Dr. Melissa Toyos is an oculofacial surgeon specializing in FUE (follicular unit extraction) hair and eyebrow transplantation, CO2 facial resurfacing, and sculpting faces with injectables. A summa cum laude graduate and board-certified Ophthalmologist, she is a partner at Toyos Clinic and formerly was a partner at one of the largest eye care practices in the country. Dr. Toyos is a national researcher and lecturer. She trains other doctors on surgical techniques as well as cosmetic procedures. Her clinical research has been instrumental in many FDA approvals. She is the former President of the Missouri Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons. She has held various leadership positions with the AAO. Dr. Toyos has served as a mentor to young female surgeons, helping them understand how to balance a career and motherhood.
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In case you’ve been under a rock since Kim K got her famous Vampire Facial in 2013, PRP or Platelet Rich Plasma is having a moment in the aesthetics world. It’s being used to accelerate healing after laser resurfacing procedures, for boosting collagen during facials, to treat signs of aging and as a fast, effective treatment to jumpstart hair growth.
Kobe Bryant was the OG PRP promoter. He made PRP famous in 2006 when he appeared in Sports Illustrated extolling its virtues after his Achilles tendon repair. When he said that PRP made him heal better and faster than traditional surgical methods, every other elite, A-list athlete began lining up for it: A-Rod, Tiger Woods, and Peyton Manning just to name a few.
PRP is part of a movement known as regenerative medicine: using your body’s own growth factors to heal itself right up there with stem cells and amniotic membranes. PRP is made by extracting about 60 mls (or ccs) of your own blood, spinning it down to concentrate the growth factors that your body naturally makes and then injecting them into the areas that need help. For hair, that means Haute Beauty expert Dr. Melissa Toyos injects the PRP into the scalp to nourish the hair follicle and stimulate growth.
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The procedure is easy and fast and done right in the office. It's recommended to drink a big bottle of water before arriving for your PRP appointment to be sure that you are properly hydrated. Prepping the PRP takes less than 20 minutes, so you can be in and out over your lunch hour. A topical anesthetic can be applied to minimize discomfort and just like at the dentist, taking ibuprofen or two ahead of the appointment can also make things smoother. You can return to normal activities immediately after your PRP session.
Because PRP is made from your own blood, there is minimal risk of infection of reaction to the solution itself. Common side effects of PRP can include mild pain at the injection site, mild scalp tenderness, itching, and temporary bleeding at the injection site.
PRP is injected directly into the areas of concern and goes to work right away. To get started, three once-monthly treatments are needed and then maintenance will follow afterward. Each treatment costs roughly $600. If you are interested in learning more about PRP for your hair loss issues, call Toyos Clinic at 800.901.6638 for a free in-person or online consultation.
