Hair Transplant
PRP & Mesotherapy for Hair
PRP and mesotherapy are non-surgical hair treatments in which plasma from your own blood or a vitamin and mineral blend is injected into the scalp to support existing follicles.
- Method Micro-injections into the scalp
- Anaesthesia Usually none; numbing cream
- Session time Usually 20–45 minutes
- Session plan Usually 3–6 sessions, 3–4 weeks apart
- Back to work Same day
The method
What Are Hair PRP and Mesotherapy?
PRP (platelet-rich plasma) is a treatment in which plasma taken from your own blood and enriched with platelets is applied to the scalp through micro-injections. A small amount of blood is drawn, separated into its components in a centrifuge, and the fraction rich in growth factors is injected into the area where the hair follicles sit. As nothing is added from outside, the risk of an allergic reaction is very low.
Hair mesotherapy applies a blend of the vitamins, minerals, amino acids and peptides the hair needs to the scalp in the same way, through micro-injections. The content of the blend is decided by the doctor according to a hair analysis and the cause of the loss, which makes mesotherapy a treatment that can be tailored to the individual.
Neither treatment is surgical; there are no incisions or stitches. They are given in clinic sessions of 20–45 minutes and you return to daily life the same day. The aim is to support and strengthen existing follicles, thicken the hair shafts and slow down shedding. They do not create new hair in shiny, bald areas where the follicles have been lost; the treatment to consider there is a hair transplant.
PRP and mesotherapy are often planned together: PRP targets cell renewal, mesotherapy provides direct nourishment. They are also used to prepare the donor and recipient areas before a hair transplant and, afterwards, to support healing and the survival of the transplanted grafts.
Sessions are given at the clinic by a doctor or by healthcare staff under a doctor’s supervision. JSH does not perform treatment; it coordinates the journey planned by the doctor at licensed partner clinics in Istanbul.
The session
How Is PRP Prepared and Applied?
The session begins with 10–20 ml of blood drawn from the arm. The blood is placed in special tubes and spun in a centrifuge; within a few minutes the red blood cells, the plasma and the platelet-rich layer separate. The doctor takes the fraction with the highest platelet concentration.
The plasma is injected with very fine needles into the thinning areas of the scalp, superficially and a few millimetres apart. A numbing cream can be applied beforehand; apart from a slight pricking sensation, no pain is expected during the session.
Mesotherapy uses the same technique; only the injected content differs. The doctor may plan both in the same session or alternate them between sessions.
A blood test may be requested before treatment; people who take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder must be assessed by the doctor.
Comparison
PRP or Mesotherapy?
Both are supportive treatments and complement rather than replace each other. Whether one, or both together, is right for you is decided by the doctor after a hair analysis.
PRP
- Content: platelet-rich plasma from your own blood
- Aim: to support cell renewal around the follicle with growth factors
- Usually chosen for genetic (male- and female-pattern) loss and as support before and after a hair transplant
- Very low allergy risk, as nothing is added from outside
- Usually 3–6 sessions, followed by one or two maintenance sessions a year
Mesotherapy
- Content: a blend of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and peptides chosen by the doctor
- Aim: to nourish the follicles directly and support circulation in the scalp
- Usually chosen for shedding caused by stress, seasonal change, diet or childbirth, and for fine, lifeless hair
- Content can be tailored; sensitivity to an ingredient is rare
- Usually 4–8 sessions 1–2 weeks apart, followed by occasional maintenance
Alongside a Hair Transplant, Before and After
PRP is usually offered as part of the transplant plan: to prepare the scalp beforehand and to support healing and graft survival afterwards.
Suitability
Who Is It for?
PRP and mesotherapy are considered for people whose hair loss has not yet reached an advanced stage, where the follicles have thinned but not disappeared. The aim is to protect and strengthen existing hair, so support started early is more meaningful.
Suitability is decided solely by the doctor. The cause of the loss (genetic, hormonal, nutritional, stress, medication), the condition of the scalp, blood values and general health are assessed together. Treatment may be postponed or ruled out in people with a bleeding disorder, an active infection, certain chronic conditions, or during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Planning
Session Plan and What to Expect
A single session is not enough; both treatments are planned as a course. PRP usually means 3–6 sessions 3–4 weeks apart, mesotherapy 4–8 sessions 1–2 weeks apart. Once the course is complete, the doctor may recommend one or two maintenance sessions a year depending on the condition of your hair.
A reduction in shedding and thicker hair shafts are usually noticed from the second or third month after the first sessions; because the hair growth cycle is long, the change is gradual. A slight, temporary increase in shedding may be seen in the first weeks as hairs in the resting phase make way for new ones; this is expected.
For patients from abroad, sessions are usually combined with a hair transplant trip: the first PRP is given on the day of the transplant or at the next day’s check-up, and follow-up sessions are planned by correspondence with the doctor in your own country or at your next visit. The schedule and content are sent to you in writing.
The process
How Does a Session Work?
From your first message to your follow-up sessions, the journey runs through a single coordinator. Each session has five stages and rarely takes more than an hour.
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01
Assessment
Your photos and, if available, a hair analysis are used to evaluate the type of loss. Method and session plan are confirmed at the clinic with a doctor’s examination and, if needed, a blood test.
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02
Preparation
The scalp is cleaned and numbing cream applied if required. For PRP, a small amount of blood is drawn from the arm.
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03
Separating the Plasma
The blood is centrifuged and the platelet-rich plasma separated. For mesotherapy, the blend is prepared according to the content the doctor has chosen.
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04
Application
The content is injected with fine needles into the thinning areas a few millimetres apart. This stage usually takes 15–20 minutes.
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05
Instructions and Schedule
Aftercare instructions are given in writing; the date of the next session and, where relevant, its link to a hair transplant are planned.
Where it takes place
At Partner Clinics, Planned by Your Doctor
The procedure is performed at licensed partner clinics in Istanbul by the clinic’s authorised doctor. Medical assessment, choice of method, graft numbers and the procedure itself are the doctor’s decisions; JSH does not influence them, it organises everything around them.
Our job is the rest of the journey: choosing the clinic and doctor that fit your needs, passing your assessment photos to the doctor, arranging appointments around your flights, airport and clinic transfers, accommodation and follow-up after the procedure.
We communicate in English, Turkish and Polish. Every step (schedule, length of stay, hours at the clinic, aftercare instructions) is sent to you in writing, and you stay in touch with the same coordinator after you return home.
Preparation and aftercare
What to Do Before and After a Session
This list is for guidance only; the written instructions your doctor gives you at the clinic take precedence. Your coordinator is available for any question.
Before the Session
- Stop blood thinners, aspirin and similar medication before the session in consultation with your doctor; if they cannot be stopped, make sure the doctor knows.
- No alcohol for 24 hours before the session; cut down on smoking.
- Drink plenty of water and have a light meal on the day; giving blood on an empty stomach can cause dizziness.
- Wash your hair on the morning of the session; do not use gel, spray or dry shampoo.
- Tell us about chronic conditions, pregnancy or breastfeeding and regular medication during the assessment.
After the Session
- Do not wash your hair or touch the treated area for 24 hours; mild redness and tenderness settle within a few hours.
- Avoid heavy exercise, saunas, steam rooms and hot showers on the day; sweating irritates the area.
- No hair dye, keratin or similar chemical treatments for 72 hours; ask your doctor before resuming them.
- Protect the scalp from direct sun for a few days; wear a hat or use a protective product.
- Unless your doctor says otherwise, avoid aspirin and similar blood-thinning painkillers.
- Keep to the session schedule and message your coordinator straight away if you notice unusual swelling, pain or discharge.
Recovery
During and After the Course
Timings are given for guidance only; recovery varies from person to person and is followed up by your doctor.
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First 24 Hours
Mild redness, tenderness and occasionally small bruises may appear at the injection points and usually settle the same day. The hair is not washed and the area is not touched.
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Week 1
Daily life continues as normal. A slight, temporary increase in shedding may occur as hairs in the resting phase are renewed.
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1–3 Months
The sessions continue at the planned intervals. A reduction in shedding and thicker hair shafts are usually noticed in this period.
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3–6 Months
The course is completed; shine and fullness increase gradually. The need for further sessions is assessed by the doctor.
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6–12 Months
One or two maintenance sessions a year may be planned to preserve the effect. Results vary from person to person; if the underlying cause of the loss continues, so does the support.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About PRP and Mesotherapy
PRP uses platelet-rich plasma separated from your own blood; mesotherapy uses a blend of vitamins, minerals and amino acids chosen by the doctor. The technique is the same; the content and aim differ. The doctor may plan both together.
The injections are very fine and superficial; you feel a slight pricking. A numbing cream can be applied if you wish. No pain is expected after the session.
Usually 3–6 PRP sessions 3–4 weeks apart, or 4–8 mesotherapy sessions 1–2 weeks apart. One or two maintenance sessions a year may be recommended after the course. The exact plan is set by the doctor after a hair analysis.
Both treatments aim to support existing follicles; they do not create new hair in shiny, bald areas where the follicles have been lost. The treatment to consider for those areas is a hair transplant. Results vary from person to person and cannot be guaranteed.
Yes. PRP is usually included in the transplant plan to prepare the scalp beforehand and to support healing and graft survival afterwards. The first session is often given on the day of the transplant or at the next day’s check-up.
Because the hair growth cycle is long, the change is gradual. A reduction in shedding and thicker shafts are usually noticed from the second or third month, and the effect becomes clearer once the course is complete.
PRP comes from your own blood, so the risk of an allergic reaction is very low; temporary redness, tenderness and occasionally small bruises may appear at the injection points. Sensitivity to an ingredient is rare in mesotherapy, which is why the content is chosen by the doctor.
People with a bleeding disorder, those who cannot stop blood thinners, anyone with an active infection in the treatment area, people with certain uncontrolled chronic conditions, and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding may have treatment postponed or ruled out. The doctor decides at the consultation.
Wait 24 hours before washing and 72 hours before dyeing or similar chemical treatments; ask your doctor before resuming them.
For a single session you can fly back the same day. Patients from abroad usually combine sessions with a hair transplant trip; follow-up sessions are planned by correspondence with the doctor in your own country or at your next visit.
Let’s Assess Your Suitability Together
Share your questions and, if you have them, your photos. Our team will complete a preliminary assessment with the partner clinic’s doctor and get back to you.