Treatment promises to grow thicker hair using your own blood

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. (WPVI) -- A treatment some athletes have used for chronic injuries is getting a close look for combating thin hair.

Some doctors are using platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, to help regrow and thicken hair for both men and women.

The PRP is made by spinning a person's own blood in a centrifuge.

Then the plasma is injected into the scalp.

Dermatologist Dr. Jeffrey Rapaport said it stimulates hair regrowth.

"Platelets have growth factors in them and, they're very, very good at getting hair to regrow and getting the hair follicles to thicken," he says.

It takes several treatments for results, and there are very few scientific studies to show whether PRP works.

Not everyone gets a thick head of hair, nor is there any word on how long it lasts.

There's no FDA approval either - in fact, the agency said its doesn't approve the process, only the plasma separating machines.

But some users said thanks to PRP, they've gotten their hair and confidence back.