each of these treatments consists of and why they are more powerful when combined.
What Is PRP?
Valley Medical Weight Loss and Med Spa offers both platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) injections for hair loss—and other aesthetic purposes. Both therapies are natural, non-surgical, and minimally invasive treatments that harness the regenerative power of platelets to promote healing and rejuvenation.
A small vial of your own blood is drawn and placed into a centrifuge machine. This isolates the plasma in your blood, creating a concentrated mix of restorative platelets and growth factors.
PRP
For PRP, your plasma is strategically injected into your scalp to stimulate hair regrowth. Plasma contains 2 to 5 times the platelet concentration in your body. Success rates average between 70 and 90 percent.
PRF
For PRF, your blood is spun a bit slower in the centrifuge machine. This creates a fibrin-rich matrix. This matrix contains a higher percentage of growth factors and stem cells. The plasma concentration contains up to 10 times more plasma than found in your body. Success rates average around 80 percent.
How Quickly Do PRP and PRF Work?
The full treatment takes between 60 and 90 minutes, including the time it takes to spin your plasma or fibrin matrix in the centrifuge. Most clients see results in 2 or 3 treatments. Treatments are spaced at least 4 weeks apart. Full results take approximately 6 months. For hair regrowth, we may suggest a maintenance session every 3 to 6 months.
What Is Nutrafol For Hair Growth?
Nutrafol is a nutritional supplement designed specifically for hair growth. It’s formulated with medical-grade, 100% natural ingredients. Nutraceutical combines the two words “nutrient” and “pharmaceutical”. In essence, it’s the concept of treating food as medicine by strategically consuming plant compounds to stimulate the body’s natural healing process. It includes a proprietary blend of nutrients that address the most common causes of hair loss. There are unique formulas for men, women, vegans, postpartum hair loss, and perimenopause/menopause hair loss.
In addition to nutritional supplements, the brand has a growing list of hair care products. From scalp serum to shampoo, conditioner, anti-inflammatory scalp spray, and more.
Does Nutrafol Really Increase Hair Growth?
Studies find that 84% of men showed improvement in hair growth. For women, 90% showed improvement in hair at 6 months and 100% showed improvement at 9 months.
How Long Will It Take For Nutrafol to Work?
Some begin to see and feel thicker and fuller hair within the first 1 to 3 months, but many won’t experience a significant change for 6 to 9 months.
Who Can’t Take Nutrafol?
Nutrafol is a nutritional supplement that is considered safe for most. It’s not suggested for use for those who are breastfeeding, pregnant, or trying to get pregnant. You should not take Nutrafol if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.
In addition to the medical concerns above, Nutrafol isn’t for everyone. It’s not effective for those undergoing radiation or taking medications that can permanently damage your hair follicles. In this case, PRP or PRF may still be an option.
What Are The Most Common Causes of Hair Loss?
Age is far from the only contributing factor to hair loss. Also, hair loss can begin as early as your 20s. It can accelerate in times of high stress and in different seasons of life. You may only need to utilize PRP and Nutrafol for hair growth when you’re triggered. Or you can use it ongoing as a proactive approach to your next flare-up. Since it can take up to 9 months to see results, many continue with supplementation long-term. The natural nutrients within aren’t just hair-healthy, as they boost your vitamin, antioxidant, and nutrient intake.
Below are the most common causes of hair loss as outlined by Nutrafol. Some may surprise you!
- Stress: Stress is a way of life for most, but when your body remains in fight or flight mode for too long, it can trigger your hair follicles to stop growing. If you’re experiencing an increase in shedding and stress is high, the adaptogen herb ashwagandha may help your body regulate your stress response.
- Lifestyle: From your nutrition to environmental toxins, and the tools and products you use to style your hair. Nutrafol supplements help to reduce oxidative stress caused by toxins in your diet and environment. Nutrafol’s topical haircare products nourish your scalp and hair strands.
- Metabolism: Hair probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of metabolism, but as metabolism slows, hair can become brittle and coarse. The hair growth phase can also shorten when metabolism slows, slowing the rate at which your hair grows.
- Nutrition: You may have heard that biotin (vitamin B7) is a hair-healthy nutrient. It is, but it’s not the only hair-healthy vitamin or nutrient. Nutrafol contains nutrients your hair needs to thrive as well as nutrients that are often depleted when stress is high.
- Hormones: Hormones fluctuate at every season of life. When speaking of utilizing Nutrafol for hair growth, an imbalance in the androgen hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is at the top of the list. When androgens are too high, it causes hair follicles to shrink. This can disrupt how thick and full your hair is. Hormonal fluctuations postpartum and during perimenopause and menopause can also negatively impact hair growth.
- Aging: We saved aging for last. While it may be one of the first things that comes to mind when you think of hair thinning and balding, it’s far from the only cause. It’s not uncommon for hair to thin and shed as we age. For some, this shift begins as early as their 20s.
What About Medically Activated Hair Loss?
If your hair loss was caused by radiation or other medication, we may not suggest Nutrafol. However, PRP and PRF therapy have been proven to be effective for post-radiation hair loss. Success rates are lower, as radiation can permanently damage hair follicles. We’ll advise on the most suitable treatment options for your individual needs.
Why This Combination Is Effective?
Individually, PRP/PRF and Nutrafol are highly effective, but combined they empower you to take an inside-out approach to the top causes of hair loss. This can both accelerate and improve results. PRP/PRF stimulates regrowth by activating the hair follicles within as little as 4 weeks. Results are likely to improve up to the 6-month point.
The 6-month point is when Nutrafol’s results near their peak, with maximum results at around 9 months. Continue with your PRP/PRF maintenance sessions every 3 to 6 months and continue taking your supplements and using your topical hair loss products.
What Happens If You Stop Your Hair Regrowth Treatments?
Unless you’ve resolved the cause of your thinning hair, your results may reverse once you stop taking your daily supplement or if you discontinue your PRP/PRF injections.
Nutrafold for hair growth is designed to be taken long-term. If you miss up to a week on occasion, your results should not change. If you go much longer, your hair may begin to shed or thin.
PRP and PRF injections can last over a year for some. For best results, continue with advised maintenance every 3 to 6 months. That way you don’t have to start back at the initial 3 sessions.
Want to Learn More About Your Hair Loss Options?
Valley Medical Weight Loss and Med Spa has 3 locations in Phoenix, Tempe, and Glendale. If you live in the area and want to explore our non-surgical hair regrowth treatments—schedule a consultation.
During your consultation, we’ll complete a medical history and discuss if you’re a candidate for using solo or combined PRP/PRF and Nutrafol for hair growth. We can also advise on personalized strategies for minimizing the root cause of your thinning hair.
Our goal is to reboot your hair follicles to activate the hair growth required to make you look and feel like yourself again!
*Nutrfold, PRP, and PRF are not FDA-approved. While widely accepted for hair regrowth, the statements above, products, and treatments have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
