Dr. Ankit Bhalothia
Aesthetic & Hair Transplant SurgeonOral & Maxillofacial Surgeon who leads hair transplant and facial aesthetic surgery at Kezza, with a focus on hairline design and natural facial proportions.
GFC therapy uses growth factors prepared from a small sample of your own blood to support thinning hair follicles. Unlike PRP, the growth factors are released before injection and the cells are left out, which many patients find more comfortable. It works best on hair that is thinning but still growing, alongside medical treatment.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Ankit Bhalothia, Aesthetic & Hair Transplant Surgeon · Last reviewed
GFC stands for growth factor concentrate. Like PRP, it starts with a small amount of your own blood. The sample is prepared with a dedicated kit in which the platelets are activated, so they release their growth factors before injection. This cell-free (acellular) concentrate is then injected into the thinning areas of the scalp.
Growth factors are proteins that help regulate the hair growth cycle. They are thought to support weakened follicles, prolong the growth phase and improve the blood supply around the root. That is why GFC is used for hair that is thinning but still growing, not for areas that have been smooth and bald for years.
Because the injected fluid contains no cells, many patients find GFC injections less painful than PRP. In a small randomised trial published in 2026, GFC and PRP gave similar hair improvement, while pain scores were clearly lower with GFC.
Cell-free growth factors usually cause less stinging and swelling than PRP injections.
Courses are often shorter than PRP, typically 3 to 4 sessions to start.
Prepared from your own sample, not from donor or animal material.
Sessions are short, and most people go back to work the same day.
Often used alongside a hair transplant to protect the native hair you still have.
Progress is tracked with photos and trichoscopy at your reviews.
GFC helps follicles that are weak but still alive, so a doctor's diagnosis comes first.
A hair loss consultation with trichoscopy tells you whether GFC, PRP, medicine or a transplant is the best first step for you.
GFC at Kezza costs ₹4,000 per session. A plan is usually 4 to 5 sessions, as per your requirement.
Price per session at Kezza Clinic as confirmed in October 2026. The number of sessions is set after your scalp assessment.
Ask about your plan
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon who leads hair transplant and facial aesthetic surgery at Kezza, with a focus on hairline design and natural facial proportions.
From blood sample to injections, a session is completed in a single visit.
Trichoscopy checks density, miniaturisation and the pattern of thinning, and other causes of hair fall are ruled out.
A small amount of blood is drawn from your arm, as in a routine blood test.
The sample is processed with a GFC kit and a centrifuge so the platelets release their growth factors, and the cells are separated out.
After numbing, the concentrate is injected into the thinning areas through very fine needles.
You can usually return to your day straight away, with simple instructions on washing and hair products for the next day or two.
Hair responds slowly, so results are judged over months, not weeks.
The course begins. Some people notice mild tenderness in the scalp for a day.
Sessions are usually repeated about 4 weeks apart, for 3 to 4 sessions in total.
Many people first notice less hair fall.
Changes in thickness and density become easier to see in progress photos.
A maintenance session every few months helps keep the benefit, as advised by your doctor.
Both treatments deliver growth factors from your own blood to thinning follicles. The difference is in the preparation and in what is injected.
| GFC | PRP | |
|---|---|---|
| What is injected | Growth factors released from platelets, without the cells | Concentrated platelets in plasma |
| Preparation | Kit-based preparation with platelet activation | Centrifuge, often with a double spin |
| Comfort | Usually rated less painful | Moderate stinging after numbing |
| Typical course at Kezza | 3 to 4 sessions, about 4 weeks apart | 4 to 6 sessions, 3 to 4 weeks apart |
| Evidence | Newer, smaller but growing evidence | More studies over a longer period |
Read our detailed PRP vs GFC comparison, or see the PRP therapy page if you want to compare both treatments at our clinic.
A randomised controlled trial published in 2026 in the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery compared GFC with PRP in 44 people with pattern hair loss who were also using 5% minoxidil. After three monthly sessions, hair improvement was similar in both groups. The clear difference was comfort: the median pain score was 2 out of 10 with GFC and 6 out of 10 with PRP, and satisfaction was higher with GFC. The authors note that the study was small and the follow-up short.
A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, covering 12 studies and 745 patients, found that growth-factor injections appear safe and improve hair density, thickness and patient satisfaction over 12 months. It also warned that the studies used different methods and several had a high risk of bias, so the evidence is promising rather than settled.
GFC is one part of hair-loss treatment, not a replacement for a diagnosis. Your doctor may combine it with medicines such as minoxidil or finasteride, check for problems like low iron or thyroid imbalance, and suggest changes to scalp care. If some areas have already gone bald, a hair transplant can restore them, while GFC helps protect the hair around them.
Most people have only mild tenderness, redness or slight swelling for a day. Small bruises at injection sites are possible. On the day of the session, avoid touching the scalp more than necessary and follow your doctor's advice on washing, hair products and exercise. Tell your doctor in advance about any blood-thinning medicines or bleeding problems.
At Kezza Clinic, GFC costs ₹4,000 per session, and a plan is usually 4 to 5 sessions, as per your requirement. GFC kits usually cost more per session than PRP, while PRP may need more sessions, so it is worth comparing the whole course rather than a single session. The number of sessions you need depends on your stage of hair loss and how you respond. Your doctor recommends a plan after examining your scalp.
GFC and PRP therapy are available at our Jaipur and Sikar clinics, open 9 AM to 8 PM, all 7 days. If you live near Ajmer, you can start with a hair-loss consultation at our Ajmer clinic.
Book a hair-loss consultation at our Jaipur or Sikar clinic. The doctor will examine your scalp and tell you whether GFC is right for you.