Priorities
Thinning hair
A widening part, a receding hairline, or a thinning crown, treated while the follicles are still active.
Treatments from $800
The short version
Pattern thinning usually develops gradually: more scalp showing at the crown, a part that’s wider than it used to be, or a hairline that’s slowly receding. It’s common in both men and women, and treatment works best when it starts early.
We treat pattern thinning in areas where the follicles are still alive. A scalp that has already gone smooth won’t respond, so we don’t treat it.
Why it happens
Why hair thins in a pattern
Pattern thinning is a slow shrinking of the hair follicles. Each new hair comes in a little finer and shorter than the last, until the follicle stops making hair. Hormones and genes decide where it happens and how fast.
Follicles shrink gradually
As a follicle shrinks, the hair it grows gets thinner and shorter, so the part widens or the crown thins.
A hormone is involved
A hormone called DHT is linked to follicles shrinking in people who are sensitive to it.
Genes set the pattern
Your genes shape how sensitive your follicles are. It affects about two thirds of men, and many women too.
Sources: Cleveland Clinic, androgenic alopecia, Cleveland Clinic, female pattern hair loss
Your options
How we'd approach it
-
Step 1We'd start with
PRP hair restoration
From $800
About PRP hair restorationIf your crown, part, or hairline is thinning with hair still growing there, we'd suggest PRP injections. Our nurse practitioners will draw your blood, spin it, and inject the platelet layer about a centimeter apart across the thinning area. You'll start with three monthly sessions, then move to maintenance.
-
Step 2If you need a little more
Medical management alongside it
From $800
About Medical management alongside itPRP works alongside minoxidil or finasteride, not instead of them, because it doesn't block the hormone driving the loss. If you're not using either, we'll discuss your options at your consult.
Side by side
Your options side by side
PRP works best with medication, not instead of it. Here's how they compare.
We'd start with
PRP hair restoration
From $800
- Best for
- Thinning at the part, crown or hairline where hair still grows
- Appointment
- About an hour, topical numbing
- Downtime
- Tender scalp for a day, no dressing, no washing overnight
- First results
- Less shedding by month 2 to 3
- Sessions
- 3 monthly, then boosters every 3 to 6 months
Works well together
Medication alongside it
Discussed at your consult
- Best for
- Slowing the hormone-driven process PRP doesn't block
- Appointment
- Part of your consult
- Downtime
- None
- First results
- Usually a few months
- Sessions
- Daily, ongoing, if prescribed
Prices are starting prices from our menu. Your provider will confirm the plan and total cost at your consult. Individual results vary.
What to expect
What to expect with PRP for hair
Most people notice less shedding by month two or three. Density takes longer, and we assess it at month six.
Day 0
Tender scalp, damp roots, and no dressing. You can go straight back to work.
Weeks 1 to 4
Your second session at the one-month mark. Shedding may be lighter already.
Month 2 to 3
Your third session. Less hair in the drain, which is the first thing many people notice.
Month 3 to 4
Density starts to show at the part or the crown.
Month 6
Photo comparison against your baseline shots.
Month 6 to 12
Boosters every 3 to 6 months to hold what you've built.
Timeline for PRP hair restoration, from our treatment page. Individual results vary.
Our reasoning
Is PRP right for your thinning hair?
We’ll part your hair and take a close look at the follicles. Short, fine hairs where thick ones used to be mean the follicle is still alive. A smooth, shiny scalp means it’s gone. Sudden shedding, patches, or scalp symptoms are different conditions, and for those, we’ll refer you to a dermatologist.
For pattern thinning with living follicles, we recommend PRP hair restoration. The evidence is real, though modest. A 2023 meta-analysis of 9 randomized trials found increased hair density at 3 and 6 months versus placebo, but no significant difference in hair count or diameter, per the Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery. PRP plus minoxidil beat either alone in a 6-study meta-analysis of 343 participants, per Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. No PRP product is FDA-approved for hair loss.
The schedule a Cleveland Clinic review proposes from the trials: monthly for three months, then months 6, 9 and 12, per the International Journal of Women’s Dermatology. Shedding slows by month two or three, and we’ll assess density at month six. Results fade without maintenance. Individual results vary.
Women get the same protocol for a widening part, and a network meta-analysis found better responses in younger and female patients. Sudden loss in women is often related to thyroid or iron, so we’ll ask about your labs first.
Your questions, answered
Can I go back to work after a session?
Yes. There's no dressing, just a tender scalp and pinpoint marks that are hard to see. Skip workouts for 24 to 48 hours, and wait until the next day to wash your hair.
How do I schedule this around training or a big event?
Avoid heavy sweating for 24 to 48 hours after each session, so if you train regularly, book sessions after a long or intense workout rather than before one. If you have an event coming up, start five to six months ahead so the added density has time to show.
What does the crown look like at month three?
Most people notice less shedding by month two or three, and the crown may look slightly denser under overhead light by month three. Month six is the most meaningful comparison photo. If there's no change by then, we'll recommend stopping. Our Botox for men guide covers another common treatment for men.
What causes hair to thin at the crown?
Usually pattern thinning, where follicles on the top of the scalp gradually shrink and grow finer, shorter hair. It's driven by hormones and genes. Sudden or patchy loss is different and worth a dermatologist's visit, since thyroid, iron or stress can be behind it.
Is it too late to treat thinning hair?
Not if the follicles are still alive. Fine, short hairs where thick ones used to be mean there's something to work with, and PRP plus medication helps most there. Once the scalp is smooth and shiny, a transplant is the option.
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