Since 1998 · Zagreb & Daruvar
PRP Hair and Scalp Treatment in Croatia
A trichoscopic scalp analysis shows whether PRP is suitable for the type and phase of your hair loss, and what therapy protocol to consider.
Patients often come to the first examination with two questions: how uncomfortable is the treatment, and what effect can be expected. The answer to the second question depends on the state of the follicles and the cause of the hair loss. PRP can act on weakened but still active follicles, while it cannot restore follicles that are no longer present. That is why assessing their activity is important for establishing the indication. Before starting therapy, we analyze the scalp and, based on the findings, assess the expected reach of the treatment.
Is this for me?
What PRP is and how it acts on the scalp
PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. From a small amount of your blood, we isolate plasma with concentrated platelets and growth factors and inject it back into the scalp.
This is a medical procedure from the field of regenerative medicine, not a cosmetic treatment. The expected effect depends on the correct indication, the way the plasma is prepared, the protocol, and the application technique.
What PRP can do
With the right indication, PRP can reduce increased shedding, contribute to a larger diameter of the existing hair shaft, and encourage some follicles to enter the growth phase, known as the anagen phase. PRP can be considered for androgenetic alopecia and certain forms of diffuse thinning, as well as after childbirth, illness, hormonal changes, or a longer period of stress, when the examination shows the therapy is indicated.
The goal is to preserve the existing hair and improve the quality of weakened hairs.
What PRP cannot do
PRP does not create new follicles. In areas where there are no active follicles left, PRP cannot restore hair growth, so it is not a solution for a bald crown or for areas without hair — for those, in suitable candidates, a transplant of follicles from the donor area can be considered. Likewise, PRP does not remove the cause of hair loss. If the hair loss is linked to a hormonal disorder, a thyroid problem, or iron deficiency, PRP cannot replace the diagnosis and treatment of the underlying medical condition.
For chronic forms of hair loss, PRP is often carried out as part of a long-term maintenance plan, which we cover in more detail below.
The right indication
When PRP is indicated
PRP has the greatest potential when hair loss is still active and follicles are weakened but preserved. It cannot restore hair in areas without active follicles. In women, thinning is often noticed as a widening parting and a reduction in overall hair volume; in men, as thinning at the crown and temples.
“PRP can act on a weakened but still active follicle, but cannot restore one that is no longer present. Before therapy, we therefore assess how many follicles remain active and their condition. Where there are no active follicles, PRP cannot be expected to restore hair, so the indication is assessed before developing the therapy protocol.” — Ana Maletić, MD, PhD
In some situations the treatment needs to be postponed, or a different approach to treatment chosen. When the hair loss is linked to another medical condition, the appropriate diagnostics and treatment come first. Blood clotting disorders, an active infection, or scalp inflammation are reasons for us to postpone the treatment. If the area of hair loss no longer has enough active follicles for PRP to act on, we can assess whether there is an indication for a hair transplant.
The first step
Examination and scalp analysis before therapy
A correct PRP indication requires a prior examination and scalp analysis.
Scalp analysis before therapy
Before selecting therapy, we assess density, hair thickness, follicle activity and the pattern of hair loss. We therefore examine the scalp with a trichoscope, which allows us to see the necessary details.
Based on measurements and clinical examination, we assess the type of hair loss, how advanced it is and whether preserved follicles may respond to therapy. We compare changes using standardised photographs.
Why we also look at your general health
Along with the scalp, we take a medical history and, when needed, request blood tests, because your general health can affect both hair loss and the response to therapy. That is how we assess possible contraindications and adapt the protocol to your findings.
How it is performed
What a PRP treatment with us looks like
The whole procedure takes about thirty minutes and is a minimally invasive medical procedure.
- Duration
- about 30 minutes
- Anesthesia
- most often not needed
- Protocol
- most often 3 treatments per year, 3–4 months apart
- Performed by
- Ana Maletić, MD, PhD
1 · Blood draw. We take a small amount of venous blood into a specialized tube for PRP preparation.
2 · Centrifugation. The blood is centrifuged, separating the platelet-rich plasma from the rest of the blood.
3 · Scalp preparation. We photograph the scalp and disinfect it according to medical protocol.
4 · Application. We apply the plasma with fine needles, at a depth and in a pattern adapted to the treated area. The application itself is short.
5 · Massage and instructions. After the application, the scalp is gently massaged according to protocol, and you receive written instructions for the days after the treatment.
Most patients can resume their usual activities after treatment. For the next 24 hours, avoid swimming pools, saunas, sunbeds and touching the scalp with unwashed hands.
See the full price listWhy us
Why choose us for your PRP hair treatment
ABHRS Diplomate
Dr. Ana Maletić is the only physician in Croatia with this title, one of 260 physicians worldwide
The only ISHRS Fellow from Croatia
FISHRS, the most distinguished membership level in the international hair transplantation society
One of 6 clinics worldwide
with this level of international certification for hair treatments
Trichoscopic examination before therapy
we plan the therapy according to the type of hair loss and the scalp findings
Specialized PRP tubes
the method of preparation affects the composition and platelet concentration of the resulting plasma
PRP applied by a physician experienced in hair transplantation
the technique, depth, and spacing of the injections are important parts of a properly performed treatment
Photographic documentation
we monitor changes with standardised photographs
The standard we hold to
What the quality of a PRP treatment depends on
PRP preparation and treatment methods can vary between facilities, so when comparing them it is important to check the preparation protocol, application technique and monitoring of results.
“PRP is a medical procedure, and its final outcome is influenced by the indication, the way the plasma is prepared, the protocol, and the application technique. The same blood can yield a different preparation and a different outcome, depending on the method of preparation, the protocol, and the application technique.” — Ana Maletić, MD, PhD
Four things influence the outcome:
- The indication. The indication is determined by the type of hair loss, the state of the follicles, and the scalp findings.
- Plasma preparation. We use specialized tubes from a Swiss manufacturer, because the concentration of platelets and growth factors in the plasma prepared for application depends on the method of preparation.
- Who applies it, and how. The plasma must reach the exact layer of skin, at a depth determined individually, with correct spacing between injections and the right amount per point. That is why the application should be performed by a physician familiar with scalp anatomy and the treatment of hair loss.
- Follow-up. Standardized photographs and repeated trichoscopic measurements allow a more objective assessment of the therapy’s effect.
Those four factors are worth checking when choosing a facility, whichever one you decide on in the end.
PRP versus transplantation
PRP or a hair transplant — and when they are combined
PRP and hair transplantation solve different problems.
PRP is used when the goal is to strengthen the existing hair and reduce shedding — that is, when the follicles still have potential. Hair transplantation replaces hair in areas where there are no active follicles left, by moving follicles from the donor area.
They can be combined when the same scalp holds both weakened follicles and areas without hair, and when there is an indication for both procedures. In that case, the transplant fills in the areas without hair, while PRP can be used to preserve the weakened, untransplanted hair.
Alongside PRP, we also use other scalp therapies — mesotherapy, polynucleotides, and the laser hair growth treatment. The choice and combination of therapies depend on the diagnosis, the scalp findings, and the goal of treatment.
Results
Results and how we follow them
Some patients may notice reduced shedding during the first few weeks or months. Changes in hair quality and thickness develop more slowly, so we assess the effect of therapy after three to twelve months.
We photograph the scalp before therapy and during follow-up, always in the same way, and compare the photographs. This allows changes to be assessed by comparing objective findings under the same conditions.
In everyday life, the changes may show as less shedding and better coverage of thinned areas. With a good response to therapy, the part line can look fuller and the scalp less visible in strong light.
PRP does not necessarily restore your previous hair density, and the expected result depends on the initial state and the cause of the loss. The possible outcomes are reduced shedding and improved hair shaft thickness and density in suitable candidates.
“For chronic forms of hair loss, PRP can require long-term follow-up and maintenance. If it is a progressive form of hair loss, the condition can worsen again after therapy is discontinued, in line with the course of the underlying disease. We discuss the possible need for maintenance when drawing up the initial therapy plan.” — Ana Maletić, MD, PhD
Real results
Before and after a PRP hair treatment
We show results only with documented patient consent.
Who we are
Who will be taking care of you
The Hair Center is led by Ana Maletić, MD, PhD, a specialist in plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery. She holds the FISHRS and ABHRS Diplomate titles, is the only physician in Croatia with the ABHRS Diplomate title and one of 260 physicians worldwide to have earned it, and is the only physician from Croatia in regular membership of the ISHRS. In March 2026 she defended her doctoral thesis on the connection between hair transplantation and biopsychosocial factors of health.
Her experience in the diagnosis and treatment of hair loss matters when assessing the indication and planning PRP therapy. The treatment is performed by a physician who assesses whether there are preserved follicles the therapy can act on.
The Polyclinic has been operating since 1998; it was founded by her parents, and today two generations of the family work here. You can have a PRP hair and scalp treatment in Zagreb and in Daruvar, with the same equipment and under the same protocol.
Meet the whole team
Watch
See what it looks like
PRP hair treatment: reduce hair loss without surgery
Precise scalp diagnostics
Price
Price and the first step
Prices for one PRP treatment for hair loss and a package of three treatments are listed in the table below. The price of the trichoscopic scalp analysis is listed in the table below, and its findings are an important part of assessing the indication and the therapy plan. When additional diagnostics are needed, prices for the Trichotest and a scalp biopsy with histopathology are listed in the price list.
Based on examination and scalp analysis, you receive an individual assessment of the possibilities and limitations of PRP therapy and, when indicated, a proposed protocol. Prices for all treatments are available in the price list.
If you are noticing thinning hair, an examination can show whether there are preserved follicles the therapy can act on.
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Hair loss treatment with PRP (platelet-rich plasma)
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Hair loss treatment with PRP – package of 3 treatments
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Trichoscopic scalp analysis (TrichoLAB FotoFinder)
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Trichotest
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Scalp biopsy with histopathology
Which method for whom
Patients most often ask us which hair therapy is best. There is no universally best therapy: each person’s hair loss has its own cause, stage, scalp condition and degree of follicle preservation. The same method may therefore work well for one person but not another.
We therefore build the treatment plan around a detailed scalp examination and, when needed, a health assessment. After trichoscopic analysis, we know the type and stage of hair loss and whether follicles with regenerative potential remain. The findings lead to one therapy or a combination of complementary methods. Sometimes they show that treatment makes no sense in your case; we then discuss transplantation or monitoring, depending on the findings. You will hear this at the first examination, not after several paid treatments.
Below is an overview of the methods we perform, how they differ, and when each one comes into consideration.
| Method | How it works | When it comes into consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Scalp mesotherapy | Delivers a preparation of vitamins, minerals and amino acids, composed according to the findings, into the scalp skin. | For weakened, thinning hair, early-stage thinning, and increased shedding after childbirth, illness, or a longer period of stress. |
| PRP treatment | Uses plasma from your own blood and the growth factors it contains, so the treatment involves drawing your blood and preparing it. | For increased shedding and thinning, when the follicles still exist but produce a thinner, weaker hair. |
| Polynucleotides | Purified DNA fragments that reduce inflammation in the scalp and stimulate the formation of new blood vessels, improving the scalp’s blood supply. | For diffuse thinning and a sensitive scalp, and when you prefer a solution that does not involve drawing blood. |
| Scalp filler | Delivers a complex of peptides and hyaluronic acid into the scalp skin that acts on the follicle itself. Unlike facial fillers, the goal is not added volume but strengthening the existing hair. | For weakened, thin hair and in the earlier phase of thinning, while the follicles are still active. |
| Laser hair growth treatment | Uses a medical Er:YAG laser to improve the scalp’s blood supply and encourage follicles to shift from resting into the growth phase, with no needles and no downtime. | For increased shedding and for strengthening existing hair, on its own or alongside other therapies. |
| Hair transplant | Your own follicles are moved from the donor region to areas where hair is absent or thinning. | When certain regions no longer have active follicles, because no treatment can bring back hair that is gone there. |
How it works
Delivers a preparation of vitamins, minerals and amino acids, composed according to the findings, into the scalp skin.
When it comes into consideration
For weakened, thinning hair, early-stage thinning, and increased shedding after childbirth, illness, or a longer period of stress.
PRP treatment
How it works
Uses plasma from your own blood and the growth factors it contains, so the treatment involves drawing your blood and preparing it.
When it comes into consideration
For increased shedding and thinning, when the follicles still exist but produce a thinner, weaker hair.
How it works
Purified DNA fragments that reduce inflammation in the scalp and stimulate the formation of new blood vessels, improving the scalp’s blood supply.
When it comes into consideration
For diffuse thinning and a sensitive scalp, and when you prefer a solution that does not involve drawing blood.
How it works
Delivers a complex of peptides and hyaluronic acid into the scalp skin that acts on the follicle itself. Unlike facial fillers, the goal is not added volume but strengthening the existing hair.
When it comes into consideration
For weakened, thin hair and in the earlier phase of thinning, while the follicles are still active.
How it works
Uses a medical Er:YAG laser to improve the scalp’s blood supply and encourage follicles to shift from resting into the growth phase, with no needles and no downtime.
When it comes into consideration
For increased shedding and for strengthening existing hair, on its own or alongside other therapies.
How it works
Your own follicles are moved from the donor region to areas where hair is absent or thinning.
When it comes into consideration
When certain regions no longer have active follicles, because no treatment can bring back hair that is gone there.
The methods are often combined, because the same scalp can simultaneously hold weakened follicles and areas where hair no longer grows. Then one method preserves and strengthens what is left, while the other replaces what has been permanently lost.
It is equally important to know what these methods cannot do. No therapy creates new follicles, so where a follicle has been permanently lost, no number of treatments can change the situation; transplantation is indicated. If hair loss is linked to thyroid disease, nutrient deficiency or a hormonal change, that condition is treated separately, with scalp therapy alongside it rather than instead of it.
The right method is the one that suits your scalp condition. Every plan therefore begins with analysis and discussion, followed by treatment selection.
Patient reviews
What our patients say
Reviews taken from our Google Business profiles, Zagreb and Daruvar, translated from Croatian.
★★★★★
“All praise to the entire staff of the polyclinic. I have already had my second PRP scalp treatment and I can only commend the whole team. I would especially like to praise the doctor for her exceptional expertise, patience, and warm approach. From the first examination to the procedure itself I felt safe and informed. The whole course of treatment was professional and well organized — I received clear and detailed instructions before, during, and after the procedure, which gave me extra confidence. The procedure itself was stress-free, with every step explained along the way, which meant a lot to me. The atmosphere is pleasant and relaxing, and the staff exceptionally kind and helpful. I am very satisfied with the results so far and look forward to further progress. I definitely recommend it to anyone considering a PRP scalp treatment — you are in safe and expert hands!”
★★★★★
“I have been their patient and admirer for years. They have always known how to make my mom and me feel comfortable and welcome. My mom had a neck lift six years ago, and today I came in for PRP for hair growth. I cannot recommend them enough. Thank you, Ana!”
★★★★★
“A month ago I had an FUE hair transplant with Dr. Ana Maletić. From the professional side, my hair was done perfectly. I was lucky that my hair did not shed and started growing right away. Dr. Maletić’s expertise is obvious and makes her, without question, the leader in this field in Croatia. But my real satisfaction and gratitude lie in how the Polyclinic treats its patients. They are highly professional, yet approachable and compassionate at the same time. Nurses Matea M. and Valerija left a positive mark on my whole experience and made it more pleasant and calming. To anyone in Croatia looking for a hair transplant, I warmly recommend this Polyclinic. You will get top results and excellent care!”
★★★★★
“I had a hair transplant and I am more than satisfied with this extraordinary, exceptionally professional, life-changing procedure! A big thank you to Dr. Ana, Danijela, Romana, and everyone else who took part in this wonderful experience. My sincerest thanks! Marko S.”
★★★★★
“A few years ago I saw Dr. Ana Maletić for a facial hair correction using the FUE method, which made my beard somewhat denser. The results are fantastic — the work was done with such dedication and care. From the first meeting at the polyclinic she radiated confidence and knowledge of her work, along with a readiness and kindness to answer every question I had. All recommendations for Dr. Ana and her entire professional and friendly team.”
★★★★★
“I am very satisfied with Dr. Maletić’s results, from the beginning to the end of the hair transplant process. Five months after the procedure my hair looks phenomenal. The results I got, considering the number of grafts transplanted, pleasantly surprised me when compared with other clinics outside Croatia. As for the price, there is no big difference compared to clinics abroad, while the quality and expertise are on the level of top clinics. A big plus is that I did not have to travel outside the country, which made the whole process far less stressful for me.”
★★★★★
“I have rarely experienced such a professional, coordinated, and harmonious team. The atmosphere during the hair transplant was so pleasant that they even treated me to the occasional musical number. That relaxed atmosphere made the boredom of the procedure easier to bear. Although I do wonder whether some of you might be better off on a stage than in an operating room. Once again, a big thank you — I am already looking forward to the results in a few months!”
★★★★★
“A great experience, team, and final result. In short, I had an eyebrow transplant. Everything went exactly as Dr. Ana Maletić explained. The whole team was very kind and professional from start to finish, and I am now at peace because I finally have eyebrows. They look very natural, and the density is just as it should be. All recommendations!”
★★★★★
“A more than positive experience at Polyclinic Maletić, both in Zagreb and in Daruvar. I had a hair transplant and I am very satisfied with the approach and the procedure. I recommend it to everyone, especially to women who, like me, lost their hair after an illness. Once again, thank you to the kind team, and especially to Dr. Ana Maletić.”
★★★★★
“I just had a hair transplant. I am satisfied. Well done to Dr. Duško Maletić and the team in Daruvar. They are kind, professional, and do quality work. I recommend them.”
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions
Does a PRP scalp treatment hurt?
Brief discomfort may be felt during the application. We apply the plasma with very fine needles. The application itself is short, while the whole procedure, including the blood draw and plasma preparation, takes about thirty minutes. Anesthesia is most often not needed, and during the application we use vibration to ease the feeling of discomfort.
How long does the treatment take, and can I go straight back to my day?
Treatment takes around thirty minutes, after which most patients can resume their usual daily activities. For the next 24 hours, avoid swimming pools, saunas, sunbeds and touching the scalp with unwashed hands. Other instructions are provided in writing.
When are the first results visible?
Some patients may notice reduced shedding in the first few weeks or months. Changes in hair quality and thickness take longer, and we assess the effect after three to twelve months by comparing photographs with the initial condition.
How many treatments are needed, and do I have to repeat them?
We most often recommend three treatments per year, three to four months apart. For certain forms of hair loss, PRP is carried out as a maintenance therapy, and the need for repetition is assessed based on the findings and the response to therapy. We discuss the expected protocol and the possible need for maintenance when drawing up the therapy plan.
Does PRP help if I have already completely lost the hair on my crown?
No. PRP can act on weakened but still active follicles. In areas without active follicles, PRP cannot restore lost hair. In that case, a hair transplant can be considered, if there is an appropriate indication for it.
I had PRP elsewhere with no results — is it worth trying again?
The possibility of repeating the therapy is assessed after a scalp examination and a look at the previously performed protocol. A lack of effect can be influenced by an unsuitable indication, the way the plasma was prepared, the application technique, the therapy protocol, and the individual response. If the findings do not point to an expected benefit from repeating PRP, we will consider other treatment options.