Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
By Vivian Wong, MD, PHD
In the U.S. alone, 56 million people suffer from hair loss. Whether you suffer from a widened part or balding scalp, the earlier you start treatment the better. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a treatment that has numerous medical applications including sports medicine, regenerative medicine, dentistry, wound care, spine, and nerve surgery. There is growing interest in using PRP for hair loss as it represents a safe, natural, and effective alternative to more invasive forms of treatments such as hair transplants. PRP therapy involves withdrawing one’s own blood, processing it so that only the enriched cells (platelet-rich plasma) remain, and injecting it into the scalp. This therapy contains essential proteins that stimulate natural hair growth. Due to the natural variation in quality of platelet-rich plasma, results will vary between individuals. Most patients require multiple sessions to obtain desired outcomes. With this less invasive treatment, the primary risks and discomforts are related to the blood draw where there is a slight pinch to insert the needle for collection and there is a potential for bruising at the site.
At Skin Wellness Physicians, we offer Platelet-rich Fibrin Matrix (PRFM) from Selphyl®, the next generation of PRP therapy allowing sustained release of multiple growth factors over a long period of time. PRFM, in combination with a customized medical treatment plan, could lead to remarkable and sustained hair restoration. Schedule an appointment with our board-certified dermatologists at Skin Wellness Physicians for a consultation if you are interested in hair transformation with PRFM.
Dr. Wong is a board-certified dermatologist with a dual M.D. and Ph.D. She joins Skin Wellness Physicians after a career as a faculty member and core teaching faculty at the Department of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. She completed her dermatology residency and served as the chief resident at Brown University. She is a renowned researcher with collaborators in North America, Europe and Asia. She has authored over 250 articles and textbook chapters to date on important topics such as eczema/atopic dermatitis, melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. She has been interviewed as a dermatology expert by the Boston Magazine, Boston25 News and QuantiaMD. She has spoken and presented at more than 50 international and domestic conferences and received more than 40 awards and research grants for her scientific and clinical endeavors. She also serves as a consultant to medical diagnostic, therapeutic and technology companies.
Dr. Wong is a leader in adult and pediatric dermatology, as well as cosmetic dermatology, offering procedures including Botox, cosmetic fillers, Kybella, chemical peels, lasers, and scalp injections for hair health. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and cooking.
