I’ve had fine, long hair my entire life, but visible thinning only started to show up about three years ago. As most of us do, I didn’t pay too much attention to it, assuming it will fix itself, but as most things don’t, the issue at hand didn’t. I’d decided that 2026 is the year I take my overall health seriously. A complete blood profile revealed extremely low ferritin levels, an essential component that contributes to hair health. Once that infusion was taken care of, I reached out to my dermatologist-on-speeddial, Mumbai-based Dr. Madhuri Agarwal, who recommended PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy as the best course of action. For the uninitiated, PRP therapy involves injecting your scalp with plasma from your own blood using micro jabs to promote hair growth and activate dormant follicles. Now, I’m not one to shy away from needles — I have plenty of tattoos to show for it — but this minimally-invasive procedure is the extent of any invasive treatments I’d ever done before. Naturally, I decided to document every thought I had throughout the process. Read on for the complete treatment play-by-play.
I show up at the dermatologist’s clinic, somewhat prepared but not really for what’s to come. Dr. Agarwal explains the procedure to me.
Step 1: We have to draw blood. She finds a vein and pops the needle in. Not a single drop of blood enters the syringe. “If we can’t draw blood because we can’t find a proper vein, we may need to cancel this session altogether,” she says. I’m now determined to go through with it: “I’ve always struggled with blood tests. Try the other hand, it may work,” I suggest. She pricks my other arm and the blood comes rushing through like a waterfall. I guess we can go through with the treatment after all.
My blood is now resting in test tubes like dough waiting to rise. The assistant starts to apply numbing cream on my scalp that’s instantly cooling. This doesn’t feel so bad. I can get with this. I open my laptop to work for the 45 minutes the numbing cream needs to be left on my scalp. I slam it shut five seconds later, open Instagram and begin doomscrolling.
45 minutes later, the residual cream is wiped off my scalp. The assistant shows me the liquid gold plasma with growth factor concentrate that has been extracted from my blood using a centrifuge. The human body is wild and so is scientific advancement. She hands me a stressball. Things are starting to get a little too real. Is this going to be really bad? Is it going to hurt? Do I really want to do this? Do I need to put myself through even more stress and hope that a yellow ball with a smiley face will help? Dr. Agarwal reassures me that the treatment involves tiny pricks like a tattoo needle. She knows exactly what to say to calm me down.
She starts to inject my scalp. She’s also using a vibrating wand to numb any potential pain. And, news flash, it doesn’t hurt. I can barely feel a thing. Is it even happening? I feel like this was supposed to be a bigger moment in my life. This was meant to feel more monumental. I was meant to have achieved something at the end of this.
10 minutes later, we’re done. I could’ve been asleep and wouldn’t have realised the treatment was in progress. Very inconsequential (thankfully!). My head starts to feel a bit heavy since it’s still numb, and I can see tiny red spots on the injected sites on my scalp which are meant to subside soon, and they do. I head home, wash my hair, and go on with my life, with an added multivitamin prescription to work in tandem and promote hair growth. Easy as.
The treatment didn’t feel or look anything like the Kardashian-loved gory vampire facial like I’d thought. Social media visuals often lead us to believe that simple treatments like this one are a lot worse than they actually are, so this was a relief. You’d best believe it’s a monthly commitment I’m now ready to make. If only every first date went as seamlessly as this.
I got Dr. Agarwal to break it all down for us, so every question you could possibly have beforehand is answered. Thank me later.
What are the benefits of PRP therapy?
Effective hair loss treatment requires a multi-faceted approach, including medical therapy, PRP, and lifestyle management. PRP helps control hair loss, enhances hair thickness, boosts hair density and augments results in hair transplant procedures. It is important that you consult a qualified dermatologist who can decide if PRP is the right course of treatment for you and ensure the correct PRP technique and procedural protocols are followed.
How many sessions do you recommend and how often?
You require a minimum of six sessions, one every month. Results start to show after four sessions and they continue to improve. I also recommend a maintenance session once in six months, on a case by case basis.
Are there any key warning signs for the treatment that one should keep in mind?
Always sign up for the treatment with a board-certified dermatologist because plenty of non-certified individuals are also offering the same and they may not administer it correctly. Ensure your doctor is using sanitised kits and has hygiene standards in place. If you are on blood thinners or scar easily, please inform your dermatologist in advance.
