PRP or Hair Transplant? Let Your Trichology Test Decide

*Collaborative Post

Hair loss is one of the most common aesthetic concerns, affecting both men and women worldwide. By the age of 50, nearly 60 percent of men and 40 percent of women experience visible thinning. Modern medicine now offers several ways to reverse or manage hair loss, with Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy and hair transplantation being the most effective and widely studied.

At Asli Tarcan Clinic in Istanbul, doctors emphasize that the right choice depends on accurate diagnosis. A trichology test, which examines scalp and follicle health, helps determine whether a patient will respond better to regenerative treatment such as PRP or surgical restoration through transplantation.

How PRP Therapy Works

PRP therapy is based on the concept of using the body’s own healing mechanisms to rejuvenate hair follicles. During the procedure, a small amount of blood (about 20 to 60 milliliters) is drawn and centrifuged for 10 to 15 minutes. This process separates plasma with a platelet concentration that is four to five times higher than normal.

Platelets release growth factors such as PDGF (Platelet-Derived Growth Factor), TGF-β (Transforming Growth Factor Beta), and VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor). These bioactive proteins enhance microcirculation, activate stem cells in the follicular bulge, and extend the anagen or growth phase of hair.

In clinical studies, PRP has shown measurable success. A 2015 randomized controlled trial reported an average increase of 33 hairs in a 0.65 cm² area after three monthly sessions. Another meta-analysis published in 2023, which included data from 343 participants, found that PRP improved both hair density and shaft diameter, with a mean diameter increase of 28.7 micrometers.

Most treatment plans involve three to four sessions spaced four to six weeks apart, followed by maintenance once or twice per year. The therapy takes less than one hour, and side effects are typically limited to mild redness or swelling for 24 to 48 hours.

PRP is best suited for mild to moderate androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium, or postpartum shedding. It is less effective in advanced baldness, where follicles have already atrophied.

The Science Behind Hair Transplantation

Hair transplantation remains the gold standard for patients with significant or permanent hair loss. The two primary methods are FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) and FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation). Both techniques involve relocating genetically resistant follicles from the donor area, typically the occipital scalp, to balding zones.

In FUE, each follicular unit containing one to four hairs is extracted individually using a micro-punch device with a diameter of 0.7 to 1.0 millimeters. In FUT, a thin strip of skin is removed and dissected under a microscope into individual grafts. The transplanted follicles retain their genetic resistance to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which ensures long-term survival.

Scientific literature reports high efficacy rates. According to a StatPearls review, graft survival averages 87 percent after one year and maintains about 70 percent viability after five years. Visible growth usually appears within six months, and full results can be seen after 12 months.

Modern procedures at centers like Asli Tarcan Clinic use sapphire-tipped instruments and implanter pens to minimize trauma and create dense, natural results. With proper postoperative care, transplanted hair continues to grow for life, following the same growth cycle as native hair.

Comparing PRP and Hair Transplantation

Although both procedures aim to restore density, they differ in invasiveness, longevity, and ideal indications.

PRP is a non-surgical, regenerative treatment that revitalizes existing follicles. Each session lasts about 45 to 60 minutes, and recovery is immediate. Improvements can be measured after two to three months, with an average increase of 30 to 45 hairs per square centimeter reported in several clinical trials. However, maintenance sessions are necessary every 6 to 12 months.

Hair transplantation is a surgical redistribution of follicles, performed in one or two sessions. A standard FUE procedure involving 2,000 to 3,000 grafts takes 6 to 8 hours. Recovery requires about 10 to 14 days, after which grafts permanently anchor into the scalp. The new hair is lifelong but requires good donor density and stable hormonal balance for best outcomes.

Cost differences are significant. In Turkey, PRP treatments generally range between 1,200 and 3,000 USD for an initial series, while a full hair transplant at Asli Tarcan Clinic typically costs 2,500 to 4,000 USD depending on the number of grafts.

The Role of Trichology Testing

A trichology test helps determine which treatment will provide the most effective and predictable outcome. It involves a set of diagnostic procedures designed to analyze hair density, follicular structure, and scalp condition.

1. Trichoscopy: A digital microscope magnifies the scalp up to 100 times, allowing specialists to identify miniaturized follicles, inflammation, or scarring alopecia.
 2. Hair Pull Test: Evaluates the severity of shedding by gently pulling 60 to 80 hairs and counting how many detach. Normal shedding involves fewer than six hairs.
 3. TrichoTest: A genetic test that examines single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) linked to hair loss, hormonal sensitivity, and inflammatory response. It also predicts how a patient might respond to medications such as finasteride or minoxidil.

This data-driven approach ensures that treatment decisions are based on measurable scalp biology rather than guesswork. For instance, a patient with reversible miniaturization might benefit more from PRP, while a person with large areas of fibrosis or atrophy will need transplantation.

Clinical Safety and Risk Profile

PRP is minimally invasive and generally safe since it uses autologous blood. Reported side effects include transient pain (observed in 25 percent of patients), minor swelling, or bruising. Infection risk is below 1 percent when performed under sterile conditions.

Hair transplantation involves more steps but also maintains an excellent safety record. The most common postoperative effects are temporary edema (20 to 30 percent), crusting, and mild numbness in the donor zone. Infection rates remain below 2 percent in accredited clinics.

At Asli Tarcan Clinic, every procedure is performed under medical supervision with strict adherence to sterilization and patient monitoring protocols, reducing complications to negligible levels.

Making the Right Decision

Choosing between PRP and hair transplantation depends on several key factors: the extent of hair loss, donor area quality, hormonal stability, and patient expectations. Younger patients with early-stage thinning often start with PRP to preserve density, while those with Norwood scale stages 4 to 7 typically require transplantation for coverage.

A combined plan can provide the best of both worlds. PRP sessions before and after a transplant have been shown to improve graft survival by up to 15 percent and accelerate wound healing. This integrative approach has become standard practice in modern clinics.

Both PRP and hair transplantation have transformed how clinicians manage hair loss. PRP enhances follicular activity through natural regeneration, while transplantation permanently restores density by relocating healthy grafts.

A trichology test provides the missing link between the two, allowing specialists to identify the root cause of hair loss and tailor treatment precisely. Clinics that combine diagnostic accuracy with advanced procedures, such as Asli Tarcan Clinic in Istanbul, continue to set the standard for personalized hair restoration.

By aligning medical science with individual biology, patients can achieve results that are not only visible but sustainable for years to come.

*This is a collaborative post. For further information please refer to my disclosure page.