12 Months of PRP: A Realistic Plan, What the Evidence Says and When to Review

Want a doctor to build a realistic plan for you? Message us on WhatsApp, book a consultation or call 020 3951 3429.

Before month 1: diagnosis and a baseline

- A doctor should confirm the cause first. PRP is only worth considering once you know what you are treating.

- Take dated baseline photos in the same light, and write down your goal.

- Ask what the evidence is for your specific condition, and what the free NHS route would be.

Months 1 to 3: the treatment phase

PRP is made from a small sample of your own blood. Courses are typically planned as several sessions, which is why our prices are set per session: hair and facial PRP £450, joint PRP £750. Hair PRP is also available as a course of 3 for £1,215. Mild redness, tenderness or swelling at the injection site can occur, and your doctor should explain what to expect and when to call.

Months 4 to 6: the first honest review

For hair, NICE CKS advises assessing response to pattern hair loss treatment at 4 to 6 months (NICE CKS). That is a sensible checkpoint for any hair plan: compare photos, not memory. For skin, the meta-analysis of 9 trials in skin ageing (358 patients) found PRP improved satisfaction (risk ratio 1.34) and objective assessment (risk ratio 1.42), with adverse reactions not significantly different. The authors note inconsistency between studies.

Book a review point before you commit to more sessions. Message us on WhatsApp, book a consultation or call 020 3951 3429.

Months 7 to 12: maintain, adjust or stop

If something is working, ask what maintenance looks like. NICE CKS notes that benefit from pattern hair loss drug treatment is lost within 3 to 12 months of stopping, so any plan needs a long-term view. For tendons, NICE says evidence on efficacy remains inadequate (NICE HTG299), and for knee osteoarthritis that efficacy evidence is limited in quality (NICE HTG497). In both cases NICE found no major safety concerns. If you are not seeing benefit by your agreed review point, a good clinic will say so and stop.

Red flags in any PRP plan

- Promises of guaranteed results or a fixed number of sessions before you are assessed.

- No diagnosis, no baseline photos, no review point.

- Pressure to prepay for a large course.

- Patient stories or statistics with no named source.

- No mention of free NHS options.

How to start

A consultation with one of our doctors is £59 by phone (15 minutes), £150 by video or £220 in person at Unit 4, 10 Portman Square, London W1H 6AZ. We will assess you, explain the free NHS routes and agree a plan with clear review points.

Frequently asked questions

How many PRP sessions will I need?

It depends on the condition and your response. A doctor should agree review points rather than promise a number in advance.

When will I know if it is working?

For hair, NICE CKS suggests assessing response at 4 to 6 months of treatment.

Is PRP proven?

NICE found no major safety concerns for PRP in knee osteoarthritis and autologous blood injection in tendinopathy, but describes the evidence on efficacy as limited or inadequate.

Ready to talk to a doctor? Message us on WhatsApp, book a consultation or call 020 3951 3429.

Written by The Wellness Team and medically reviewed by The Wellness Clinical Team. This article is for information only and does not replace a consultation with a doctor.