The short answer
PRP stimulates existing follicles. Hair transplant adds new ones. If your hair is thinning but still present, PRP often works. If you're bald or significantly recessed in an area, only a transplant can produce hair where there isn't any.
Side-by-side
| PRP Therapy | FUE Hair Transplant | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Early-to-moderate thinning, density boost, post-transplant support | Restoring hair where it's gone — bald or significantly recessed areas |
| Surgical? | No — in-office injections | Yes, minimally invasive |
| Downtime | Same day | 3–7 days for desk work |
| Time to results | 3–6 months | 9–12 months for final density |
| Permanent? | Maintenance every 6–12 months | Permanent — transplanted hair grows for life |
| Typical cost | Lower per session, ongoing | Higher upfront, one-time |
| Pain level | Mild — local numbing | Mild — local anesthesia |
We frequently combine both — for example, FUE in bald areas plus PRP to support thinning native hair.
How we decide
At consultation we evaluate three things: how much native hair you still have in the affected area, how stable your loss pattern is, and what your one-, five-, and ten-year goals look like.
If you have density to work with, PRP plus medical therapy is often the right starting point — lower cost, no downtime, real results in 3–6 months. If the area is genuinely bald, no amount of PRP creates new follicles, and a transplant becomes the only realistic path.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do both?+
Yes. Many patients combine FUE in bald areas with PRP to protect and thicken surrounding native hair.
Which is cheaper?+
Per session, PRP. Long-term, it depends — PRP requires maintenance every 6–12 months indefinitely, while a transplant is a one-time investment.
Will PRP work for me?+
PRP works best for early-to-moderate thinning with active follicles still present. It does not regrow hair in fully bald areas.