Comparative Evaluation of Platelet Rich Plasma Prepared Recipient Site Over Conventional Technique for Hair Transplantation in Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Background: Androgenetic alopecia is genetic condition called "male pattern baldness" characterized by a receding hairline and gradual progressive hair thinning and hair loss from the frontal scalp and crown. Multiple options have been advocated for the treatment of hair loss, including low-level laser therapy, FDA-approved medications such as Topical minoxidil, finasteride given orally and surgical hair transplantation techniques along with PRP as monotherapy in hair loss reduction and regeneration of new hair. This study aimed to assess the effect of Pre operatively administered PRP over post operatively administered PRP in the treatment of hair transplantation.

Materials and methods: This study was conducted by department of Oral and maxillofacial surgery, Saveetha institute of medical and technological sciences, chennai in the time period of 6 months starting from November 2023 to November 2024. The study consisted of 40 participants based on the G* power calculation and has 20 per each group. One group received PRP at the recipient site 15 days prior to surgery and intra operatively before transplantation, another group of patients who directly undergone hair transplantation with PRP postoperatively that is activated follicular transplantation. 3 months follow up was done and hair follicle density was measured using a trichometer and hair shaft diameter was measured using a scanning electron microscope. Data analysis was done with the help of SPSS, with P-values less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the two groups for measurement of hair shaft diameter, and for comparison between hair follicle density, an unpaired t-test was used.

Results: It was found that the mean hair shaft diameter in the group of patients receiving PRP at recipient site preoperatively was higher than that of the group of patients who directly undergone hair transplantation with PRP postoperatively that is activated follicular transplantation for which the results were statistically significant on one month (P = 0.036), two months (P = 0.001), and three months (P = 0.001) postoperative periods, and Hair follicle density was higher in the group of patients receiving PRP at recipient site preoperatively for which results were statistically non significant on one month (P = 0.1), two months (P = 0.45)) post operative period. While mean hair density was shown to be higher on three months (P = 0.001) postoperative periods, the results were statistically significant only at the three-month postoperative period.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that PRP administration before hair transplantation has shown better result for the improvement of both hair quality (hair shaft diameter) and hair quantity (hair follicle density) compared to activated follicular transplantation.

Categories: Dentistry, Dermatology, Therapeutics, Esthetics