GFC vs PRP- What is Right for Your Hair?

Hair loss is a common concern among millions of people globally. It not only impacts your looks but also takes a toll on your self-esteem. With advancements in non-surgical hair restoration treatments, techniques like Growth Factor Concentrate (GFC) and Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) have emerged as effective solutions for combating severe hair loss and hair thinning issues.

Both these treatments utilise your own body cells and their healing properties to stimulate the dormant hair follicles and to encourage normal hair growth.

However, if you are confused on which of the treatments is better for you, then this blog is for you to explore the key differences, benefits, costs, success rates, and the eligibility of candidates for GFC and PRP hair treatment. This helps you make better treatment decisions to gain the results as per your needs.

Understanding the basics of GFC & PRP

GFC-

It is an advanced treatment method specifically designed to promote the growth of hair follicles by using the growth factors extracted from your own blood platelets. The treatment process is as follows:

–          A small amount of your blood is withdrawn.

–          It is processed through the centrifuge process to separate the platelets and the growth factors.

–          The growth factors are further processed to increase their concentration.

Important benefits of GFC hair treatment:

– Promotes healthy hair growth by reducing the underlying inflammation and balancing the sebum production.

-Strengthens the weakened hair follicles and reduces the hair loss.

-Faster results are obtained within fewer treatment sessions.

-Reduced inflammation post-treatment due to advanced methods.

Improved scalp health with long-lasting treatment outcomes.

PRP-

It is a highly recognised treatment for hair re-growth and the patient’s own blood is used to stimulate the hair growth and improve the healing process. It is one of the most popular treatment options for those with early-stage hair loss and scalp rejuvenation. The treatment process involves, the following steps:

–          Withdrawal of a small amount of blood from your own body

–          This blood is passed through the centrifuge machine to separate the platelets from the other body cells.

–          The platelets are further concentrated and are prepared for injection into your scalp.

–          These platelets enriched with plasma (PRP) are injected into your scalp to boost the hair follicle activity and to promote the growth of new hair.

Important benefits of PRP treatment:

–          Highly effective treatment for early-stage hair loss.

–          It is widely available and is more affordable than other hair restoration treatments.

–          It improves the hair quality, thickness and reduces hair fall.

–          Multiple sessions of treatment are required for optimal growth of hair.

Both GFC hair treatment  and PRP hair treatment are the latest methods of treatment to restore hair naturally and permanently. The treatment processes vary and are detailed as follows:

Some research studies have shown that technically GFC is a more advanced method of treatment, compared to PRP, as it ensures higher concentrations of growth factors, providing faster and better treatment results.

Scientific basis of GFC & PRP treatments

The effectiveness of both these treatments lies in their ability to rejuvenate the scalp and help in the growth of the hair follicles:

• GFC hair treatment:
  The growth factors specially activated from the platelets, some of which include:

–          Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)- It promotes hair regrowth by cell growth and division, stimulation of the hair follicles and the maintenance of the anagen or growth phase in the hair growth cycle.

–          Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)- It promotes hair regrowth by promoting the new blood cells formation and also enhances the nutrient and oxygen supply. It increases the hair follicle size and improves the hair growth.

–          Epidermal growth factors (EGF)- It helps to boost collagen production and the cell growth.

• PRP hair treatment:

The growth factors are derived from the platelets, which play a key role in the repair and regeneration of the damaged or dormant hair follicles. The various types of growth factors derived from the activated platelets include:

–          Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)- It is an important growth factor which mainly helps to deal with wound healing and the stimulation of the growth of the hair follicles.

–          Transforming growth factor-β (TGF- β)- This growth factor which helps to promote cell growth and differentiation, and is helpful in the growth of hair follicles.

–          Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)- It promotes various cell processes such as the cell growth, tissue regeneration and the hair growth. It also helps to induce the anagen phase in the hair growth cycle.

GFC often delivers better results in fewer treatment sessions because of the higher growth factors concentration making it and ideal choice of treatment for individuals seeking faster recovery. However, the results from PRP are long-lasting compared to those in GFC.

Eligibility for GFC & PRP

If you are planning for non-surgical hair growth treatments, such as GFC & PRP, you need to check for your eligibility. During your initial consultation with the doctor, they would check for your eligibility on the basis of the following parameters:

Ideal candidates for PRP

PRP treatment is suggestible for all those who are facing hair loss issues, such as:

·       For those with thinning hair or hair loss, in the early stages.

·       For those without baldness and who prefer non-surgical treatments to restore hair.

·       For those with hair loss but with active hair follicles and with a healthy scalp.

·       For those looking at non-surgical, affordable treatment options.

·       For those who have undergone hair transplant surgeries.

Ideal candidates for GFC

The following candidates are considered ideal for GFC:

·       For those looking for a natural treatment for hair regrowth.

·       For those suffering from early-stage hair loss or hair thinning.

·       For those suffering from non-serious scalp conditions.

·       For those looking for quicker results.

·       For those with good overall health.

·       For those with realistic expectations or real-world examples.

Exclusion criteria for those with GFC & PRP treatments

If you are having any of the following factors, you are not eligible to undergo GFC or PRP treatments:

·       For those with severe baldness or hair loss.

·       For those with severe scalp conditions.

·       For those with chronic infections in the body or scalp.

·       For those on blood thinners or other bleeding disorders.

·       For women with breast feeding and pregnancy.

Limitations for GFC & PRP treatments

Both GFC & PRP hair treatments are considered beneficial for all, but there are few limitations while dealing with each of them. They are as explained below:

GFC treatment-

·       It is costlier than PRP

·       A specialised kit is required for the treatment preparation

·       It is comparatively available in a limited number of clinics as specialised equipment and professional expertise is required to perform this treatment.

PRP treatment-

·       Successful treatment results can only be obtained with multiple treatment sessions.

·       Some patients may also experience mild discomfort during the treatment procedure; might be due to the treatment itself or the anesthesia given.

·       The treatment results may vary depending on the response of your body.

Cost comparison between GFC and PRP & factors influencing costs

The cost of the hair growth treatment varies and depends on several factors such as the age & health condition, the severity of the hair loss, the clinic location, the lifestyle factors, after care tips, the budget considerations and the personal treatment goals.

• PRP hair treatment cost-

The cost of PRP treatment in India ranges from Rs. 4,500/- to Rs.15,000/- per session. It again varies among different treatments and clinic locations. To get optimal hair growth results, multiple treatment sessions are required.

• GFC Hair Treatment Cost-

The cost of GFC in India ranges from Rs. 8,000/- to Rs.20,000/- per session due to the advanced technology and higher concentration of the growth factors. It provides long-lasting results and reduces the need for frequent maintenance sessions.

Success rate of GFC vs PRP: what do studies say?

Clinical studies have shown amazing results with both types of treatments.

• GFC hair treatment success rate-

The success rate of the GFC hair treatment is around 75-83% among different patients. Few of them start to see positive results from the first session onwards, while for others it would take at least two or three treatment sessions. It is best suitable for those with early stage hair loss.

• PRP hair treatment success rate-

The success rate of PRP hair treatment ranges from 80-92%. In almost all cases results are usually seen after 2 or 3 sessions and not immediately, however complete treatment results are obtained after 3-6 months of time. It is suitable for those with moderate to severe hair thinning.

In both the cases, we can observe that there could be steady improvement over multiple treatments with periodic maintenance sessions to be carried out for at least 1-2 years of time.

Guidelines for choosing between GFC and PRP based on lifestyle, budget & goals

While considering for factors between GFC & PRP, you can check on the following factors:

• Lifestyle- If you prefer fewer sessions and those with a quicker recovery time, you can choose GFC treatment.
• Budget- When you need to consider the budgetary preferences, PRP is a more affordable option but requires more frequent sessions.
• Goals- For major changes in density and hair regrowth, GFC is the recommended choice of treatment. While, PRP works well for those candidates looking for gradual improvements in hair growth.

Post-treatment tips for GFC vs PRP

Proper aftercare is essential to gain maximum benefits from these treatments and the aftercare tips are as follows:

• Avoid direct sunlight on the scalp immediately after treatment for both therapies.
• Stay hydrated and follow a nutritious diet rich in vitamins.
• Use prescribed shampoos or conditioners to maintain the scalp health post-treatment.
• Do not scratch your hair or scalp, post-treatment.
• Avoid smoking and alcohol for the first 2-3 weeks post-treatment.
• Avoid stressful activities such as yoga & gym, post-treatment. As they could hamper the hair regrowth or healing process.

Diet & Lifestyle factors to boost hair re-growth

Hair regrowth depends on various factors including the maintenance of your overall good health. Diet & lifestyle factors play a key role in boosting the overall health and in particular in the hair growth. Some of the factors to be considered include:

·       Protein-rich foods-

Inclusion of foods such as eggs, fish, lean meat, legumes or beans for the production of hair growth protein called keratin.

·       Biotin & Vitamin-D-

Foods such as eggs, nuts, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, fish oils are rich in biotin which is one of the key proteins for hair growth.

·       Iron & Zinc-

Pumpkin seeds, spinach and lentils or beans to promote hair growth.

How quickly can you expect changes with GFC vs PRP?

Timelines vary between treatments:

• PRP shows visible improvements after three sessions spaced frequently at five to six weeks; maintenance may be needed later.
• GFC delivers faster results in fewer sessions due to its concentrated formulation. However, regular maintenance sessions are required after a few months to regain hair growth.

Advanced technology behind GFC & why it’s leading the way

GFC’s innovative extraction process ensures higher concentrations of growth factors compared to the traditional methods used in PRP therapy. This reduces inflammation while promoting healthier scalp conditions, making it a superior choice for advanced cases of hair thinning.

In recent times, most of the dermatologists are favouring GFC over PRP for severe hair loss cases due to its superior concentration of growth factors and quicker stimulation of the dormant follicles compared to PRP therapy.

Conclusion

Both GFC and PRP offer effective solutions for hair restoration but serve different needs based on the severity of hair loss, the budgetary considerations, and the treatment goals.

Book your consultation today at QHT to consult our experts and understand which hair treatment is right for you. Their expert guidance helps you regain hair more naturally and also helps you to get long-lasting results.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)