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Answer · Hair Restoration

Does PRP for hair hurt?

Short answer

It is usually more uncomfortable than painful. The scalp is numbed first, the needles are very fine, and most of what you feel is pressure and brief stings as the plasma goes in. Temporary pain at the injection sites is the side effect PRP studies report most often. Tenderness, tightness and mild swelling usually settle within a day or two.

By the Ultimate Male team · Updated October 8, 2026

Older man touching his hairline

What does a PRP hair session feel like?

Most of a PRP visit does not hurt at all. The parts you feel are the blood draw, which is a quick pinch like any lab test, and the scalp injections, which feel like pressure with small stings as each one goes in.

Here is what the sensations are like from start to finish:

  1. Blood draw. A brief pinch in the arm.
  2. Waiting while the sample spins. Nothing to feel.
  3. Numbing. A cool or tingling feeling as it starts to work.
  4. Injections. Pressure and short stings, spaced across the thinning areas. The American Academy of Dermatology says this part takes about 10 minutes.
  5. Afterward. A tight, tender or warm scalp.

In the research, discomfort is the main complaint. A 2019 review of PRP for pattern hair loss found that temporary pain at the injection site was the most common side effect across the studies it examined, and no major adverse effects were reported.

How is the scalp numbed?

At Ultimate Male, a numbing solution is applied to the treatment areas before any injections, and the provider gives it time to take effect. The fine needles used for scalp PRP also help keep each injection small.

The clinic has not published a single fixed numbing protocol, and the right approach for you depends on a few things:

  • How large an area is being treated, since more injection points mean more time for numbing to matter
  • How you have handled needles and blood draws in the past
  • Any allergy or bad reaction to numbing products
  • Whether you have had PRP before and how it felt

If needle anxiety is the real worry, say so when you book and ask what can be adjusted, such as lying back for the blood draw or allowing more time for the numbing to work.

Does the injection technique change how much it hurts?

It can. The 2019 review recommended placing PRP in small pools just under the skin, called subdermal depot injections, partly because the authors found this less painful and more efficient than many tiny injections. Spreading the plasma this way means fewer needle sticks overall.

The same review describes injections spaced through the thinning zones, which for most men means the hairline, the part, and the top and crown of the scalp. A man treating only the crown will have fewer injections than one treating the whole top of the head. Our PRP hair session guide walks through the visit in order, and how PRP is prepared explains the spin step.

How sore will you be afterward?

Expect mild redness or tenderness that typically fades within a day or two, and possibly a little swelling that clears within several days. Some men notice a tight feeling or a dull ache across the treated area that evening.

Pain relief needs a little thought, because the active ingredient in PRP is your platelets. A 2024 review on anti-inflammatory drugs and PRP found ibuprofen and diclofenac inhibit platelet clumping for about 6 to 12 hours depending on dose, naproxen for at least 24 hours, while acetaminophen did not appear to require a pause. Ask your provider which option fits your plan before you reach for the medicine cabinet. The PRP hair aftercare guide covers washing, exercise and other day-after questions.

Soreness should ease each day, not build. Call the clinic if swelling spreads toward your forehead or eyes and keeps growing after the second day, if one spot becomes hot, throbbing or starts to drain pus, or if you develop a fever.

Call 911 for trouble breathing, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, chest pain, or fainting that does not pass when you lie down. These are rare after PRP but need emergency care, not a scheduled visit.

How Ultimate Male keeps PRP comfortable

At our San Gabriel and Downey clinics, your first hair restoration visit starts with a review of your hair loss pattern, medicines and any history of fainting or numbing reactions. The provider explains the numbing step and what you will feel before anything begins, and you can pause at any point.

Because comfort is only one part of the decision, the consultation also covers whether PRP is likely to help you and how many visits a plan would take. Our answer on how many PRP sessions you need explains the usual first series. You get a quote before you book, and the consultation is an evaluation, not a commitment to treatment.

questions

Related questions.

Does PRP for hair hurt?

Still unsure? Take the free assessment

Can I take a painkiller before PRP?
Ask the clinic first. Ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin affect platelets, which are the active part of PRP, while acetaminophen does not appear to need a pause. Do not stop aspirin or any heart medicine without talking to the clinician who manages it.
Will I be able to go back to work the same day?
Most men do. There is no required downtime, though your scalp may look a little red and feel tender for the rest of the day.
Does it hurt more the second time?
There is no particular reason it should. Tell the provider how the first session felt, especially if one area was more sensitive, so the comfort plan can be adjusted for the next visit.

Sources

  1. Platelet-rich plasma for androgenetic alopecia: A review of the literature and proposed treatment protocol (2019) · International Journal of Women's Dermatology, via PubMed Central
  2. What is male pattern hair loss, and can it be treated? · American Academy of Dermatology
  3. A Review of Platelet-Rich Plasma Use in Patients Taking Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs for Guideline Development (2024) · Cureus, via PubMed Central

This page is general education, not medical advice. A licensed clinician must review your symptoms, history and labs before any treatment decision. For chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of stroke or an erection lasting over four hours, call 911.

Keep reading

Answer Is PRP for hair loss FDA approved? No. The FDA clears the centrifuge systems used to make PRP through its 510(k) device pathway, and nearly all are cleared for mixing with bone graft material in orthopedic surgery. Answer Can you use PRP and finasteride together? Yes, and many men do. Finasteride lowers DHT, the hormone that shrinks follicles, while PRP delivers growth factors to the follicles that remain. Answer Does PRP work on a receding hairline? Partly. PRP can thicken a hairline that is thinning but still producing fine hairs, because it works by strengthening follicles that are already there. Medication guide Finasteride for Hair Loss: How It Works and Side Effects Finasteride 1 mg (Propecia) blocks the enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT, the hormone that shrinks hair follicles in male pattern hair loss, and it is FDA-approved to slow loss at the crown and mid-scalp. Medication guide Oral Minoxidil for Hair Loss: Low-Dose Off-Label Use Oral minoxidil is FDA-approved only as a tablet for severe high blood pressure. Medication guide Topical Minoxidil for Men: Foam, Solution and Shedding Topical minoxidil is an over-the-counter, FDA-approved treatment for male pattern hair loss at the crown, sold for men as a 5% foam or solution.

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