PRP after a hair transplant – aftercare in Graz

Anyone who has had a hair transplant usually leaves the clinic with aftercare recommendations, often including PRP. What is rarely said: this aftercare does not have to happen where the procedure did. It works just as well if the transplant took place in Istanbul, Budapest or anywhere else. This article explains what PRP can support at this stage – and what it cannot.

Why aftercare matters after a transplant

The procedure itself is only the first part. The weeks that follow determine how well the transplanted follicles take, because they first have to reconnect to the blood supply of the scalp.

The transplanted grafts are in a healing phase in which the circulation of the scalp plays a role.
Temporary shedding of transplanted and surrounding hair is well known during this period. It does not mean the transplant has failed, but it worries many people.
The donor area at the back of the head has also been operated on, and is frequently forgotten in aftercare.
Hair that was not transplanted remains subject to hereditary thinning. A transplant does not halt that process.

What PRP does at this stage

PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. A small amount of your own blood is centrifuged to obtain the fraction that is particularly rich in platelets and growth factors. This plasma is introduced into the scalp with fine needles, at the level of the hair roots.

The material comes from your own body. No foreign substance is injected, so allergic reactions to the preparation itself are practically ruled out. The aim is to support regeneration and circulation around the hair roots.

What the evidence shows – and what it does not

A systematic review published in 2025 pooled three controlled studies with 217 patients in total. In those studies, PRP used alongside hair transplantation was associated with better hair density, better follicle survival and an earlier onset of hair growth.

Those figures need honest framing. Plasma preparation and treatment protocols differed considerably between the studies, standardised measurement tools were not used, and the sample sizes are small. The authors therefore conclude that PRP may offer clinical benefit, but that this needs to be confirmed in larger studies with consistent methodology.

In practice this means the signals are promising, while proof in the strict sense is not available. PRP is a supportive measure – not a guarantee, and not a substitute for a properly performed transplant.

When to start

As a rule, about four weeks after the operation. What is decisive, however, is the recommendation of the clinic that performed the transplant: some work to their own schedule, and that takes precedence. Bring the discharge letter or the written aftercare instructions to the consultation so the timing can be agreed properly.

How many sessions

Three sessions about four weeks apart is the usual pattern – the same schedule as for PRP treatment of the skin. Whether and at what intervals to refresh afterwards is decided individually, depending on how things develop.

The donor area is part of it

In aftercare, attention almost always goes to the recipient area, where new hair is meant to grow. The donor area at the back of the head is easily overlooked, even though it was operated on too and the hair remaining there counts towards the overall result. Strengthening that area is, in my view, a sensible part of the treatment and is planned in.

Transplant abroad, aftercare in Graz

A large share of procedures now take place outside Austria, mainly for cost reasons. What regularly falls away is the support afterwards: the clinic is far off, questions go unanswered, and the recommended follow-up treatment never happens.

That follow-up is not tied to where the procedure took place. For PRP aftercare at my practice in Graz-Andritz I need the clinic's documentation and a consultation in which we discuss your healing process and your medical history. To be clear: I do not perform hair transplants – I provide the accompanying and follow-up treatment.

What PRP does not do

It does not replace a hair transplant and cannot create hair where no follicles are present.
It does not halt hereditary hair loss. Drug therapy, where it is an option, belongs in specialist hands and is discussed separately.
It is not suitable for everyone. PRP is not an option with certain blood clotting disorders and blood diseases, acute infections, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, or with some chronic conditions. If you take blood-thinning medication, we discuss the approach individually.

Frequently asked questions

When can I start PRP after a hair transplant?

Usually about four weeks after the procedure. The recommendation of the clinic that carried out the transplant always takes precedence, as some clinics work to their own schedule. Please bring their aftercare instructions to the consultation.

Does the transplant have to have been performed in Austria?

No. Many patients have the procedure abroad and are then left without follow-up care. For PRP aftercare, what matters is that the clinic's documentation is available and that we establish in the consultation where you are in the healing process.

Does PRP improve the survival of the transplanted hair?

The available studies point in that direction, but their strength is limited. PRP is a supportive measure, not a guaranteed factor for success. See the section on the evidence below.

How many sessions are usual?

Typically three sessions about four weeks apart. Whether and when to refresh is decided individually afterwards.

Is hair shedding in the weeks after the operation normal?

Temporary shedding of transplanted and surrounding hair is a known phenomenon after the procedure and does not mean the transplant has failed. If you are unsure, have it assessed medically.

What does PRP for the scalp cost?

€ 250 per session. The preceding medical consultation costs € 70. All prices are listed on the price list.

References

Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma as an Adjunct to Hair Transplantation: A Systematic Review. Cureus 2025, online: https://www.cureus.com/articles/421076-efficacy-of-platelet-rich-plasma-as-an-adjunct-to-hair-transplantation-a-systematic-review, accessed 21 October 2026.

PRP after a hair transplant – what the treatment can support