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Hair Care
Hair Loss Treatment: PRP, Mesotherapy or Hair Transplant?
The right hair loss treatment depends on why your hair is thinning. Find the cause first, because shedding from stress, illness, childbirth, thyroid problems or low iron needs a different approach from genetic pattern loss. Then stabilise the loss, often with PRP or hair mesotherapy, and consider a hair transplant only once it has settled.
Treating the wrong problem wastes time and money. This guide walks through each option honestly, including what it realistically offers and how long results take to show.
What is causing your hair loss?
Hair loss is a symptom rather than a diagnosis. Some causes are genetic or hormonal, some are temporary, and some point to a health issue that deserves attention in its own right.
- Genetic pattern loss: a gradual recession at the hairline or crown in men, or a widening parting and overall thinning on top in women. It tends to progress slowly over years.
- Shedding after a trigger: a sudden increase in hair fall, often a few months after an illness, a high fever, major stress, surgery, a crash diet or childbirth.
- Thyroid problems: both an underactive and an overactive thyroid can affect the hair.
- Low iron or vitamin D: deficiencies are worth ruling out, particularly if you also feel tired, have heavy periods or follow a restricted diet.
- PCOS: hormonal changes linked to polycystic ovary syndrome can cause thinning on the scalp, sometimes alongside irregular periods or acne.
A doctor can arrange simple blood tests to check thyroid function, iron stores and vitamin D, and can look into hormonal causes such as PCOS. Patchy bald spots, a red, scaly or itchy scalp, or very rapid loss should always be seen by a doctor before you consider any cosmetic treatment.
Why stabilise before you restore?
Think of hair loss treatment in two stages. The first is stopping or slowing the loss: correcting a deficiency, managing a thyroid or hormonal condition, or supporting the scalp with medical and non-surgical options. The second is restoring what has already gone, which is where a transplant may come in.
Skipping the first stage is the most common mistake. If shedding is temporary, it often recovers once the cause is addressed, and surgery would have been unnecessary. If pattern loss is still active, hair around a transplanted area can keep thinning, leaving a result that looks patchy a few years later. Stabilising first protects both your hair and your investment.
PRP for hair loss: what does it involve?
PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. A small amount of your own blood is drawn and spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets, and the plasma is then injected into the thinning areas of the scalp. Platelets carry growth factors, and the aim is to support weakened follicles and reduce shedding.
PRP is given as a course rather than a one-off, usually several sessions spaced a few weeks apart, often followed by occasional maintenance sessions. Expectations should be measured. Some people notice less shedding and hair that feels thicker; others see a modest change. It does not bring back hair where follicles have stopped working altogether, and it tends to suit early to moderate thinning.
PRP is not suitable for everyone. Tell your practitioner if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take blood thinners, have a blood or platelet disorder, or are currently unwell. Mild tenderness and pinpoint marks on the scalp are normal for a day or so.
How is hair mesotherapy different?
Hair mesotherapy delivers a blend of nourishing ingredients, such as vitamins and amino acids, through tiny injections into the scalp. Where PRP relies on your own plasma, mesotherapy uses a prepared formulation. Like PRP, it is a course of sessions rather than a single treatment.
The evidence behind hair mesotherapy is more limited than for PRP, and results vary from person to person. It can be a reasonable option if you want to support the scalp through a period of shedding, or as part of a wider plan. Your practitioner may suggest PRP, mesotherapy or a combination, depending on your scalp and the cause of your loss. Both are part of our skin and aesthetic treatments.
When does a hair transplant make sense?
A hair transplant moves follicles from an area of dense growth, usually the back and sides of the head, to areas that have thinned. It is surgery, and it makes most sense when two conditions are met: your hair loss has stabilised, and you have enough donor density to cover the area you want to restore.
At our studio, a hair transplant is performed by Dr. Syeda Afifa, FCPS (Plastic Surgery), a board-certified plastic surgeon. The consultation looks at your loss pattern, your donor area and whether surgery is the right step yet. If PRP or mesotherapy would be a better place to start, you will be told.
We do not quote a hair transplant without an in-person assessment. The number of grafts you need, and therefore the cost, cannot be judged from a photograph or a phone call. Non-surgical treatments appear on our live price list, but surgery is always priced after you have been seen.
Which option suits you, and how long do results take?
| Option | Best suited to | What it involves | When results show |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical checks | Any new or sudden loss | Blood tests arranged by a doctor | Often settles over months |
| PRP | Early to moderate thinning | A course of scalp injections using your plasma | Gradually, over several months |
| Hair mesotherapy | Supporting the scalp during shedding | A course of micro-injections | Gradually; results vary |
| Hair transplant | Stable loss with good donor density | Surgery under local anaesthetic | Regrowth builds over many months |
Whatever you choose, patience is part of the plan. Hair grows slowly and in cycles, so it takes months, not weeks, to judge whether a treatment is working. Transplanted hair typically sheds before it regrows, which alarms people who have not been warned. Photos taken in the same light every month are a more reliable guide than checking the mirror daily.
While treatment works, a good cut can make thinning hair look fuller. Our hair salon can suggest a shape that suits your density. In the meantime, go gently on heat styling and tight hairstyles, and protect a thinning scalp from the strong Lahore sun, as exposed skin burns more easily.
Frequently asked questions
Can PRP regrow hair that has completely gone?
PRP works on follicles that are weakened but still active, which is why it tends to suit early to moderate thinning. It is unlikely to bring back hair in areas that have been smooth and bald for a long time. For established bald areas where loss has stabilised, a hair transplant may be more realistic, and your practitioner can discuss this at consultation.
How do I know if my hair loss is temporary?
Sudden, diffuse shedding that starts a few months after illness, stress, surgery or childbirth is often temporary and frequently settles once the trigger has passed. Gradual thinning at the crown, hairline or parting over years is more typical of pattern loss. A doctor can check for thyroid problems, low iron, vitamin D deficiency or PCOS, which helps clarify what you are dealing with.
Am I too young for a hair transplant?
Age alone is not the deciding factor, but younger people are more likely to have loss that is still progressing. Operating before loss has stabilised can leave a result that looks unbalanced as surrounding hair continues to thin. Your surgeon will assess your pattern, family history and donor density, and may suggest stabilising treatment first with a review later.
Can I have PRP or mesotherapy after a hair transplant?
Some people do combine them, using non-surgical treatment to support existing hair around the transplanted area. Whether it suits you, and when it would be appropriate after surgery, depends on your healing and your surgeon’s plan. Ask about it at your consultation rather than booking separately, so every step fits into one coherent treatment plan.
If you are noticing more hair fall than usual, the most useful first step is an honest assessment. Book a complimentary consultation at our studio in DHA Phase 6, Lahore, and we will look at your scalp, talk through the possible causes and explain which options genuinely suit you.
This article is general information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for a personal consultation. Every face, smile and scalp is different — your practitioner will advise on what is right for you.
