Both men and women suffering from thinning hair or alopecia can benefit from platelet rich plasma therapy. Ideal candidates are those with male pattern baldness, patients whose hair loss began within the past few years, and women with hair loss caused by hormonal changes or chemotherapy treatments. It can also lead to improvement in patients with conditions such as lichen planopilaris and frontal fibrosing alopecia. The growth factors in platelet rich plasma encourage dormant follicles to start growing hair again. A topical anesthetic is applied to the scalp before the injections are administered-- a process that lasts an average of 45 minutes. Most patients will benefit from at least four PRP hair restoration sessions, spaced one month apart. After the initial four sessions, maintenance treatments every 6 months is recommended.