Hair loss treatment starts with finding out why your hair is thinning. At our New Braunfels and Spring Branch clinics, we offer two in-office options. HydraFacial Keravive is a scalp treatment that cleans, exfoliates, and hydrates the scalp, usually as three visits a month apart. Hair restoration with microneedling and PRP uses growth factors from your own blood to support thicker hair over several months.
Keravive is a good fit when your main concern is scalp health or hair that looks thin and dull. For pattern hair loss, PRP has more research behind it. Both start with a consult, where one of our medical providers looks at your scalp and your health history and helps you choose.
What causes thinning hair?
The most common cause in both men and women is hereditary hair loss, also called pattern hair loss. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, women usually notice overall thinning or a widening part first. Men more often notice a receding hairline or a bald spot on top of the head.
Other causes include:
- Shedding a few months after childbirth, a major illness, surgery, or losing 20 pounds or more. Hair often grows back on its own after these.
- Hormone changes, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or stopping some birth control pills.
- Side effects of some medicines. If you suspect a medicine, ask the doctor who prescribed it before you stop taking it.
- Tight hairstyles that pull on the scalp over time, called traction alopecia.
- Alopecia areata, an immune condition that causes patchy loss.
- Scalp conditions such as psoriasis or a fungal infection.
Because the cause changes the treatment, we ask how long you have noticed thinning, whether it came on quickly, and what has changed in your health in the past year.
Signs you should see a dermatologist first
Some hair loss needs a medical diagnosis before any cosmetic treatment. See a board-certified dermatologist if a bald patch appeared within a day or two or your hair is coming out in clumps. The same goes for burning, itching, or tenderness where hair is falling out, and for scaly patches with sores or pus. Patchy loss in the center of the scalp also needs a prompt exam, because some types of hair loss scar the follicle and become permanent. A dermatologist may order blood work or a small scalp biopsy to find the cause.
What is HydraFacial Keravive?
HydraFacial Keravive is a scalp treatment made by HydraFacial, the company behind the HydraFacial facial. It uses the same suction-based device on the scalp instead of the face. No needles are involved.
The treatment has three steps. First, light suction and exfoliation remove oil, product buildup, and dead skin cells from the scalp and around the hair follicles. Next, the provider applies the Keravive Peptide Complex, a solution of peptides and growth factors, along with hydrating ingredients such as niacinamide, vitamin B5, and arginine. Last, you go home with a 30-day supply of Keravive peptide spray to use on your scalp every day between visits.
A Keravive session takes about 60 minutes. If you are curious how the same device works on the face, our post on HydraFacial vs. a regular facial covers it.
What the Keravive studies found
HydraFacial ran the clinical studies on Keravive, so the results come from the company that makes it. In a study of 44 adults who had a series of three treatments over 20 weeks with daily use of the spray, 75 percent saw improved hair fullness and 82 percent said their hair looked healthier and shinier. Men and women in the study also reported a smoother scalp with less itching, and the investigators measured less hair thinning.
Keravive is designed to improve the health of the scalp. It is not designed to reverse pattern hair loss. If your thinning is hereditary, Keravive may help your hair look and feel fuller, and we will also talk with you about PRP.
Who Keravive suits
Keravive is made for all hair types, including braids, extensions, locs, and color-treated hair. People usually ask about it for a dry, flaky, or itchy scalp from buildup, hair that has started to look thinner or duller, or as an add-on to another hair loss treatment. There is no downtime, so you can go back to your day right after.
How many Keravive treatments will I need?
Most people get a series of three treatments, about one month apart, and use the take-home spray every day in between. You may notice that your scalp feels cleaner and less dry after the first visit. Changes in how full your hair looks take longer and build across the series.
After the series, maintenance visits every few months help keep the results. We set your schedule at the consult. You can read more on our HydraFacial Keravive treatment page.
What is PRP hair restoration?
PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. We draw a small amount of your blood and spin it in a machine to separate the platelets, which carry growth factors. Our hair restoration treatment pairs PRP or a PDGF-rich growth factor serum with microneedling.
At the visit, we clean and numb your scalp. The provider then uses a microneedling device to make tiny channels in the skin and applies the PRP or serum so it can soak in. A session takes about 45 to 60 minutes. Most people feel pressure or tingling rather than pain.
Results come slowly because hair grows slowly. Many people notice less shedding within the first few months. Visible improvement often starts around 12 weeks, with fuller results at four to six months. Most plans start with a series of sessions spaced four to six weeks apart, followed by maintenance visits every three to six months. PRP does not permanently stop hair loss, so the maintenance visits are part of the plan.
PRP is not FDA-approved for hair growth. The research behind it is strongest for pattern hair loss. The same PRP approach is behind our Vampire Facial, which uses microneedling and PRP on the face.
Side effects and who should wait
Common side effects of scalp PRP are soreness, swelling, redness, minor bleeding, and feeling lightheaded around the blood draw. These usually go away within a day. Your provider will give you aftercare instructions before you leave.
Tell us if you take blood thinners, have a bleeding or platelet disorder, or have an infection, rash, or open sore on your scalp. If your scalp is irritated, we wait until it heals.
Should I choose Keravive or PRP?
Keravive is the gentler option. There are no needles, no blood draw, and no downtime. It suits people who want a healthier scalp and fuller-looking hair, and people who are not ready for needles.
PRP involves numbing, microneedling, and a blood draw. It is aimed at pattern hair loss, and the results take three to six months to show. It suits people whose part is widening, whose hairline is receding, or whose crown is thinning.
Some patients use both. HydraFacial notes that a provider may recommend Keravive alongside other hair restoration treatments. If that makes sense for you, your provider will tell you how to space the two. Hair restoration can also be combined with a home treatment such as topical minoxidil. Ask us how it fits with your plan.
Can hormones or supplements help?
Hormone changes can cause thinning hair. If your hair loss came with other changes, such as irregular periods or a recent change in birth control, tell us at your consult. Blood work can check for problems such as a thyroid condition or low iron, which can also affect hair. Our hormone replacement therapy team can review your symptoms, and our hormone therapy guide explains how that care works at our clinics.
Our online shop carries Nutrafol hair supplements for men and women. Ask us before you start one, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, starting a new medicine, or managing a health condition.
What does hair loss treatment cost?
The cost depends on which treatment you choose and how many sessions your plan includes. We give you an estimate at your consult before you start.
If you want to spread out the cost of a series, we offer payment plans through Affirm and Cherry. You can read about both on our pricing page.
Common questions about hair loss treatment
Does HydraFacial Keravive hurt?
No. Keravive uses light suction and a peptide solution on the scalp, with no needles. Most people find it relaxing.
Is there downtime after Keravive?
No. You can go back to work or your normal routine right after the treatment.
Can Keravive regrow hair?
No. Keravive is made to improve scalp health, not to regrow hair lost to pattern hair loss. In HydraFacial's studies, people reported less thinning and hair that looked and felt fuller after a series. If your hair loss is hereditary, ask us about PRP as well.
Does PRP hair restoration hurt?
We numb your scalp before microneedling, so most people feel pressure or tingling. The scalp can be sore or red for about a day afterward.
When will I see results from PRP?
Many people shed less within the first few months. Visible improvement often starts around 12 weeks, and fuller results show at four to six months.
Is hair loss treatment for men and women?
Yes. Hereditary hair loss affects both men and women, and the Keravive studies included both. The pattern often differs, so your provider looks at where you are thinning before recommending a plan.
Do I need to keep getting treatments?
Usually, yes. Keravive and PRP both work best with maintenance visits every few months after the first series. Your provider will suggest a schedule based on how your hair responds.
Book a hair loss consult in New Braunfels or Spring Branch
If you live in New Braunfels, Spring Branch, Bulverde, or nearby and your hair is thinner than it used to be, start with a consult. We will look at your scalp, go over your health history, and tell you whether Keravive, PRP, or a medical workup makes the most sense. You can book online or call (830) 608-9989.
This article is for education only. Individual results vary. Your provider will review your health history before recommending any treatment.