Hair and scalp treatments
GFC for hair at Chamak Clinic, Chennai
Doctor-led growth factor treatment for thinning hair, planned after the cause is found.
Price after your skin assessment: the doctor tells you the cost for your area and number of sessions before anything is done.
GFC Hair Treatment at a glance
- Sessions
- Usually 3 to 4, a month apart
- Session time
- About 1 hour
- Downtime
- Scalp tenderness or mild redness for a day
- Results last
- Needs maintenance sessions and prescribed treatment
- Starting price
- After consultation
- What is it?
- Growth factor concentrate (GFC) is made from your own blood. The growth factors are separated from the platelets and injected into thinning areas of the scalp.
- How many sessions?
- Usually 3 to 4, about a month apart, then maintenance if the doctor advises it.
- How long does it last?
- It supports the hair roots for a while but does not remove the cause of hair loss. Many people need maintenance sessions and prescribed treatment.
- Is it safe?
- It uses your own blood, so allergic reactions are rare. The doctor checks your health and medicines first, and some conditions mean it should be avoided.
What is GFC Hair Treatment?
GFC is a close relative of PRP. Blood is drawn and processed in a special tube, and the preparation is meant to carry the growth factors from the platelets in a form that is injected with little else from the blood. Growth factors are natural signals that help tissue repair.
It is used for the same reasons as PRP: pattern hair loss and early thinning at the crown or parting. The doctor tells you whether PRP or GFC suits you better.
As with every hair treatment at Chamak Clinic, the cause of hair fall is looked for first, with a scalp examination and blood tests for iron and ferritin, thyroid, vitamin D and hormones where relevant. GFC works alongside prescribed treatment, not instead of it.
Used for
What it can help with
- Your own blood
Made from your sample, with nothing foreign added.
- Comfortable
Many people find it gentler than PRP.
- Short course
Usually 3 to 4 sessions.
- Works with medicines
Added to prescribed treatment, not a replacement for it.
- Cause found first
Blood tests and a scalp check come before any procedure.
How does it work?
- Blood draw
A small sample of blood is taken from your arm.
- Processing
The blood is processed in a GFC tube, which separates the growth factors from the platelets and other cells.
- Injection
The concentrate is injected into the scalp in small amounts, after numbing.
- Signals
The growth factors are thought to support the hair roots and the tissue around them.
- Course
Sessions are spaced a month apart, because hair responds slowly.
What happens during a session?
- Assessment
The doctor examines the scalp, reviews your blood test results and decides between PRP and GFC.
- Blood draw
A small blood sample is taken and processed in the GFC tube.
- Numbing
The scalp is cleaned and numbed with cream or small local injections.
- Injections
The concentrate is injected across the thinning areas. This takes around 15 to 30 minutes.
- Finishing
You can return to your day. The doctor tells you when to wash your hair and what to continue at home.
Who is a good candidate?
- Male or female pattern hair loss in the early or middle stages
- Thinning at the crown, temples or parting where hair roots are alive
- People who found injections for PRP uncomfortable and want to compare
- People using prescribed treatment who want to add to it
- Hair fall that has been investigated and the cause treated
Is GFC for hair safe for Indian skin?
GFC is made from your own blood and injected into the scalp, so there is no light or heat on the skin and skin colour does not limit it. The doctor first treats dandruff, scalp inflammation or infection if present, because these add to hair fall. Mild redness or tenderness settles on its own.
Who should delay or avoid it?
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Blood or platelet disorders, or low haemoglobin
- Blood thinners or a bleeding disorder (tell the doctor)
- An active infection, cold sore or open wound on the area
- Cancer under treatment, or a serious ongoing illness (ask your doctor first)
- Smooth, shiny bald areas where hair roots have been lost for many years
The doctor checks your medicines and health before any procedure and may advise waiting or a different treatment.
GFC vs PRP for hair
| GFC | PRP | |
|---|---|---|
| Made from | Your blood, processed to concentrate growth factors | Your blood, spun to concentrate platelets |
| Usual sessions | 3 to 4, monthly | 3 to 6, monthly |
| Comfort | Often more comfortable to inject | Mild to moderate |
| Evidence | Less studied | More studied, with mixed results |
| Used for | Pattern hair loss and thinning | Pattern hair loss and thinning |
Side effects and risks
Common and short-lived
- Tenderness or a tight feeling in the scalp for a day
- Mild redness, swelling or small bruises at the injection points
- A mild headache for a few hours
Uncommon
- Infection at an injection point
- Lumps where the concentrate collects
- A temporary increase in shedding at first
- Dizziness at the blood draw
Call the clinic on +91 90434 09465 if anything worries you after a session.
Results: what to expect
Hair changes are judged over months. Some people notice less shedding and thicker-looking hair after a few sessions; others notice little. How much it helps depends on the cause of the hair loss, how early it is treated and whether you also use the treatment the doctor prescribes. The doctor reviews progress at each visit and does not continue a course that is not helping.
Does it hurt?
A numbing cream or local injections are used, and most people find GFC injections comfortable. You feel small pricks and pressure. The scalp may feel tender for a day.
GFC Hair Treatment cost in Chennai
The cost depends on your skin and your plan. What decides it:
- The area treated.
- The number of sessions in your plan.
- Whether GFC is combined with other treatment.
- Blood tests and maintenance sessions later.
At Chamak Clinic, Kandigai
Price after consultation
Depends on the area and the plan
- Consultation ₹500, paid at the clinic
- Your full price and number of sessions are told to you before treatment
- Treatments are billed at the clinic
Who does it
Dr Rohini K
How to prepare
- Have the blood tests the doctor asks for before you start.
- Eat a normal meal and drink water before you come.
- Wash your hair the day before, without oil or styling products.
- Check with the doctor before stopping or starting any painkillers or blood thinners.
- Tell the doctor about any new medicines.
Aftercare
- Do not wash your hair for 12 hours.
- Avoid hair colour, heat styling and tight hairstyles for 24 hours.
- No swimming, saunas or heavy exercise for the rest of the day.
- Continue the hair treatment the doctor prescribed.
- Come for your next session on schedule.
Home care: Hair & scalp on Chamak
GFC Hair Treatment: questions
PRP or GFC: which should I choose?
Both use your own blood. GFC is processed differently and is often more comfortable to inject. The doctor advises one after looking at your scalp, your history and your budget.
Is GFC proven to work?
There is more research on PRP than on GFC. Results vary from person to person, and the doctor tells you honestly what to expect for your pattern of hair loss.
Do I need medicines as well?
Usually yes. GFC is added to prescribed treatment, such as minoxidil or finasteride where the doctor advises them, not used instead of it.
Why are blood tests done first?
Low iron or ferritin, thyroid problems, low vitamin D and hormone changes can cause hair fall. The doctor treats these first; GFC will not correct them.
Is GFC suitable for women?
Yes, once causes such as iron, thyroid, PCOS or a recent delivery are checked.
Can it be done on bald areas?
If the scalp is smooth and shiny, the roots are usually lost and GFC is unlikely to help. The doctor can examine and advise.
Is it the same as a hair transplant?
No. GFC supports existing hair roots. A transplant moves hair to bald areas.
Can I wash my hair after GFC?
Not for 12 hours. After that, wash with a mild shampoo as usual unless the doctor says otherwise.
Do I need a consultation before a treatment?
Yes. Every treatment starts with a consultation. The doctor examines you and advises a procedure only if it suits you; many can be done the same day.
Related treatments
All treatmentsNot sure if GFC for hair is right for you?
A consultation comes first: Dr Rohini K examines you, explains the options that suit you, and tells you the plan and the price before anything is done.
Far from Chennai? Consult a skin doctor online: photos and a chat, and a prescription when one is right.