PRF Hair Restoration in Fountain Valley: Platelet-Rich Fibrin for Thinning Hair

PRF hair restoration in Fountain Valley is $700 per session — your own platelets, injected into the scalp to support hair density in early pattern thinning. Individual results vary.

PRF hair restoration at Bare.co Skin Health and Medical Spa uses platelet-rich fibrin, made from a small sample of your own blood [1]. It sits alongside Sculptra and PRF EZ Gel on our biostimulators and PRF page; this page goes deeper. The research on PRF for hair is early and the studies are small [3]. Individual results vary.

What is platelet-rich fibrin, and how is it different from PRP?

PRP (platelet-rich plasma) and PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) both begin with a small blood draw spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets [1][7]. The difference is what gets added. PRP is prepared with an anticoagulant in the tube; in second-generation concentrates like PRF, "there is no blood manipulation with additives and they remove the anticoagulants from the centrifugation protocol" [1].

Without an anticoagulant the blood forms its own fibrin mesh, which holds platelets and white cells inside it [1]. That mesh is why PRF is described as releasing its contents more slowly: the same review describes an unmanipulated preparation as "favoring the cellular imprisonment and molecules deliverance during 10 days" [1], rather than PRP, whose fibrin mesh the same review says "rapidly dissolves like glue" [1].

Slower release is a plausible advantage, not proof of a better hair result.

Does PRF work for hair loss? The honest evidence picture

PRP has the stronger evidence base. A 2024 meta-analysis in Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia reviewed 14 randomized trials in androgenetic alopecia and, pooling 13 of them, found a mean difference of 27.55 hairs/cm² for PRP over placebo (95% CI 14.04–41.06) [2]. Its authors qualified that: "Highly heterogeneous studies with publication bias suggest PRP effectively increases hair density in AGA, so further high-quality randomized clinical trials are recommended" [2].

PRF's own hair data are much smaller. A 2024 systematic review in Cureus of injectable PRF found only three androgenetic alopecia studies, covering 22 patients between them; in one, "73% of their subjects showed clinically noticeable improvements in hair growth" [3]. Its conclusion is the line that matters most: "further research involving larger sample sizes, control groups, and longer follow-ups is required to validate these findings" [3].

Encouraging, early, not settled — and 22 patients is a small number to spend money against.

Who is PRF hair restoration for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at early to moderate pattern thinning, where follicles are still present but making finer, sparser hair. On male pattern hair loss, the American Academy of Dermatology notes that "Men tend to have better results when they start treatment soon after noticing hair loss" [6].

It is not for scarring alopecia or areas of complete, long-standing loss, where the follicle is destroyed and replaced by scar tissue: "Hair loss due to scarring alopecia can be permanent because your hair can't grow back without healthy hair follicles," and "There isn't a cure for scarring alopecia" [4]. A platelet preparation cannot rebuild a follicle that scar tissue has replaced [4].

As the AAD puts it, "Effective treatment for hair loss begins with finding the cause" [5] — a disease, a vitamin or mineral deficiency such as low iron, a hormone imbalance or an infection can be behind hair loss, and a blood test or scalp biopsy may be needed [5].

How many sessions does it take, and what happens at each visit?

Published protocols cluster around a series, not one visit. In the Cureus review, the one PRF hair study that reported its schedule used four sessions of injectable PRF [3]. For PRP, the AAD describes monthly treatment for the first three months, then a session every three to six months [6].

At each visit, blood is drawn from your arm by syringe, spun in a centrifuge on a set protocol, and the preparation is injected into the scalp [1][5][7]. Topical numbing or ice can be used for comfort, and the visit runs longer than the injections alone.

Each session is $700. How many sessions, how far apart, and when to reassess are set at your consultation and put in writing before we start.

What are the side effects, and who should wait?

Reported effects after PRP injections into the scalp — the closest published safety data — are mostly local and short-lived. One systematic review reported "only mild headache, tolerable and temporary pain during the procedure, mild itching and desquamation, and transient edema" after PRP injection, and that "No major side effects, such as scarring, progressive worsening, or infections, were reported" [8]. Intradermal injection can also cause "a brief period of inflammation at wound sites," and nerve trauma is a potential complication [7]. Expect some short-lived scalp tenderness and swelling [7][8].

DermNet's listed contraindications to PRP, which we apply to PRF as well, include "Critical thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), Hypofibrinogenaemia, Haemodynamic instability (collapse), Sepsis (infection), Acute and chronic infections, Chronic liver disease, Anti-coagulation therapy (warfarin, dabigatran, heparin)" [7]. An active scalp infection or open sore means waiting.

We do not perform any medical aesthetic treatments on pregnant or breastfeeding women. Tell us about any bleeding or platelet disorder, blood thinners, scalp infection, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and every medicine you take. Individual results vary.

Is PRF an FDA-approved hair loss treatment?

No. The American Academy of Dermatology lists minoxidil and finasteride as the medications the FDA has approved to treat male pattern hair loss [5][6]. PRF is an autologous preparation made from your own blood at your appointment [1][3]. PRF is not among the treatments the FDA has approved for hair loss [5][6]; using it for hair restoration is an off-label use.

The AAD reports that "Finasteride has been shown to slow down further hair loss in about 80% to 90% of men taking it" [6]. PRF can sit alongside a medication plan rather than replace it.

PRF and related treatment prices

These are our exact prices, not starting prices. Prices current as of September 2026.

A $100 deposit is collected when you book a consultation and is credited toward your treatment. It is forfeited for a no-show or a late cancellation — cancellations and rebooking need more than 72 hours' notice. Payment plans are available through Cherry. For the rest of the menu, see our Orange County cost guide; Sculptra and SkinPen microneedling have their own pages. Individual results vary.

Who treats you at Bare.co

Christylynn Vu, FNP-BC (a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner through the American Nurses Credentialing Center), who began her career in medical dermatology and serves on the SKMD Medical Team for Allergan Medical Institute, performs all injectable treatments at Bare.co.

Brandyn Dunn, MD, is the practice's Medical Director.

Frequently asked questions

How much is PRF hair restoration in Fountain Valley?

PRF Hair Restoration at Bare.co is $700 per session. Published protocols use a series of sessions rather than one [3][6], so the number is set with you at consultation and the total confirmed in writing first. A $100 deposit is collected when you book a consultation and is credited toward your treatment. It is forfeited for a no-show or a late cancellation — cancellations and rebooking need more than 72 hours' notice.

What is the difference between PRF and PRP for hair?

PRF is prepared without an anticoagulant, so the blood forms its own fibrin mesh and releases its contents over a longer period [1]. PRP has the larger clinical evidence base in hair loss, including a systematic review of 14 randomized trials [2]; the published PRF hair studies are far smaller [3]. We offer PRF.

How many PRF hair sessions will I need?

In the Cureus review, the PRF hair study that reported its schedule used four sessions of injectable PRF [3]. For PRP, the AAD describes monthly sessions for three months, then every three to six months [6]. Your plan is set at consultation and reassessed at three to six months. Individual results vary.

Will PRF regrow hair where I am already bald?

No. Where the follicle has been destroyed and replaced by scar tissue, hair "can't grow back without healthy hair follicles" [4]. PRF is aimed at thinning areas where follicles are still present.

Do you offer new-patient pricing?

Yes. Call or text (714) 276-8998 and ask for this month's new-patient pricing. It changes monthly, so we quote it by phone rather than publishing it.

Sources

1. From Platelet-Rich Plasma to Advanced Platelet-Rich Fibrin: Biological Achievements and Clinical Advances in Modern Surgery. Eur J Dent. 2019;13(2):280–286. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6777161/
2. Is autologous platelet-rich plasma capable of increasing hair density in patients with androgenic alopecia? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. An Bras Dermatol. 2024;99(6):847–862. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11551241/
3. Effectiveness of Injectable Platelet-Rich Fibrin Therapy in Alopecia and Facial Rejuvenation: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2024;16(6):e62198. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11247247/
4. Cleveland Clinic — Scarring (Cicatricial) Alopecia. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24582-scarring-alopecia
5. American Academy of Dermatology — Hair loss: Diagnosis and treatment. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/treatment/diagnosis-treat
6. American Academy of Dermatology — What is male pattern hair loss, and can it be treated? https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/treatment/male-pattern-hair-loss-treatment
7. DermNet — Platelet-rich plasma: dermatological applications. https://dermnetnz.org/topics/platelet-rich-plasma-dermatological-applications
8. Systematic Review of Platelet-Rich Plasma Use in Androgenetic Alopecia Compared with Minoxidil®, Finasteride®, and Adult Stem Cell-Based Therapy. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(8):2702. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7216252/

Book your PRF hair restoration consultation

Bare.co serves Fountain Valley and the surrounding Orange County communities of Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Westminster, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Irvine, and Newport Beach.

• Book online: https://booking.mangomint.com/400558
• Call or text: (714) 276-8998
• Email: hello@bareco.skin
• Visit: 17220 Newhope Street, Suite 113, Fountain Valley, CA 92708
• Appointment hours: Usually Monday–Friday 9am–5pm; some Saturdays and Sundays by availability. Visits are by appointment only

More questions are answered on our FAQ page, and our skin treatment menu covers everything else we offer.

Consultations are available. Individual results vary.