During a PRP session, a technician draws blood, usually from a patient’s arm. He or she will then spin the blood to extract plasma. Plasma is a substance found in the blood that contains platelets, which promote hair growth, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The technician injects the plasma into areas on the scalp affected by hair loss — usually about 15 to 20 injections per PRP session, Khetarpal says.
Though it sounds painful, both Khetarpal and Dr. Rapaport say there aren’t any side effects to worry about. You may experience some mild soreness where the injections took place, but you should be able to bounce back post-appointment. “It’s very well tolerated — more than anything, people just feel pressure,” Khetarpal says. “There’s no anesthetic or anything. People just feel a little bit of tightness and discomfort, and within 30 minutes it’s pretty much done.”