PRP Hair Restoration in Knightsbridge: Sessions, Results and Costs

What is PRP hair restoration and who is it for?

PRP hair restoration injects platelet-rich plasma from your own blood into thinning areas of the scalp to support follicles that are shrinking but still active. It is best suited to early to moderate male or female pattern hair loss, after other causes have been ruled out, and usually works best alongside medical treatment.

This guide assumes the diagnostic step is done. If you are not yet sure why your hair is thinning, start with our doctor-led guide to diagnosing hair loss before PRP, which covers the different types of hair loss and the blood tests involved. PRP is not appropriate for scarring alopecia, a completely smooth bald scalp or untreated medical causes such as iron deficiency.

The treatment itself is straightforward: a blood sample is spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets, and that plasma is injected in a grid across the thinning areas. Growth factors released by the platelets are thought to prolong the growth phase of follicles and help miniaturising follicles produce thicker hairs. It supports hair you still have; it does not create new follicles or lower a receded hairline.

That figure is encouraging, but trials vary a great deal. A 2024 meta-analysis found a pooled gain of 27.55 hairs/cm² over placebo and rated the studies as heterogeneous and low quality. The honest expectation is fuller, thicker, more stable hair for most suitable candidates, with a range of responses, rather than a dramatic transformation.

How should you prepare for a PRP hair session?

Preparation is simple: eat and drink normally beforehand, arrive with clean, product-free hair, avoid alcohol for a day, and tell your practitioner about every medicine. Painkillers that thin the blood, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, are usually avoided for a few days unless a doctor has prescribed them, in which case do not stop them without advice.

• A week before: confirm your medical history and medicines with the clinic, including supplements such as fish oil that can affect bleeding. Mention any cold sores or scalp conditions.
• A few days before: avoid non-prescribed aspirin and ibuprofen; paracetamol is generally fine for pain. Do not stop prescribed anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicines without medical advice.
• The day before: avoid alcohol and drink plenty of water, which can make the blood draw easier.
• On the day: have a normal meal, wash your hair, and skip gels, sprays, dry shampoo and oils. Wear a top that lets you roll up a sleeve.
• Topical treatments: ask whether to pause topical minoxidil or other scalp products around the session; many clinics suggest a short break so the scalp is not irritated.
• Plan the rest of the day: most people go back to work, but avoid booking the gym, a sauna or a hair colour appointment straight afterwards.

What happens during a PRP hair session?

A PRP hair session takes about an hour. Your scalp is photographed, a blood sample is taken, the sample is spun to concentrate the platelets, the scalp is cleansed and numbed or cooled, and the plasma is injected in a grid across the thinning areas. You can usually return to normal activities the same day.

1. Check-in and photographs

   A quick review of any changes since your last visit, then standardised photographs of the parting, crown and hairline under the same lighting and angles each time.

2. Blood draw

   A small blood sample is taken from the arm into sealed tubes, just like a routine blood test.

3. Preparation

   The tubes are spun in a centrifuge. The platelet-rich plasma is collected into syringes according to the kit’s protocol, while you relax.

4. Scalp cleansing and comfort

   The treatment area is cleansed. Cooling, vibration or local anaesthetic techniques are used to make the injections more comfortable.

5. Injections

   Very fine injections are placed across the thinning area in a grid pattern at the level of the follicles. The injection phase itself usually takes well under half an hour.

6. Aftercare and next date

   The scalp is cleaned, you receive written aftercare, and the next session is booked, usually about four weeks later during the initial course.

Does it hurt? The scalp is sensitive, so most people feel a series of brief stings and pressure. With cooling or anaesthetic techniques it is generally well tolerated, and the blood draw is no different from a normal blood test. A tight, tender feeling for the rest of the day is common.

How many PRP sessions do you need for hair loss?

Most published protocols use an initial course of three sessions spaced about a month apart. A 2018 protocol review proposed six sessions in the first year, at months 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12, or alternatively three monthly sessions followed by sessions every six months. Maintenance continues after that.

Why not just one session? Hair grows in cycles, and follicles respond slowly. The randomised trials above used a series of three monthly sessions, and the protocol review by Stevens and Khetarpal recommended monthly treatments for the first three months before spacing them out. Spacing sessions about four weeks apart also gives the scalp time to settle between treatments.

PRP hair results timeline: what changes month by month?

Expect little visible change in the first month, often less shedding by months two to three, and gradually thicker, denser hair from month three to six. A 2018 review found improvement was most commonly reported after the third month. Results are usually reviewed properly at around six months and maintained after that.

1. Session day to week 2: tenderness settles within a day or two. Nothing visible should be expected yet.
2. Month 1: second session. Some people feel their hair sheds a little less; others notice nothing, which is normal.
3. Months 2 to 3: third session. Shedding in the shower and on the pillow often reduces. Fine regrowth may be visible at the parting under good light.
4. Months 3 to 6: existing hairs thicken and density improves, especially at the part and crown. This is when comparison photographs become meaningful.
5. Month 6 review: photographs and, where used, trichoscopy measurements are compared with baseline to decide on maintenance frequency.
6. Months 9 to 12: the response tends to consolidate with maintenance. Pattern hair loss continues in the background, so the aim is to hold the gains.
7. Beyond 12 months: without maintenance, gains can fade. In one trial, some patients noticed progressive loss 12 to 16 months after their last session.

The chart shows the added benefit of PRP on top of minoxidil, not the total change in hair. It rises clearly by three months and remains significant at five to six months. The slight dip is within the uncertainty of small, varied trials, but it is also a reminder that PRP is not a one-off fix: follicles in pattern hair loss remain under hormonal pressure, which is why a maintenance plan matters.

What is the aftercare for PRP hair treatment?

Aftercare is light. Leave the scalp alone for the rest of the day, wash hair gently after about 24 hours, and avoid saunas, steam rooms, swimming, heavy exercise and alcohol for a day or so. Delay hair colouring, chemical treatments and tight styles for a few days, and use paracetamol rather than anti-inflammatories if you need pain relief.

Why avoid anti-inflammatory painkillers? PRP works partly through a controlled healing response, and non-prescribed anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen are commonly avoided around treatment for that reason and because they can increase bruising. If you take any medicine for a medical condition, keep taking it and ask your doctor.

What side effects are normal after PRP for hair?

Normal after-effects are scalp tenderness, tightness, pinpoint bleeding, mild swelling that can drift to the forehead, and occasionally a headache, usually settling within 24 to 48 hours. In the 2015 randomised half-head trial no side effects were noted during treatment, and a 2023 meta-analysis reported no serious adverse reactions.

• Very common: sting during injections, a tender or tight scalp for the rest of the day, small spots of bleeding.
• Common: mild swelling, sometimes tracking down to the forehead or around the eyes the next morning; a dull headache.
• Less common: small bruises, a feeling of lightheadedness around the blood draw, temporary itching as the scalp settles.
• Rare: infection at injection sites, prolonged pain, or nerve irritation.

PRP’s safety profile is one reason people choose it. Because it is made from your own blood, allergy to the plasma is not expected. The practical risks come from the injections themselves and are reduced by screening, sterile single-use equipment and experienced hands.

How do you measure whether PRP is working?

Progress should be measured with standardised photographs taken under the same lighting and angles, ideally supported by trichoscopy measurements of hair density and thickness at a marked site. Trials used computerised trichograms. Daily mirror checks are unreliable, so compare at planned reviews, usually at three and six months.

Patient satisfaction also counts. In a 2026 meta-analysis of nine randomised trials comparing PRP with topical minoxidil, hair density did not differ significantly between the two, but patients receiving PRP reported higher satisfaction. That illustrates why objective measurements and your own experience should both be part of the review.

How much does PRP hair treatment cost in London?

Typical London prices are £300 to £650 per session. An initial course of three sessions usually costs £800 to £1,700 and a course of four £1,000 to £2,200. Maintenance sessions are commonly £300 to £600 each, every four to six months, so plan a first-year budget rather than a one-off price.

A realistic first year often looks like an initial course of three to four sessions plus one or two maintenance sessions, which puts many people in the region of £1,100 to £3,400 using the ranges above, before any medicines. The following years are usually cheaper, with two or three maintenance sessions. Beware packages that seem cheap because they use a low-yield preparation or skip reviews; the cost per useful result is what matters.

Do you need maintenance PRP, and how does it compare with alternatives?

Yes, for most people. Pattern hair loss is progressive, so gains fade without upkeep: in a 2015 trial, 4 of 20 patients noticed progressive loss 12 to 16 months after their last session. Maintenance every four to six months is common. For density, a 2023 network meta-analysis ranked minoxidil combined with microneedling or PRP above single treatments.

Medical treatments follow the same rule. The NHS notes that the main medicines for pattern hair loss only work for as long as they are used. PRP maintenance is typically timed from your six-month review: people who respond well and are also using medical treatment may stretch sessions to every six months, while others need them more often.

Why choose Levirgo for PRP hair restoration in Knightsbridge?

Levirgo is a doctor-led clinic at 6 Beauchamp Place, Knightsbridge, SW3 1NG, a short walk from Harrods and Knightsbridge Underground station on the Piccadilly line. Every PRP hair plan starts with diagnosis, uses standardised photographs to track progress, and is reviewed honestly at set points.

We plan PRP as a programme rather than a single appointment: a clear number of initial sessions, a scheduled review at around six months, and a maintenance rhythm based on how your hair has actually responded. Where medical treatment would add to the result, our doctors can discuss it and, where suitable, arrange a prescription after consultation.

What to look for in any PRP hair clinic

• A diagnosis before treatment, from a clinician on the GMC (doctors) or NMC (nurses) register.
• A CQC-registered clinic with clear governance. The Government’s 2023 consultation on licensing non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England proposed placing cosmetic PRP in its amber, medium-risk tier.
• A named preparation system, single-use sealed kits and a written aftercare plan.
• Baseline photographs and planned reviews, with honest advice to stop if PRP is not helping.

Patients visit from across west London, including Chelsea, Belgravia and Sloane Square, one stop away on the Tube. Book a consultation online, or contact the team if you would like to ask something first. You can also explore PRP therapy and our wider skin treatments.