PRP Hair Restorationat SkinArtMD Burnaby
Target dormant follicles at dermal papilla depth to restart the anagen growth phase
PRP Hair Restoration at SkinArtMD Burnaby is a scalp-specific medical procedure — distinct from facial biostimulation. Your blood is centrifuged to concentrate platelets at 4–6× baseline, then physician-injected at the level of the hair follicle's dermal papilla across mapped thinning zones. Growth factors (PDGF, VEGF, IGF-1) signal follicular stem cells to re-enter active growth. Dr. Sharon Fong (CPSBC) personally leads every session. Mandarin and Cantonese consultations available.
Physician-Led PRP for Hair Restoration
At SkinArtMD Burnaby, PRP hair restoration is a physician-administered scalp procedure with pattern-specific injection mapping — not a generalised wellness treatment adapted from a facial protocol. Dr. Sharon Fong (CPSBC) assesses your Norwood or Ludwig classification before each session, maps the thinning zones, and customises injection depth and density to your individual loss pattern. A standard initial series is 3–4 monthly sessions, followed by physician-scheduled maintenance to sustain density gains.
PRP hair restoration is best suited to patients with early-to-mid androgenetic alopecia (Norwood II–IV), female pattern hair loss (Ludwig I–II), or post-stress telogen effluvium where viable follicles remain capable of growth-phase re-entry. It is not indicated for completely bald areas, scarring (cicatricial) alopecia, or active alopecia areata flare. Dr. Fong will confirm your candidacy based on scalp assessment and medical history review at your initial consultation.
Follicle-Depth Growth Factor Delivery
PRP is injected at the level of the hair follicle bulge — where dermal papilla cells and follicular stem cells reside. This targeted injection depth is what distinguishes scalp PRP from topical serums or surface biostimulation.
Pattern-Mapped Injection Protocol
Dr. Fong plots injection zones to match your specific thinning pattern — crown, frontal hairline, temples, or diffuse mid-scalp — rather than applying a uniform full-scalp protocol. Targeted placement directs growth factors where viable follicles remain.
Multilingual Consultations
Our clinic serves the Burnaby and broader Metro Vancouver community in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese — ensuring every patient fully understands their scalp classification, treatment plan, and realistic growth timeline.
Dermal Papilla Delivery Mechanism
Hair follicles are governed by the dermal papilla — a cluster of specialised mesenchymal cells at the follicle base that transmits growth-phase signals to the surrounding matrix. Scalp PRP exploits this biology by flooding the perifollicular space with a concentrated cocktail of platelet-derived growth factors, prompting dormant or miniaturised follicles back toward active anagen cycling.
Calibrated Centrifugation for Follicular Concentration
A blood draw of approximately 20–30 mL is processed in a calibrated centrifuge at a defined spin protocol to separate red cells and yield platelet-rich plasma at 4–6× baseline platelet count — the concentration range associated with meaningful follicular stimulation in published clinical literature.
Growth Factors Specific to Hair Follicle Biology
PDGF (platelet-derived growth factor) promotes dermal papilla cell proliferation; VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) improves perifollicular vascularity and nutrient supply to the follicle; IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor) helps extend anagen phase duration. Together, these signals may shift follicles from telogen back toward active growth.
Follicle-Bulge Microinjection Technique
PRP is delivered via fine-needle serial puncture at the level of the follicle bulge — approximately 3–4 mm depth in the scalp — across each mapped thinning zone. Session duration is approximately 60–75 minutes inclusive of blood processing, anaesthetic application, and injection.
Physician-Administered Scalp Standard
Injection of autologous biologics into the scalp is a regulated medical procedure in BC. Dr. Fong (CPSBC) performs every injection at SkinArtMD — ensuring sterile technique, correct follicular depth, and clinical oversight throughout, not delegated to non-physician staff.
Who Responds Best to PRP
Dr. Sharon Fong will complete a thorough scalp and medical assessment at your consultation — including hair loss classification and scalp health review — to confirm whether PRP is appropriate for your specific pattern and stage.
Appropriate Candidates
- +Early-to-mid androgenetic alopecia (AGA) — Norwood II–IV or Ludwig I–II with viable follicles intact
- +Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) with diffuse thinning at the crown or mid-scalp
- +Post-stress or post-partum telogen effluvium with stabilised shedding and follicular architecture preserved
- +Patients wishing to augment oral therapies (minoxidil, finasteride) or low-level laser with direct growth-factor stimulation
- +Those exploring non-surgical follicle reactivation options before committing to hair transplant evaluation
Not Recommended For
- –Complete scalp baldness — no remaining viable follicles to reactivate with growth factor signalling
- –Scarring (cicatricial) alopecia or active alopecia areata flare where follicle architecture is compromised
- –Blood disorders, platelet dysfunction, or current anticoagulant therapy that impairs PRP efficacy
- –Active scalp infection, psoriasis flare, or open wounds in the planned injection zones
- –Pregnancy or breastfeeding
Scalp-Specialist Care, Physician-Delivered
At SkinArtMD Burnaby, scalp PRP is administered with the clinical precision of a dedicated hair restoration practice — not adapted from a general biostimulation or facial rejuvenation protocol.
Dr. Sharon Fong, CPSBC
Every PRP hair session at SkinArtMD is personally performed by Dr. Sharon Fong — a CPSBC-registered physician with focused training in aesthetic and hair medicine. Scalp injection mapping, follicular-depth technique, and post-series density assessments are physician-led from first session through maintenance.
Scalp-Specific Injection Mapping
Dr. Fong maps each session to your individual thinning pattern — adjusting injection density and coverage zone by zone (crown, hairline, temples, mid-scalp) based on follicle viability and loss severity at each specific area, rather than applying a uniform full-scalp protocol.
Comprehensive Pre-Treatment Scalp Review
Before any injection, Dr. Fong evaluates hair loss classification (Norwood or Ludwig scale), scalp microenvironment health, and complicating factors — thyroid status, nutritional deficiencies, anticoagulant use — that may affect platelet function or follicular response to treatment.
Mandarin & Cantonese Service
Hair loss conversations require precise language — particularly when setting realistic expectations about growth timelines and maintenance schedules. Our team communicates fluently in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese so treatment plans, growth cycles, and aftercare instructions are clearly understood at every step.
Thinning Zones Mapped to Your Pattern
Injection coverage is customised to the thinning zones identified in your pre-treatment scalp assessment. Dr. Fong adjusts needle depth, injection density, and PRP volume per zone based on follicle viability, loss classification, and individual scalp anatomy.
Crown / Vertex
The primary AGA progression zone in men — typically the first area to show measurable hair density response following a completed PRP series.
Frontal Hairline
Receding hairlines and early temporal recession are addressed with precision microinjections at the follicular unit margin, targeting miniaturised follicles before permanent regression occurs.
Temporal Zones
Temporal thinning affects both sexes with advancing AGA. PRP injections in this zone aim to stabilise follicular regression and may support density recovery in early-stage recession.
Mid-Scalp
Diffuse thinning across the top and mid-scalp — characteristic of Ludwig I–II female pattern loss — benefits from broad-coverage PRP injection targeting the full mid-scalp follicular unit network.
Diffuse / Full-Scalp Thinning
Generalised density loss from telogen effluvium or early diffuse AGA may be treated with full-scalp injection coverage to support simultaneous follicle reactivation across multiple growth zones.
Your PRP Hair Restoration Journey
Every phase of your PRP hair restoration at SkinArtMD is physician-supervised — from pre-treatment scalp classification and injection mapping through post-series density follow-up.
Before Your Session
Discontinue NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen) and omega-3 supplements 5–7 days before treatment — platelet aggregation is essential for PRP efficacy and blood thinners directly reduce it
Avoid alcohol for 24 hours prior; alcohol impairs platelet function and may increase post-injection scalp sensitivity
Arrive well-hydrated on the day of your appointment — adequate hydration improves venous access and plasma yield during the blood draw
Wash hair with a gentle sulphate-free shampoo the morning of treatment; arrive without styling products, dry shampoo, or topical scalp treatments applied
Inform Dr. Fong of all current medications — particularly anticoagulants, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and thyroid or hormonal medications that may affect scalp biology or platelet response
The Treatment Session (~60–75 min)
Scalp Assessment & Injection Mapping
Dr. Fong reviews your hair loss classification, confirms thinning zone coverage, and marks the injection map before proceeding — ensuring every injection targets follicle-viable scalp tissue.
Blood Draw & PRP Centrifugation
Approximately 20–30 mL of blood is drawn and processed using a standardised centrifugation protocol to yield platelet-rich plasma at 4–6× baseline concentration — the therapeutic range for follicular stimulation.
Scalp Anaesthetic Application
Topical anaesthetic cream is applied across the mapped injection zones and allowed to reach full effect before injections begin. Scalp skin has higher nerve density than facial skin — adequate numbing time is standard protocol at SkinArtMD.
Follicle-Depth PRP Injection
Dr. Fong administers fine-needle serial microinjections at follicle-bulge depth across each mapped thinning zone. Mild scalp pressure, transient stinging, and pinpoint bleeding are normal responses during this phase.
After Your Session
Expect mild scalp tenderness and visible pinpoint injection sites for 24–48 hours — this is a normal inflammatory response and not a sign of complication; a cool compress may help
Do not wash your hair for 12–24 hours post-treatment; when you do, use a gentle sulphate-free shampoo and avoid vigorous scalp massage or rubbing
Avoid strenuous exercise, saunas, steam rooms, and hot tubs for 48 hours — elevated scalp temperature and sweat may irritate injection sites and reduce growth factor residence time in the follicular space
Hold topical minoxidil or other scalp medications for 24 hours post-injection unless Dr. Fong instructs otherwise — barrier disruption at injection sites affects absorption unpredictably
Your initial series of 3–4 sessions is spaced 4 weeks apart to align with the hair cycle; Dr. Fong will schedule maintenance frequency (typically 2–4×/year) based on your individual density response
*†Individual response varies. Clinical observations indicate visible density improvement at 12–16 weeks for appropriate candidates; peak response at 6 months. PRP does not regenerate permanently destroyed follicles. Outcome depends on hair loss stage, platelet response, treatment adherence, and individual biology.
PRP Hair FAQ
How many PRP sessions are needed, and how often?+
A standard initial series consists of 3–4 sessions spaced approximately 4 weeks apart — timed to build on each prior injection's follicular signalling during consecutive anagen cycles. After completing the series, most patients benefit from maintenance treatments 2–4 times per year. Dr. Fong will personalise the schedule based on your Norwood or Ludwig classification and hair growth response after the first 1–2 sessions.
Is scalp PRP more uncomfortable than other injection treatments?+
Scalp skin is more sensitive than facial skin and has higher nerve density in certain zones. At SkinArtMD, we apply topical anaesthetic cream and allow full take-effect time before beginning injections. Most patients describe mild pressure and brief stinging at each injection site. Post-session scalp soreness for 24–48 hours is normal and expected — it reflects the follicular stimulation response, not a complication.
How soon will I see hair growth results?+
Hair growth improvement tracks the biology of the anagen cycle. Reduced shedding is typically the first observable sign, often noticed around weeks 4–8. Visible density and shaft thickness improvements tend to emerge around 12–16 weeks as reactivated follicles complete their initial growth phase. Peak results are generally seen at 6 months post-series. Progress is incremental — not a sudden change.
Can PRP slow or stop ongoing hair loss?+
PRP may help stabilise progressive follicular miniaturisation by improving perifollicular vascularity and dermal papilla cell signalling — factors that influence follicle resistance to DHT-related regression. It does not alter the genetic predisposition underlying androgenetic alopecia, and ongoing maintenance is needed to sustain benefit. Combining PRP with medical therapy such as minoxidil or finasteride may improve long-term density outcomes — Dr. Fong will discuss combination approaches at consultation.
Who is not a suitable candidate for PRP hair restoration?+
PRP hair therapy is contraindicated in patients with blood disorders, platelet dysfunction, or those on anticoagulant medications that impair platelet aggregation and growth factor release. It is not appropriate for scarring (cicatricial) alopecia, active alopecia areata flare, active scalp infection, or complete baldness where no viable follicles remain. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are also absolute contraindications. A complete medical history review is conducted before every first treatment at SkinArtMD.
Book Your PRP Hair Consultation
Consult with Dr. Sharon Fong (CPSBC) for a personalised scalp assessment, hair loss classification, and PRP hair restoration plan tailored to your follicular stage. Appointments available in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese at our Burnaby clinic.
Also offered at our Richmond location
Richmond Anti-Aging Clinic offers the same treatment. If Richmond is more convenient, our sister clinic can help.
110 – 5580 No. 3 Rd., Richmond, BC V6X 0R8 · +1 (604) 277-9006