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Rob Ninkovich
New England Patriots Super Bowl XLIX and LI Champion

Home/ Non-Surgical Hair Restoration Treatments/PRP with ACell® Injection Therapy

PRP with ACell® Injection Therapy

Platelet Rich Plasma with ACell injection therapy is the premier non-surgical solution for men and women experiencing thinning hair.  Using platelet rich plasma from your own blood combined with ACell, the treatment offers a proactive way to help preserve and improve the hair you still have. Dr. Matthew Lopresti uses PRP with ACell to help you get ahead of thinning hair rather than simply watching it progress.

What Is PRP with ACell® Injection Therapy?

PRP with ACell injection therapy is a non-surgical treatment for hair thinning and loss that uses your own blood to stimulate growth in a quick office treatment with little to no downtime. Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is a component of blood that contains platelets and growth factors. Those growth factors are like signal callers that give instructions to your tissue to regenerate and multiply.

ACell is a regenerative extracellular matrix material that can be combined with platelet-rich plasma as part of PRP with ACell therapy. When used for hair loss, the goal is to support existing hair follicles and help improve the quality and density of thinning hair. Dr. Matthew Lopresti may recommend PRP with ACell for appropriate men and women based on their type of hair loss, existing hair and treatment goals.

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How Is PRP with ACell® Injection Therapy Performed?

PRP with ACell injection therapy is performed in our office and is designed to be efficient, comfortable, and minimally disruptive to your day. Because the treatment uses your own blood components, the process is highly personalized and carefully handled from start to finish to ensure optimal concentration and placement of growth factors. The entire visit typically takes about 30–45 minutes.

Step 1: Preparation of the Scalp

To ensure maximum comfort during the procedure, the treatment area is cleansed and numbed using a local anesthetic. This helps minimize any sensitivity during the injection process.

Step 2: Blood Collection

A small sample of blood is drawn from your arm, similar to a routine laboratory test. Only a small amount is needed to create the platelet-rich plasma required for treatment.

Step 3: PRP Processing

The blood sample is placed into a specialized centrifuge that spins at high speed to separate it into different layers. This process isolates the platelet-rich plasma — the portion of the blood that contains concentrated growth factors responsible for tissue repair and regeneration.

Step 4: Activation with ACell®

The concentrated PRP is then combined with ACell, a regenerative extracellular matrix material. The PRP with ACell mixture is prepared for injection into the areas of the scalp where treatment is needed.

Step 5: Precise Injection into the Scalp

Using a fine syringe, the PRP with ACell mixture is carefully injected into areas of the scalp where hair is thinning. The injections are strategically placed to target areas with existing hair follicles that may benefit from treatment.

After treatment, most patients can return to their normal daily activities soon afterward with little to no downtime. Any improvement in shedding, hair quality or density develops gradually and varies from patient to patient.

What Are the Benefits of PRP with ACell® Injection Therapy?

PRP with ACell injection therapy is designed to support the hair you still have and may help improve the appearance of thinning hair. Depending on your type and stage of hair loss, potential benefits may include:

What Areas Can Be Treated with PRP with ACell®?

PRP with ACell injection therapy is most commonly used to treat areas of thinning hair on the scalp. This includes the frontal hairline, the temples, the crown (vertex), and to diffuse thinning throughout the scalp. It is often especially beneficial for women experiencing overall thinning and for men in the earlier stages of pattern hair loss. In some cases, PRP with ACell may also be used to improve the quality of existing transplanted hair or support healing after hair transplant surgery.

During your consultation, Dr. Matthew Lopresti will evaluate your hair loss and determine whether PRP with ACell may be appropriate for your specific pattern of thinning and your treatment goals.

Who Is a Good Candidate for PRP with ACell® Injection Therapy?

Good candidates for PRP with ACell are generally men and women with early to moderate hair thinning who still have existing hair in the areas of concern.

Hair loss rarely happens all at once. It’s a little more scalp showing, less density when you style your hair or more hair in the shower. You notice it before everyone else does. And you don’t have to wait until they notice it too. PRP with ACell is about getting ahead of thinning hair while you still have hair worth protecting.

Dr. Matthew Lopresti can evaluate your hair loss, existing hair and goals to determine whether PRP with ACell may be right for you or whether another non-surgical treatment or hair transplant surgery makes more sense.

Patient Success Stories with Platelet Rich Plasma and ACell

WCVB-TV Features Rob Ninkovich and PRP Therapy

Our patient and former NFL player Rob Ninkovich discusses his experience with PRP Therapy in an interview with Emily Riemer from WCVB-TV. Having hair loss run in his family, Rob chose to undergo treatment with Dr. Lopresti to help prevent hair thinning in the future. During the Channel 5 News segment, Dr. Lopresti details how the PRP Therapy process works.

PRP with ACell Therapy Featured on Boston 25 News

During a feature on Boston 25 News, Dr. Lopresti explains the science behind PRP and how the process works. The patient, Pam, recounts her experience with PRP and how treating her thinning hair helped restore her self-confidence. Stories like Pam’s are evidence that PRP can be an especially beneficial solution for women suffering from hair loss, as they often have limited options available.

Read more about Pam’s story

28 Year Old Says PRP with ACell Therapy Gave Him Unbelievable Results

Rich Kelleher always thought hair restoration was just for celebrities and athletes—that is, until he noticed his hair starting to thin and found that most patients are just “regular guys, like me.” At only 28 years old, and knowing his hair loss would continue to progress, Rich decided to meet with Dr. Lopresti to learn about his options. PRP Therapy was ultimately recommended for his case, supplemented with Propecia® and Rogaine Foam®. Although he should continue to see improvement from his treatment, Rich says his results have already been “unbelievable.”

Learn more about Rich’s story.

Female Patient Treats Thinning Hair with PRP and ACell Therapy

As the mother of one of our team’s technicians at Leonard Hair Transplant Associates, Donna was familiar with hair restoration, but she never thought she would need it. Once she reached age 58, however, Donna started noticing more hair left in her brush and in the drain after showering. This motivated her to seek the help of our team for possible female hair loss treatments. Dr. Lopresti determined Donna was a great candidate for PRP Therapy. Since starting PRP, Donna reflects on the process saying, “[It] was fast, easy and painless.” Having experienced thinning hair for five years before getting treatment, Donna says she felt especially “isolated and embarrassed,” as thinning hair is typically more accepted with men than women. Her continuing results have restored her sense of self-confidence, and she hopes her story inspires other women with thinning hair to look into the potential of PRP.

Read more about Donna’s story.

How Do I Prepare for PRP With ACell® Injection Therapy?

Preparing for PRP with ACell is simple. On the morning of your treatment, wash your hair thoroughly with your regular shampoo and avoid heavy hair gel, pomade or hair fibers. Stay well hydrated by drinking approximately 16 ounces of water at least two hours before your appointment.

Avoid exercise on the day of treatment, as it may increase blood pressure and swelling. A few simple steps before you arrive can help make the treatment process as smooth and comfortable as possible.

What Should I Avoid Prior to a PRP with ACell® Treatment?

There are a few things you will need to avoid before PRP with ACell treatment at Leonard Hair Transplant Associates. If you are taking any blood thinners, please let us know as soon as possible as they may represent a contraindication to this treatment. These medications include Plavix, Coumadin, and Heparin. If you are currently taking or have taken Prednisone or steroids, please let us know. We would want to postpone treatment for two weeks after stopping those medications.

Three days prior to PRP with ACell treatment, patients should avoid certain other medications and supplements. These include — but are not limited to — Aspirin, Ibuprofen products, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E. A full list will be provided to patients well in advance of PRP with ACell treatment. Patients should also avoid smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol for three days before their appointment.

What Should I Expect After PRP with ACell® Injection Therapy?

Most patients return to their normal daily activities the next day after PRP with ACell treatment. Some temporary soreness or tenderness where the injections were placed is normal and typically fades quickly.

Results take time. Some patients begin noticing less shedding and improvements in hair thickness or fullness around four to six months after treatment. The changes are gradual, but that can be the point. One day you may simply realize there’s less hair in the shower, more fullness when you style it and a little less reason to think about your hair every morning.

Because hair loss continues to change over time, Dr. Matthew Lopresti can discuss whether additional PRP with ACell treatments may make sense for you based on your response to treatment and your long-term hair loss goals.

When Will I See Results from PRP with ACell® Therapy?

PRP with ACell works by stimulating and strengthening existing hair follicles, which means results develop gradually. Most patients begin to notice reduced shedding within the first few months. Visible improvements in hair thickness and density typically appear around four to six months after treatment, with continued improvement over time.

For best results, consistency is key. You may be recommended a series of treatments followed by maintenance sessions to help preserve and enhance your outcome long term.

Combining PRP with ACell® Therapy and Other Hair Restoration Treatments

PRP with ACell injection therapy can be used alone or in combination with other hair restoration treatments to optimize results.

When combined with hair transplant surgery, the treatments can play different roles in the same overall plan. Surgery is about restoring hair you’ve lost, while PRP with ACell is focused on supporting the existing hair you still have. Sometimes the best approach isn’t choosing one or the other. It’s looking at the whole picture.

Medical treatments such as Rogaine Foam® or Propecia® may also be part of the plan when appropriate. Hair loss doesn’t follow the same path for everyone, so the answer doesn’t always come in one treatment. The goal is to find the right combination to help protect what you have while addressing what you’ve already lost.

During your consultation, Dr. Matthew Lopresti can evaluate your hair loss and recommend a personalized treatment plan that may include PRP with ACell, medication, hair transplant surgery or a combination of treatments based on your needs and goals.

Schedule Your PRP with ACell® Therapy Consultation

If you’re noticing thinning hair, chances are you’ve already spent enough time wondering how much more you might lose. A consultation with Dr. Matthew Lopresti can help you stop wondering and start understanding what you can do about it. He’ll evaluate your hair loss, discuss whether PRP with ACell may be right for you and explain your options.

You can’t go back and save the hair you’ve already lost. But you can decide what you do with the hair you still have.