PRP cannot regrow hair from scalp where the follicles are already gone; a transplant can. PRP is used where hair is miniaturising but still present. If an area is genuinely bare, PRP is not an alternative to grafts — and starting with it only delays the decision.
The distinction that decides the order
Androgenetic loss is gradual. Follicles miniaturise over years — hairs get finer, shorter and lighter before they stop entirely. PRP is aimed at that middle stage. Once a follicle has gone, nothing applied to the scalp brings it back.
So the question is not which treatment is better. It is which stage each part of your scalp is at, and that usually differs across one head: a bare frontal hairline and a miniaturising crown are common together.
How they are usually sequenced
| Situation | Usual approach |
|---|---|
| Bare hairline, healthy crown | Transplant the hairline; PRP has nothing to work on there |
| Diffuse thinning, no bare areas | PRP and medical treatment first; assess before considering grafts |
| Bare front, miniaturising mid-scalp | Both — grafts to the front, PRP to support what remains |
| Active rapid loss | Stabilise first. Operating into unstable loss is how results age badly |
PRP around surgery
PRP is sometimes used alongside a transplant, aimed at the native hair in the recipient area rather than at the grafts. The rationale is supporting hair that is at risk of shock loss. It is an adjunct to a plan, not a reason to postpone one.
Evidence for PRP varies by protocol, and preparation methods differ between clinics — which is a fair question to ask before starting a course.
What PRP does not do
- It does not create follicles where none remain
- It does not replace a hairline
- It does not stop androgenetic loss on its own
- It does not maintain its effect indefinitely without repeat sessions
Details of the procedure are on the PRP treatment page. If you are not sure which stage your scalp is at, the Norwood scale is the usual starting point, and women's patterns are covered separately under hair loss in women.