Platelet-based treatments have become a well-established part of modern hair restoration, offering a way to support thinning hair using the body’s own regenerative properties. At the Quatela Center for Hair Restoration, we now also offer PRFM, or platelet-rich fibrin matrix, alongside our long-standing PRP program. Here’s what PRFM is, how it works, and why it represents a meaningful advancement in platelet-based hair treatment.
What Is PRP?
Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, has been a cornerstone of nonsurgical hair restoration for years. The process is straightforward: a small sample of a patient’s own blood is drawn, the platelets are isolated and concentrated, and the resulting solution is injected into thinning areas of the scalp. Those platelets carry growth factors known to support follicle health, and PRP has helped slow hair loss and improve hair quality for many patients. PRP is also commonly used alongside both FUT and FUE hair transplant surgery, where it supports healing and helps protect surrounding follicles during recovery.
What Is PRFM, and How Is It Different?
PRFM begins the same way PRP does, with a small blood sample and the isolation of platelets. The distinction is an additional step: the platelet concentration is processed into a fibrin matrix, a structured scaffold designed to hold platelets in place at the treatment site rather than allowing them to disperse quickly. In practical terms, this means platelets remain active near the hair follicles for a longer period, supporting a more gradual, sustained release of growth factors rather than a quicker release all at once. PRFM is best understood as an evolution of PRP, built on the same biological principles with a refinement aimed at extending the treatment’s effect at the site of injection.
Why We Now Offer PRFM
As platelet-based science has advanced, the fibrin matrix step has emerged as a way to better support and preserve platelets after preparation. For hair restoration specifically, that translates to platelets staying near the follicles longer and growth factors releasing more gradually, which may create a more sustained regenerative environment for thinning areas of the scalp. This is consistent with research showing that platelet concentration and the structure surrounding it both play a role in how effectively growth factors support tissue healing and regeneration.
What This Means for Patients
PRP remains an effective, well-supported treatment, and it continues to be available for patients who prefer it. PRFM is not a replacement created to address a shortcoming in PRP. It’s an additional option grounded in the same science, offering a different mechanism of action that may benefit certain patients and treatment goals. As with any hair restoration treatment, candidacy depends on the extent and pattern of hair loss, and results vary by patient. A consultation with one of our physicians is the best way to determine which approach, or combination of approaches, fits your goals.
Learn More About Platelet-Rich Therapies
To find out whether PRP, PRFM, or a combination of treatments is right for you, request a consultation online or call the Quatela Center for Hair Restoration at 585.244.0323.
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