Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) already delivers the most natural-looking hair restoration available. But what if you could coax those grafts to grow thicker, faster, and with less early shedding? Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy—essentially a growth-factor cocktail spun from your own blood—does exactly that.
PRP in Sixty Seconds
PRP is made by drawing a small vial of your blood, centrifuging it to concentrate the platelets, and collecting the golden serum. When injected or applied to tissue, those platelets release signaling molecules such as PDGF, VEGF, and TGF-beta—tiny project managers that accelerate healing and stimulate new blood-vessel formation.
A broad review of controlled studies now shows that PRP increases both hair density and shaft thickness, with some trials reporting up to thirty-percent faster regrowth when combined with FUE.
The FUE + PRP Synergy
| Outcome | FUE Alone | FUE Plus PRP |
| New-hair emergence | 8–12 months to full density | As little as 4–5 months |
| Early shedding (shock loss) | Common in weeks 3–8 | Greatly reduced, often under 20 percent |
| Graft survival in scar tissue | About 60 percent | Roughly 70 percent or higher |
| Overall regrowth speed | Baseline | Up to 30 percent faster |
Three Moments to Use PRP
- Graft soak during surgery – Follicles bathe in PRP before placement, improving survival.
- Immediate post-op injections – A light “mist” of PRP over the recipient area calms inflammation and seals micro-incisions.
- Maintenance boosters – Quarterly sessions for twelve months keep growth-factor levels elevated, ideal for patients with diffuse thinning.
Patient Timeline at a Glance
| Week | What You Notice |
| 0–1 | Swelling subsides quickly; scalp looks calm and pink rather than angry red. |
| 2–4 | Minimal shock loss—stubble often stays put instead of falling out. |
| 6–12 | Early new hairs break the surface; friends may comment sooner than expected. |
| 16–20 | Density fills in; regular barber visits resume. |
Is PRP Worth the Extra Cost?
In Colombia a full PRP add-on typically runs three-to-six hundred dollars—far less than the fifteen-hundred-plus price tag common in the United States. Considering the potential for faster cosmetic payoff and lower graft-failure risk, most surgeons now treat PRP not as a luxury upgrade but as modern best practice.
Key Takeaways
- PRP provides a biochemical head start for newly implanted follicles.
- Studies consistently show faster density, lower shock loss, and higher graft survival.
- When priced in Colombian pesos, the return on investment beats almost any other add-on in aesthetic medicine today.
