PRP hair restoration vs FUE hair transplant: which is right for your hair loss?

PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) hair therapy and FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) hair transplant are frequently compared, but they're not alternatives for the same patient. Understanding the difference helps clarify which makes sense for your hair loss pattern and goals.

Quick overview

PRP hair therapy is a non-surgical treatment performed at med spas and dermatology offices. Blood is drawn, spun to concentrate platelets, and injected into the scalp. The growth factors in platelets stimulate existing hair follicles to become more active. It works on follicles that are present and functioning (or dormant but intact) — it does not create new follicles.

FUE hair transplant is a surgical procedure performed at hair restoration clinics and some plastic surgery practices. Individual follicular units (1–4 hairs each) are extracted from a donor area (usually the back of the scalp, where follicles are genetically resistant to DHT) and implanted individually into thinning or bald areas. FUE physically moves hair-producing follicles to areas where they've been lost.

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The fundamental difference

PRP enhances what's already there. FUE moves follicles to where they're gone.

This determines candidacy:
If follicles are still present but underperforming → PRP may help
If follicles have been permanently lost (the area is bald or severely thinned) → Only transplant can restore hair

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Who is a good candidate for PRP

PRP works best for:
Early androgenetic alopecia (stage I–III on Norwood scale for men): Thinning is present but follicles are not yet permanently lost
Women with diffuse thinning: Female pattern hair loss where follicles are miniaturized but present
Maintaining results from hair transplant: PRP is often used post-transplant to improve graft survival and stimulate surrounding native hair
Patients already on finasteride/minoxidil who want to amplify results without surgery
Patients with telogen effluvium (shedding from stress, illness, nutritional deficiency) — PRP may accelerate recovery

PRP is unlikely to help:
Areas that have been completely bald for years (follicles are gone)
Advanced Norwood stage V–VII pattern baldness in large areas
Scarring alopecia (the follicles are permanently destroyed; growth factor stimulation cannot regenerate them)

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Who is a good candidate for FUE

FUE is appropriate for:
Patients with defined, stable areas of hair loss (the loss should be stable — not actively progressing — or treated with medication before surgery)
Patients with adequate donor hair (the back and sides of the scalp must have sufficient density to provide grafts)
Men with early-to-moderate pattern baldness (Norwood II–V) where there's still a meaningful donor bank
Women with localized thinning patterns or hairline irregularities
Patients who want permanent coverage in a defined area

FUE is not appropriate for:
Patients who are still in active, rapid progression — transplanted follicles will survive, but surrounding native hair will continue to thin, potentially creating an uneven result
Patients without adequate donor hair (insufficient supply)
Diffuse unpatterned alopecia in women where the donor area is equally thinned
Expectations of full density restoration over large areas — transplant density is limited by donor supply

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Realistic outcomes

PRP:
Slowing of progressive loss (the primary benefit for most patients)
Modest increase in hair density and thickness — approximately 20–30% improvement in follicular density in studies
Results require maintenance (1–2 sessions annually)
Timeline: 3–6 months to see results from an initial series

FUE:
Permanent hair in transplanted areas (DHT-resistant donor follicles retain their genetic programming in the new location)
Density depends on number of grafts transplanted and patient's donor supply
Natural-looking results when performed by skilled surgeons using fine-gauge implanting tools
Timeline: Transplanted hair sheds 2–6 weeks post-procedure (expected — the follicle is intact); regrowth begins at 3–4 months; full result at 12–18 months

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Cost comparison

| Treatment | Cost | Duration | Sessions |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRP (initial series) | $1,800–$6,000 | Ongoing maintenance | 3–4 initial + 1–2/year |
| FUE (per graft) | $3–$10/graft | Permanent | One-time (per area) |
| FUE (1,500 graft session) | $5,000–$15,000 | Permanent | One-time |
| FUE (3,000 graft session) | $10,000–$30,000 | Permanent | One-time |

Over 5 years, PRP maintenance may exceed the one-time cost of FUE. However, they address different patients and different stages of hair loss.

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Using PRP and FUE together

Many hair restoration programs combine both:
Pre-operative PRP: Some surgeons recommend PRP sessions before transplant to optimize scalp health
Post-operative PRP: PRP improves graft survival and stimulates surrounding native hair; typically 3 sessions at 1, 3, and 6 months post-transplant
Long-term maintenance: Annual PRP sessions to preserve native hair while transplanted hair provides permanent coverage

This combined approach is considered best practice by many hair restoration specialists.

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Pharmaceutical context

Neither PRP nor FUE is a complete strategy without considering pharmaceutical management:
Finasteride (oral) slows DHT-mediated hair loss — the most important step for men with androgenetic alopecia before or alongside either procedure
Minoxidil (topical or oral) increases blood flow to follicles; works well as an adjunct
Starting medication before PRP or FUE helps stabilize loss so the treatment results are durable

A reputable hair restoration specialist will discuss medication alongside any procedural recommendation.

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How to decide

Choose PRP if:
You have early hair loss with follicles still present
You want to avoid surgery
You're already on medication and want to amplify results
You want a non-surgical maintenance strategy

Choose FUE if:
You have defined areas of significant hair loss where follicles are gone
You have adequate donor hair
Your hair loss is stable (or being managed with medication)
You want permanent coverage in specific areas

Consider both if:
You want to preserve native hair (PRP + medication) while also restoring thinned areas (FUE)

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Questions to ask your provider

Based on my Norwood/Ludwig stage, am I a PRP candidate, an FUE candidate, or both?
Is my hair loss stable enough to proceed with FUE, or should I stabilize it with medication first?
If I do PRP, what realistic improvement can I expect given my current density?
For FUE, how many grafts do I need and do I have adequate donor supply?
Do you offer PRP post-transplant to improve graft survival?

For FUE specifically: the surgeon's skill and technique (graft harvesting and implanting methodology) significantly affect outcomes — review before-and-afters carefully and ask specifically about graft survival rates and natural hairline design.

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