Guides · Aftercare · 5 min read
Booked your first PRP or GFC hair session? Read this the night before
By the Perfect 5 Clinic team · Updated July 2026
PRP and GFC sound intimidating on paper — your own blood, drawn, spun and injected into the scalp. In practice, the session is forty-five minutes, the discomfort is a series of small pinches, and the most common patient comment afterwards is “that’s it?”. Preparation, though, genuinely changes both comfort and results.
The 24 hours before
Night-before checklist
- 1Wash your hair — no oil, gel, serum or spray on the scalp for the session.
- 2Drink water like it’s your job: hydrated blood separates better, which means richer plasma.
- 3Eat a proper meal 2–3 hours before — blood draws on an empty stomach invite dizziness.
- 4Skip alcohol tonight and skip aspirin/ibuprofen-type painkillers (they thin blood and worsen bruising) — check with your doctor about your regular medicines.
- 5Wear a shirt or zip-up — nothing you pull over your head after the session.
What the session actually feels like
A standard blood draw from your arm, a ten-minute wait while the centrifuge does its work, then a series of quick injections across the thinning zones. Most clinics — ours included — use fine needles and can numb the scalp first. You drive yourself home. Mild soreness that evening is normal; wash your hair the next day, gently.
The honest timeline
- 2–4 wks
- shedding slows first
- 2–3 mo
- baby hairs appear
- 4–6
- sessions in a full course
Nothing visible happens in week one — and that’s normal. Photograph your hairline in the same light every two weeks; the change sneaks up on you around month three. And be wary of anyone promising a Bollywood hairline from PRP alone: it strengthens and revives what you have, and works best early in the hair-loss story. A proper hair-and-scalp consultation will tell you honestly whether you’re a good candidate — that conversation is free at all twelve of our clinics.
Quick answers
Does PRP hair treatment hurt?
Most patients rate it a mild pinching — the scalp can be numbed first, and fine needles are used. The blood draw feels like any routine test; the whole visit is about 45 minutes.
When will I see results from PRP or GFC?
Shedding typically slows within 2–4 weeks, and new baby hairs appear around months two to three. Photograph your hairline fortnightly in the same light — the change is gradual, then obvious.
Who is a good candidate for PRP?
PRP works best in early to moderate hair thinning, where follicles are weakened but alive. Advanced baldness responds poorly — an honest hair-and-scalp consultation will tell you which side you're on.
This guide is general information, not medical advice; individual results and suitability vary. For advice about your own skin or hair, book a consultation at any Perfect 5 Clinic.