PRP & PRF for skin and hair — what it realistically does
Medically reviewed by
The LovMedSpa medical team, led by Dr. Ahmed Elsoury, MD and Dr. Mark Ennett, MD
Last reviewed: June 2026
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) are autologous treatments — derived entirely from the patient's own blood, drawn at the appointment — that concentrate platelets and growth factors and re-deliver them to target tissue to stimulate collagen synthesis, tissue regeneration, and, in the scalp, the signaling pathways that sustain hair follicle activity. The evidence base is moderate: strongest for early androgenetic alopecia (pattern hair thinning), reasonably supported for under-eye hollow improvement and skin texture, and generally positive but heterogeneous across the wider literature. A series of 3 sessions spaced 4–6 weeks apart is the standard protocol; results build progressively over months. The honest framing is meaningful improvement in specific, well-matched indications — not transformation, and not a substitute for the structural or surface tools that address different problems.
What PRP and PRF actually are — the mechanism
Both treatments begin with a standard venous blood draw at the appointment. The blood is centrifuged — spun at controlled speed — to separate components by density. PRP uses a faster spin with anticoagulant to isolate a concentrated platelet layer, which is then injected into the target tissue. Platelets are not just clotting cells; their alpha-granules contain a dense payload of growth factors: platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and epidermal growth factor (EGF), among others. These signal local fibroblasts and stem cells to increase collagen production, form new vasculature, and accelerate tissue repair. PRF — platelet-rich fibrin — is a second-generation refinement: a slower centrifuge spin without anticoagulant produces a fibrin matrix that entraps platelets and leukocytes in a three-dimensional scaffold, releasing growth factors gradually over several days rather than all at once. This sustained release is thought to produce a more prolonged biological response than the immediate bolus of PRP. PRF EZ-Gel extends this further: the PRF preparation is gently heated, causing the fibrin to cross-link into a soft injectable gel — autologous, with partial volume-adding properties — suited for delicate injection zones like the tear trough where foreign material carries more risk. None of these are fillers in the conventional sense. They do not occupy space to add volume through physical displacement; they trigger biological responses in the tissue that receive them.
What it realistically achieves — by indication
For facial skin texture, PRP and PRF are most often delivered via microneedling: the needles create micro-channels through which growth factors are driven into the dermis, where they stimulate fibroblast activity and neocollagenesis. The result over a 3-session series is improved skin texture, reduced pore appearance, and a measurable improvement in skin quality — real but modest relative to the structural remodeling achievable with RF microneedling. They are well-suited as an adjunct to microneedling, not as a replacement for energy-based collagen induction. For the under-eye tear trough, PRF EZ-Gel occupies a specific niche: HA filler placed close to the thin lower-eyelid skin risks the Tyndall effect — a bluish discoloration caused by light scattering from superficially placed filler — as well as puffiness and visible product. Being fully autologous eliminates that risk category. The improvement is gradual and modest in volume correction, but for patients with mild hollowing and thin skin who are poor HA filler candidates in this zone, it is often the more appropriate first option. For hair loss, the evidence is the most developed: multiple randomized controlled trials in androgenetic alopecia demonstrate statistically significant improvement in hair density, shaft diameter, and follicular count compared to control. The mechanism is growth-factor stimulation of the dermal papilla cells that govern follicle activity, prolonging the anagen (active growth) phase and potentially reversing miniaturization of follicles that have not yet become dormant. The indication window matters: early-to-moderate androgenetic alopecia with miniaturized but still-active follicles responds. Advanced loss where follicles are no longer present does not — PRP and PRF cannot regenerate follicles from scar tissue.
Session count, realistic timeline, and what it doesn't replace
The standard initial protocol is 3 sessions spaced 4–6 weeks apart, following the same biological logic as other collagen-induction treatments: each session builds on tissue that is still responding to the previous one, and the cumulative growth factor signal is substantially greater than any single session produces alone. Visible improvement for skin typically begins around session two to three and continues developing for 3–6 months after the final session as the collagen response matures. For hair, meaningful density change is usually apparent at the 3–6 month mark, not immediately after the series. Maintenance matters particularly for hair: androgenetic alopecia is a progressive condition, and the improvement from a completed series requires ongoing treatment — typically every 3–6 months — to be sustained; the underlying genetics and hormonal drivers do not change. What PRP and PRF are not substitutes for: RF microneedling or biostimulators for significant laxity and structural collagen loss, HA filler for defined volume correction in areas where precision and reversibility are needed, laser or IPL for surface dyschromia, and pharmacologic hair loss treatment (topical minoxidil, oral finasteride or dutasteride where appropriate) where the evidence base is stronger. The value of PRP and PRF is specific: an autologous option with a favorable complication profile, meaningful evidence in early androgenetic alopecia, and a genuine role in the under-eye zone and as a microneedling adjunct — not a universal treatment for aging or hair loss at any stage.
Common questions
What's the difference between PRP and PRF?
PRP uses a faster centrifuge spin with anticoagulant to isolate a high-concentration platelet layer for immediate injection. PRF uses a slower spin without anticoagulant, producing a fibrin matrix that releases growth factors gradually over days rather than all at once — thought to produce a more sustained tissue response. PRF EZ-Gel applies heat to create an injectable gel consistency suitable for delicate zones like the under-eye, with partial volume-adding properties and no foreign material.
Is PRP or PRF for hair loss permanent?
No — and this is the most important expectation to calibrate. PRP and PRF slow the progression of androgenetic alopecia and can improve density in existing miniaturized follicles, but they do not reverse the underlying hormonal and genetic mechanisms driving the loss. Stopping treatment allows progression to resume. Most patients use PRP/PRF as part of an ongoing maintenance strategy — often alongside topical or pharmacologic treatments — rather than as a standalone, time-limited course.
Why is PRF EZ-Gel sometimes preferred over HA filler for the under-eye area?
HA filler near the thin skin of the lower eyelid carries a higher risk of the Tyndall effect — a bluish discoloration from superficially placed filler visible through translucent skin — as well as puffiness and lumpiness. Because PRF EZ-Gel is fully autologous, there is no foreign material, no Tyndall risk, and immune response is minimal. The trade-off is gradual rather than immediate improvement and more modest volume correction than structural HA filler. For patients with thin under-eye skin and mild hollowing, it is often the more appropriate first-line option.
At LovMedSpa, PRP and PRF treatments — including PRF EZ-Gel for the under-eye and PRP for hair restoration — are performed under the oversight of medical director Dr. Ahmed Elsoury, MD (New York and Connecticut) and Dr. Mark Ennett, MD (South Florida), across our Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island, Aventura, and West Farms locations. A consultation determines whether your indication — skin texture, under-eye, or hair — is well-matched to what these treatments realistically deliver.
This is general information, not medical advice; candidacy for PRP and PRF treatments is determined by a licensed provider at consultation based on individual anatomy, history, and treatment goals.