Venous Blood Collection
A small blood sample is the raw material for the entire therapy.
- 20–60 mL: Volume drawn (per session)
- ACD-A: Tube type (anticoagulant citrate)
- Antecubital vein: Draw site (forearm)
- ~2 min: Draw time (standard phlebotomy)
Why autologous blood
Patient's own blood avoids rejection risk.
No donor matching or disease transmission concerns.
Anticoagulant handling
Citrate additive prevents clotting before spin.
Gentle mixing preserves platelet integrity.
Density-Based Layer Separation
Spinning sorts blood components by density into distinct bands.
- 1500–3200 rpm: Spin speed (protocol dependent)
- 5–15 min: Spin duration (single or double spin)
- RBCs: Bottom layer (densest, discarded)
- Buffy coat: Middle layer (platelets + WBCs)
Single vs double spin
First spin separates plasma from RBCs.
Second spin concentrates platelets further.
Quality drives yield
Speed and balance determine platelet recovery.
Poor spin leaves platelets trapped in RBC layer.
Concentrating the Platelet Layer
The platelet-rich band is drawn off and prepared for injection.
- 3–7×: Target concentration (baseline platelet count)
- 3–8 mL: Extracted volume (per treatment)
- Optional: Activation (calcium chloride/thrombin)
- ~10 min: Prep time (total processing)
Pipetting the buffy coat
Careful aspiration avoids RBC contamination.
Higher purity means fewer inflammatory side effects.
Activation choice
Activating releases growth factors immediately.
Unactivated PRP activates naturally at injection site.
Delivering PRP to the Follicle Bulge
Micro-injections place PRP near dermal papilla and stem cell niche.
- 3–5 mm: Injection depth (dermis/subcutis)
- PDGF, VEGF, EGF: Growth factors (key signaling proteins)
- ~100–150: Injections/session (grid pattern)
- 4–6 weeks: Session interval (between treatments)
Growth factor cascade
PDGF drives proliferation, VEGF drives vascularization.
EGF supports keratinocyte and follicle cell growth.
Grid injection pattern
Evenly spaced injections cover thinning zones.
Density of coverage affects overall response.
Telogen-to-Anagen Transition
Growth factors wake dormant follicles across repeated monthly sessions.
- Telogen → Anagen: Cycle phases (resting to growth)
- 3–6 sessions: Typical course (monthly intervals)
- ~2–3 months: Visible response (after series start)
- ~70–80%: Responders (androgenetic alopecia)
Stem cell activation
Bulge stem cells respond to growth factor signaling.
Activation nudges follicles out of dormancy.
Cumulative effect
Each session compounds follicle recruitment.
Maintenance sessions sustain long-term density.