Hair Treatments: PRP, Exosomes, and Mesotherapy Explained by Our Doctors

Three Treatments, Three Mechanisms, Three Different Patients

PRP, exosomes, and hair mesotherapy share something fundamental: they are injected into the scalp to combat hair loss and improve hair quality. Beyond that, they are profoundly different treatments. They have different mechanisms of action, different indications, different patient profiles, and very different prices.

At Santé Clinics, we do not treat hair loss with a single product. Modern trichology works with a tiered arsenal that the doctor adapts to the diagnosis, the pattern of loss, and the patient's goal. In this article, we explain, without marketing, what each one does and how we decide which to use.

Before Treatment: The Trichological Diagnosis

No serious hair treatment begins with a syringe. It begins with a diagnosis. In the hair consultation, we evaluate:

• Pattern of loss (frontal, vertex, diffuse, patchy).
• Digital trichoscopy — observation of the scalp at 20–60x magnification to assess density, miniaturization, and follicular status.
• Medical history — family history, hormonal, nutritional, stress, medication.
• Blood tests when we suspect iron deficiency, vitamin D, thyroid or hormonal alteration.
• Classification of the type of alopecia: androgenic, areata, diffuse, postpartum, telogen…

Without a diagnosis, any treatment is noise. With a diagnosis, we know exactly which tool to use.

Hair Mesotherapy: The Nutritional Foundation

Hair mesotherapy consists of intradermal microinjections into the scalp of a personalized cocktail. The formula may include:

• B vitamins, biotin, pantothenic acid.
• Sulfur amino acids (cysteine, methionine) keratin precursors.
• Minerals and trace elements.
• Growth factors and peptides.
• In selected cases, intradermal dutasteride or minoxidil to add antiandrogenic or vasodilatory action.

Mechanism: directly provides the follicle with the nutrients it needs to produce a thicker, stronger shaft. Improves local microcirculation. It does not regenerate lost follicles but strengthens existing ones.

Indication: mild or moderate hair loss, fragile hair, preventive phase, postpartum, after diets or stress.

Protocol at Santé:

• Pack of 5 Vitamin sessions + 1 complimentary session: €650.
• Pack of 5 Vitamin sessions + Dutasteride/Minoxidil + 1 complimentary session: €900.

Results: first changes from the 3rd session. Consolidated improvement at 4–6 months. Regular maintenance is recommended.

Hair PRP: Regeneration with Your Own Biology

PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) involves drawing a small blood sample from the patient, centrifuging it to concentrate the platelets, and reinjecting this plasma into the scalp. Platelets release growth factors (PDGF, VEGF, IGF-1, TGF-β) that stimulate follicular activity.

Mechanism:

• Extends the anagen phase (growth) of the hair cycle.
• Stimulates the proliferation of dermal papilla cells.
• Improves vascularization of the bulb.
• Reduces follicular miniaturization typical of androgenic alopecia.

Indication: mild or moderate androgenic alopecia, telogen effluvium, post-hair transplant reinforcement, patients who prefer autologous treatments without external products.

Protocol at Santé:

• Pack of 5 PRP sessions + 1 complimentary session: €1,250.

Results: visible improvement from the 3rd–4th session, peaking at 6 months. Maintenance every 6–12 months depending on evolution.

Hair Exosomes: The New Frontier

Exosomes are nanometer-sized extracellular vesicles that cells naturally release to communicate with each other. Preparations for medical use are obtained from stem cell cultures and contain an extraordinarily rich cargo of bioactive messengers: growth factors, cytokines, matrix proteins, microRNAs.

Mechanism: exosomes send regenerative signals to the follicular microenvironment without the need for living cells. Result: increased proliferation of dermal papilla cells, prolongation of the anagen phase, reduction of perifollicular inflammation.

Indication: patients who have had mesotherapy and/or PRP with partial response; more established androgenic alopecia; intensive reinforcement in short periods; complement to hair transplantation.

Clinical Positioning: exosomes are currently the most advanced trichological regeneration tool, with a higher concentration of messengers and often faster responses than PRP.

Results: improvements often visible from the 2nd session.

How We Decide Which Is Right for You

Patient Profile	First-Line Treatment
Mild hair loss, prevention, postpartum	Hair mesotherapy
Mild-moderate androgenic alopecia	PRP, mesotherapy with dutasteride/minoxidil
Partial response to previous treatments	Exosomes
Post-transplant reinforcement	PRP or exosomes
Inflamed scalp, dermatitis	Basic treatment + mesotherapy

In practice, the three treatments are often combined in personalized protocols. For example, a patient with androgenic alopecia might start with a dutasteride mesotherapy pack, supplement it with PRP after 3 months, and consider exosomes when a more intense regenerative boost is desired.

What No Treatment Replaces

For any hair protocol to work, it is advisable to simultaneously address:

• Oral treatment (finasteride, dutasteride, oral minoxidil, supplementation) when indicated and under medical prescription.
• Topical treatment (topical minoxidil, specific shampoos, lotions).
• Lifestyle — sleep, stress management, diet rich in protein, iron, and zinc.
• Treating the cause — anemia, vitamin D deficiency, hypothyroidism, androgen overload.

Injectable medicine reinforces, but does not replace, underlying medical treatment.

What a Session Is Like, Step by Step

1. Medical assessment and trichoscopy.
2. Scalp cleansing and application of topical anesthetic if the patient prefers (most do not need it).
3. Intradermal microinjections distributed according to the pattern of loss — between 30 and 60 points per session, depending on the protocol.
4. Finishing with a soothing lotion. No downtime.

Duration: 30–45 minutes. You can wash your hair after 24 hours and return to your routine immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which one hurts more? All three have similar sensations: intradermal microinjections. The application of ice and the technique greatly reduce discomfort.

How long does it take to see results? Mesotherapy and PRP: 3–4 sessions to start noticing changes. Exosomes: response is often seen sooner.

Do they always need to be combined? No. For mild hair loss, mesotherapy alone may be sufficient. The combination is decided based on diagnosis.

Are they compatible with oral finasteride or minoxidil? Yes, absolutely. In fact, the combination usually yields the best results.

Do I lose more hair at the beginning? Sometimes there is a transient shedding: hairs that were in the telogen phase detach as new ones push through. This is a good sign and lasts only a few weeks.

Book Your Hair Consultation at Santé Clinics

Before choosing a treatment, what you need is an accurate diagnosis. Our medical team, specialized in trichology, offers you a free hair assessment with digital trichoscopy at Avenida Diagonal 384, Barcelona.

Write to us via WhatsApp at +34 699 14 58 87 and we will find you an appointment this week.