PRP Hair Restoration by Doctors in Knightsbridge: Diagnosis First

Why should a doctor diagnose hair loss before PRP?

Because PRP only helps certain types of hair loss. Pattern hair loss, stress-related shedding, autoimmune patches, scarring conditions and hair loss from iron deficiency or thyroid disease can look alike. A doctor identifies the cause, orders the right tests and treats it, so PRP is only used where it has a realistic chance of working.

Most people who come to a clinic asking for PRP have already decided that it is the answer. Sometimes it is. But a significant share of hair loss is driven by something PRP cannot fix: low iron stores, an underactive or overactive thyroid, a recent illness or childbirth, a new medicine, crash dieting, an autoimmune process, or inflammation that is permanently scarring the follicles. Treating those causes directly usually does far more than any injection.

The NHS describes normal shedding as between 50 and 100 hairs a day. It separates permanent causes, mainly male and female pattern hair loss that tends to run in families, from temporary causes such as illness, stress, weight loss, iron deficiency and cancer treatment. That distinction is the first thing a doctor wants to establish, because it decides whether the goal is to reverse a trigger, slow a lifelong process, or refer urgently.

A doctor-led approach also matters for safety. PRP involves a blood draw and multiple scalp injections, so bleeding disorders, anticoagulant medicines, fainting and infection risk all need to be considered. If the best plan includes prescription medicine, a doctor can counsel you on its risks and prescribe it, rather than leaving PRP to carry expectations it cannot meet.

What type of hair loss do you have?

The most common types are androgenetic alopecia (male or female pattern hair loss), telogen effluvium (diffuse shedding after a trigger), alopecia areata (autoimmune patches) and scarring alopecias. Traction and medical causes such as iron deficiency or thyroid disease are also common. Each has a different outlook and treatment.

Androgenetic alopecia: the main PRP candidate

In both men and women, pattern hair loss happens when affected follicles gradually miniaturise: each new hair is finer, shorter and lighter until the follicle stops producing visible hair. The British Association of Dermatologists notes that over 190 genes have been linked to male pattern hair loss. Because miniaturised follicles are still alive for a long time, this is the window in which PRP and medical treatment can help.

Telogen effluvium: shedding with a cause

Telogen effluvium happens when a shock pushes many growing hairs into the resting phase at once. PCDS guidance describes shedding typically starting two to three months after a trigger such as high fever, childbirth, surgery or significant weight loss, and recovering within three to six months if the trigger resolves. Chronic telogen effluvium mainly affects middle-aged women, who may notice heavy shedding while still having good density for their age.

Alopecia areata and scarring alopecia

Alopecia areata is autoimmune. PCDS guidance cites a study in which 80% of people with a small number of patches regrew within a year without treatment, whereas fewer than 10% of people with total scalp or body hair loss made a full recovery. Scarring alopecias are different again: they destroy follicles permanently, so PCDS advises urgent specialist referral to limit irreversible loss.

What happens at a doctor-led hair loss assessment?

A doctor-led assessment combines a detailed history, scalp examination with dermoscopy (trichoscopy), a hair pull test, standardised photographs and targeted blood tests. Together these identify the type of hair loss, any treatable cause and whether PRP, medical treatment, both or a specialist referral is the right next step.

1. History

   When it started, whether it is shedding or thinning, family history, recent illness, childbirth, surgery, weight change, diet, stress, new medicines, hair care and styling, and symptoms such as itch, burning, irregular periods, acne or excess body hair.

2. Scalp examination and trichoscopy

   A magnified look at the scalp shows whether follicle openings are preserved, how many hairs are miniaturised, and signs of inflammation or scarring. The pattern is graded on recognised male or female scales.

3. Pull test and photographs

   A gentle pull test shows whether shedding is active. Standardised photographs of the part, crown and hairline create a baseline for fair comparison later.

4. Blood tests where indicated

   Baseline tests for diffuse hair loss, plus targeted tests if the history suggests a hormonal, nutritional or autoimmune cause.

5. Diagnosis and plan

   You leave with a clear explanation of the likely diagnosis, the options with their evidence and risks, and what success would realistically look like. If PRP is not appropriate, you are told so.

6. Referral when needed

   Suspected scarring alopecia, extensive alopecia areata or an unclear diagnosis may need a consultant dermatologist and sometimes a scalp biopsy.

This is also where the difference between a doctor and a non-medical hair practitioner shows. A doctor can examine, order and interpret blood tests, prescribe, manage side effects, and refer within the medical system. At Levirgo, related needs can be handled through our dermatology consultation, private GP appointments and prescription service, alongside PRP therapy when it is appropriate.

Which blood tests are used to investigate hair loss?

For diffuse hair loss, PCDS guidance recommends a full blood count, ferritin (iron stores) and thyroid function tests as a baseline. Kidney and liver function, zinc and vitamin D may be added depending on the history, and women with signs of excess androgens, such as acne, excess hair or irregular periods, need further hormonal investigation.

Hormonal causes deserve a special mention for women. Female pattern hair loss can accompany polycystic ovary syndrome, and the British Association of Dermatologists lists PCOS among its associations. If irregular periods, acne or excess facial hair are part of the picture, the hair loss is best managed as part of a wider plan, such as our approach to PCOS treatment in Knightsbridge.

When is PRP appropriate for hair loss, and when is it not?

PRP is most appropriate for early to moderate androgenetic alopecia in men and women who still have miniaturised hairs, ideally alongside medical treatment. It is not appropriate for scarring alopecia, a smooth bald scalp, untreated iron or thyroid problems, active scalp infection, or people with bleeding or platelet disorders.

There is an honest middle ground too. Some people have mild pattern loss plus a second factor, such as borderline iron stores or a stressful year. A sensible plan may correct the second factor first, start medical treatment, and add PRP three to six months later if the response is not enough. That staged approach costs less and makes it easier to tell what is actually working.

What does the evidence show for PRP in different types of hair loss?

The evidence is strongest in androgenetic alopecia: a 2024 meta-analysis found about 27.55 more hairs/cm² with PRP than placebo, though trials were heterogeneous. In women, PRP increased terminal hair density. In alopecia areata, a 2022 meta-analysis found no significant difference between PRP and steroid injections, with more trials needed.

Pattern hair loss. Kieling and colleagues pooled randomised trials in 2024 and found a mean increase in hair density of 27.55 hairs/cm² with PRP compared with placebo. They also judged the studies to be highly heterogeneous, of low quality and affected by publication bias, and called for better trials. An earlier 2023 meta-analysis of nine trials by Zhang and colleagues found PRP increased hair density at three and six months compared with placebo, with no serious adverse reactions.

Women. A 2023 meta-analysis focused on female pattern hair loss (de Oliveira and colleagues) found PRP-based treatment increased terminal hair density compared with control, without a significant change in hair thickness, and no major side effects. The authors advised caution until results are replicated in larger samples.

Alopecia areata. The first randomised half-head study, by Trink and colleagues in the British Journal of Dermatology in 2013, reported more regrowth with PRP than with steroid injection or placebo in 45 patients. Later pooled analysis (Meznerics and colleagues, 2022) found no significant difference between PRP and triamcinolone steroid injections. PRP may therefore be an option for people who respond poorly to, or cannot tolerate, steroid injections, under medical supervision.

What dermatology bodies say. UK guidance is deliberately cautious. PCDS describes PRP as safe but says more evidence is needed. The British Association of Dermatologists says research suggests some benefit that is unpredictable, and that PRP is not offered on the NHS. A doctor-led clinic should present PRP in exactly those terms.

Although safe, more evidence is needed.

Primary Care Dermatology Society, on PRP for male and female pattern alopecia

How does PRP combine with medical treatment for hair loss?

For pattern hair loss, medical treatment is the foundation and PRP is an add-on. PCDS guidance estimates topical minoxidil benefits about 40% of patients and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors up to 90% of men. Adding PRP to minoxidil improved hair density further in a 2024 meta-analysis, although the certainty of that evidence was low.

Why combine? The medicines act on the underlying hormonal drive (finasteride and dutasteride) or on follicle growth (minoxidil), and they only work for as long as they are used, as the NHS notes. PRP is thought to support the follicles through growth factors. In a 2024 meta-analysis of five randomised trials by Yao and colleagues, adding PRP to topical minoxidil produced significantly higher hair density at one, three and five to six months than minoxidil alone, with a similar rate of adverse events. The authors graded the certainty of that evidence as low to very low, which is a fair summary of the whole field.

How is doctor-led PRP for hair performed safely?

Safe PRP for hair starts with screening for bleeding disorders, anticoagulants, infection and fainting risk, then uses single-use sealed kits, sterile technique and a documented preparation. Common after-effects are scalp tenderness, tightness and a mild headache for a day or two; serious complications are rare in published trials.

• Medical screening: platelet or bleeding disorders, anticoagulant and antiplatelet medicines, active cancer or chemotherapy, pregnancy and breastfeeding, active scalp infection or inflammation, and a history of fainting with needles.
• Preparation: a sealed, single-use kit with a known protocol. A 2018 protocol review recommended platelet enrichment of 3 to 6 times whole blood.
• Comfort: cooling, vibration or local anaesthetic techniques reduce injection discomfort.
• After-effects: tenderness, tightness, pinpoint bleeding, mild swelling that can track to the forehead, and occasionally a headache, usually settling within 24 to 48 hours.
• Trial safety: the Gentile 2015 half-head trial reported no side effects during treatment, and a 2023 meta-analysis reported no serious adverse reactions.

Consent is part of safety. GMC guidance for doctors who offer cosmetic interventions says the doctor performing a procedure should seek consent personally, discuss likely outcomes, benefits and risks clearly, and give patients time to reflect. For hair loss, that includes being explicit that PRP needs maintenance and that results in trials vary widely between people.

How much does doctor-led hair loss assessment and PRP cost in London?

In London, a doctor-led hair loss consultation typically costs £100 to £300, with blood tests priced by panel. PRP for hair is usually £300 to £650 per session, and a course of three to four sessions £800 to £2,200. Prescription medicines, if suitable, are an additional ongoing cost.

The most expensive plan is the one aimed at the wrong diagnosis. Spending on a diagnostic consultation and appropriate blood tests first can prevent a full PRP course for shedding that would have recovered on its own, or for an iron deficiency that a few months of treatment would have corrected.

How do you choose a hair loss doctor in London?

Choose a GMC-registered doctor who examines your scalp in person, orders and interprets blood tests, discusses medical and procedural options with their evidence, and refers to a consultant dermatologist when needed. Ask whether the clinic is CQC-registered and how PRP is prepared, and avoid anyone who recommends PRP before making a diagnosis.

• Registration: check the doctor on the General Medical Council register. Nurses performing PRP should be on the Nursing and Midwifery Council register.
• Diagnosis before sales: a named diagnosis, and a written explanation of why PRP is or is not recommended.
• Evidence-based options: medical treatment discussed alongside PRP, with honest effect sizes and timelines.
• Regulation: the Government’s 2023 consultation on licensing non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England proposed placing cosmetic PRP in its amber, medium-risk tier, so training and oversight should be clear.
• Follow-up: baseline photographs, a review at a set point such as three or six months, and a plan for maintenance or stopping.
• Referral pathways: access to a consultant dermatologist for scarring alopecia or extensive alopecia areata, and to a surgeon for transplant assessment in advanced loss.

Why see Levirgo’s doctors in Knightsbridge for hair loss?

Levirgo is a doctor-led clinic at 6 Beauchamp Place, Knightsbridge, SW3 1NG, near Harrods and a few minutes’ walk from Knightsbridge Underground station on the Piccadilly line. Aesthetic treatments and private GP care sit under one roof, so diagnosis, blood tests, prescribing and PRP can form a single plan.

Our starting point is always the cause. We take a full history, examine the scalp, arrange appropriate tests, and explain the likely diagnosis before discussing any treatment. When PRP is a sensible option, it is combined with evidence-based medical care where suitable and reviewed against baseline photographs. When it is not, we say so and suggest what would help instead, including referral.

Patients regularly travel from nearby neighbourhoods. The clinic is a short walk from Belgravia, a few minutes from Chelsea, and within easy reach of Kensington and Mayfair. You can book a consultation online or send us a question first. For the wider range of options, browse our skin treatments.