What Is PRF Hair Restoration?

Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) is an advanced, non-surgical hair restoration treatment that uses your own blood to stimulate hair follicle regeneration and improve hair density. Often called “second-generation PRP,” PRF is prepared without the anticoagulants or additional chemicals found in traditional Platelet-Rich Plasma, making it a genuinely natural, minimal-intervention approach to addressing thinning hair.

How It Works: PRF vs Traditional PRP

Both PRF and PRP use your own blood, processed to concentrate platelets and growth factors, then delivered back into the scalp to stimulate hair follicles. The key difference is in how that concentrate behaves once injected: PRP releases its growth factors in a quick burst, while PRF forms a gel-like fibrin matrix that releases growth factors slowly over 7–10 days. This sustained-release mechanism is thought to give hair follicles more prolonged exposure to the regenerative signals they need, rather than a single short burst — and because PRF is prepared without anticoagulants or other additives, it’s a more minimally processed, entirely natural preparation from your own blood.

Benefits

• Natural and safe — uses only your own blood with no additives, so there’s virtually zero risk of allergic reaction
• Effective for early-to-moderate thinning, including androgenetic alopecia (pattern hair loss) and hair loss related to stress or hormonal changes
• Sustained, gradual release of growth factors over 7–10 days per session, rather than a single quick burst
• A genuinely minimal-intervention option for clients wanting to avoid synthetic products or more invasive procedures
• Can strengthen and support hair follicles both independently and alongside other hair treatments or hair transplant procedures

Who Is a Good Candidate?

Good candidacy comes down to a few genuine factors, worth being honest about rather than assuming everyone’s an ideal candidate:

• Blood quality matters. PRF relies on having sufficient platelet count and healthy blood to form an effective fibrin matrix — this is why we recommend blood testing beforehand where indicated. Clients with low platelet counts or certain blood disorders are not suitable candidates.
• Stage of hair loss matters. PRF is most successful for early-to-moderate hair loss and thinning — it works by supporting and strengthening follicles that are still active, so it’s less effective on areas of the scalp where follicles have been dormant for a long time or hair loss is more advanced. This is genuinely important to assess honestly at consultation, since PRF isn’t a solution for completely bald areas with no remaining follicle activity.
• Cause of hair loss matters. PRF is well suited to androgenetic alopecia (pattern hair loss) and hair loss linked to stress or hormonal changes; other causes of hair loss (certain autoimmune conditions, some medical conditions) may need a different or additional approach, which we’ll discuss at consultation.
• Age plays a genuine role. Generally speaking, younger patients and those earlier in their hair loss journey tend to see a stronger response, since platelet quality and overall regenerative capacity naturally decline with age, and follicles that have been dormant for longer are harder to reactivate. That said, PRF can still deliver meaningful improvement for many clients outside this ideal window — your specific candidacy is best assessed individually.
• General health matters. Not suitable for anyone with certain blood disorders, active cancer, or who is pregnant. Smoking impairs healing and should ideally be avoided for a couple of weeks before treatment and up to 72 hours afterwards. Blood-thinning medications and NSAIDs should be avoided for at least 48 hours prior, where medically appropriate to do so.

All of this is properly assessed at consultation, not assumed.

How to Improve Your Blood Quality Before Treatment

Because PRF’s effectiveness depends directly on the quality of your own blood, there’s genuinely something you can do beforehand — this matters for every client, but especially if you’re not in your 20s or 30s, since supporting your body’s platelet function becomes more valuable as the natural baseline declines with age.

Lifestyle changes that genuinely help: – Stay well hydrated in the days leading up to treatment. – Avoid alcohol for at least 48 hours before treatment, ideally longer — alcohol measurably reduces platelet count and function. – Stop smoking, or cut down as much as possible, for at least two weeks beforehand and up to 72 hours afterwards. – Avoid NSAIDs (ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen) for at least 3–7 days prior, since these interfere with platelet function. – Get good-quality sleep in the run-up to treatment. – Moderate exercise in the days before can support healthy circulation and platelet function. – Manage stress where you can — this matters doubly for hair restoration specifically, since chronic stress is itself a recognised contributor to hair thinning as well as a factor that can reduce platelet quality.

Nutrition that supports platelet health and hair growth: – A diet rich in lean protein, vitamin C, zinc, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids supports both platelet function and the hair follicle’s own growth cycle — protein and iron in particular are directly relevant to hair health, not just platelet quality. – Folate and vitamins B12, D and K all play a role in healthy platelet production and are also independently linked to healthy hair growth. – Avoid relying on refined sugar and heavily processed food in the days immediately before treatment.

A note on supplements: some supplements — fish oil, high-dose vitamin E, ginkgo biloba, and garlic supplements among them — have a blood-thinning effect and are generally advised to stop for about a week before treatment. Please don’t stop or start any supplement or medication without discussing it with us or your GP first.

What Blood Tests Are Recommended Beforehand?

The main test relevant to PRF is a Full Blood Count (FBC) — this checks your platelet count specifically, confirming you have a sufficient baseline to form an effective fibrin matrix.

Depending on your individual health history, we may also recommend or discuss: – Iron studies/ferritin — iron deficiency is a well-established, common contributing factor to hair thinning in its own right, in addition to affecting platelet production, so this is particularly relevant for hair restoration specifically. – Thyroid function — thyroid imbalances are a recognised cause of hair loss, and where relevant this may be worth discussing with your GP alongside your PRF treatment plan. – Standard infectious disease screening (as is routine practice for any procedure involving blood collection and processing).

Not every client needs every test — what’s genuinely relevant depends on your health history and what comes up at consultation.

Combining PRF with Other Hair Treatments

PRF is often used as part of a broader hair restoration plan rather than in isolation:

• With laser hair growth treatments (such as Fotona HAIRestart or copper peptide microneedling) — combining PRF’s growth-factor stimulation with laser-based follicle stimulation can enhance overall results, addressing hair health from multiple angles simultaneously.
• After hair transplants — PRF is increasingly used to support newly transplanted follicles, helping strengthen grafts and potentially speed up healing and follicle retention in the transplanted area.

Your exact combination and sequencing will be discussed and planned specifically for you at consultation.

Results & Treatment Plan

Most treatment plans involve a course of sessions spaced 2–4 weeks apart, typically 3–4 sessions to start. Visible improvements in hair thickness and reduced shedding typically appear within 3–6 months, reflecting the genuine biological process of follicle regeneration and the hair growth cycle, rather than an instant change.

Downtime & Aftercare

Downtime is minimal — some mild tenderness, redness, or slight swelling at injection sites is common and typically settles within a day or two. Most clients return to normal activities the same day. Avoid washing your hair vigorously or applying styling products for the first 24 hours, and avoid excessive heat exposure (saunas, sunbeds) for a couple of days following treatment.