Sanakin for hair is the injection into the scalp of a serum prepared by incubating your own blood in a closed system for a few hours. What sets it apart from other treatments prepared from your own blood is its target: PRP aims to stimulate the follicle with growth signals, while Sanakin aims to calm inflammation in the scalp. I do not describe Sanakin as a higher model of PRP; I consider it for scalps where itching, sensitivity and inflammation are in the foreground.
I am a specialist in anaesthesiology and reanimation; blood sampling, sterile technique and injection safety are core areas of my training. I perform hair treatments within this framework, carrying out every step of preparation and application myself. The types of hair loss and the steps of treatment are on the hair loss treatment page.
How is it prepared?
The blood draw takes about 5 minutes. The blood is incubated in a closed, single-use system for about 3 hours; the serum is then separated and delivered into the scalp with fine needles. The injection takes about 10 minutes. Preparation and injection are completed on the same day; you do not need to wait at the clinic in between.
I plan 3 sessions, 3–4 weeks apart. This interval was chosen for the scalp; it differs from the interval used in the skin application.
How is it thought to work?
According to the manufacturer, anti-inflammatory proteins become concentrated in the serum during incubation; these proteins are intended to dampen the inflammatory signals around the follicle. The mechanism and the preparation of the serum are described in more detail on the Sanakin smart plasma page.
Its relationship with drug treatment
In hereditary hair loss, the treatments with the highest level of evidence are topical and oral drug treatments. I plan injection methods alongside these treatments, not instead of them; we assess the suitability and follow-up of drug treatment together at consultation.
When do I consider it?
- Hair loss accompanied by itching, sensitivity and redness: where the scalp is “not calm”, this is the first option I consider.
- Early-to-moderate hereditary hair loss: where the hair has thinned but the follicle is alive; usually alongside drug treatment.
- Support after a hair transplant: from the third month onwards. The reasoning behind this timing is below.
In areas where the follicle has been lost completely and the skin is smooth, Sanakin will not produce hair.
Why the third month after a hair transplant?
In the first weeks after a hair transplant, some of the transplanted follicles shed temporarily; this is called shock loss and is a natural part of the new hair cycle. During this period I wait for the scalp to heal and do not plan injections. Shock loss is usually complete by the third month, when new hairs begin to emerge; I plan the supporting treatment at this stage, when the follicle has entered its own growth cycle. This timing is based on my clinical practice, not on a controlled study.
I do not perform hair transplants at the clinic. If you are considering a hair transplant, we make the decision and the timing together with the team that will perform it; for someone who has already had a transplant, the timing is planned in line with the team that performed it.
Itchy and flaky scalp
Itching and flaking may be caused by seborrhoeic dermatitis. Its diagnosis and main treatment belong to dermatology. I do not inject during an active phase; once the condition has settled, I consider it as support. Sanakin is not a treatment for seborrhoeic dermatitis; it is considered for residual scalp sensitivity once the condition has settled.
How it differs from PRP
In treatments prepared from your own blood, the decision depends on the goal: when scalp itching, sensitivity and inflammation are in the foreground, the serum enriched in anti-inflammatory proteins comes to the fore; when stimulating the follicle is the aim, platelet-rich plasma does. The final choice is made at consultation.
Both are prepared from your own blood, but the content differs: PRP concentrates platelets and growth factors; Sanakin concentrates the cytokines released while the blood is incubated — according to the manufacturer, mainly anti-inflammatory ones. Neither is a “stronger version” of the other; their targets differ, and in some cases they can be planned one after the other. The option aimed at stimulating the follicle is on the PRP for hair page.
Being honest about the level of evidence
I could not find a controlled human study on the use of Sanakin in hair loss. Studies exist for the same serum class in joint applications; these cannot be transferred to the scalp, and I do not cite them on this page. The contribution of low-grade inflammation around the follicle (microinflammation) to hereditary hair loss is a subject of research; controlled studies have not shown that calming this inflammation slows hair loss. What is written on this page is based on my clinical practice. I do not describe Sanakin as “stronger than PRP” or “the most advanced method”; I describe it as an option I consider in hair loss accompanied by itching and sensitivity.
The procedure and pain management
Because I am an anaesthesiologist, I treat pain management as a separate part of the procedure.
Topical anaesthetic cream is not used routinely on the scalp; for very sensitive people it is applied before the treatment. What you feel is a brief sting. The blood draw is a standard venous access; what you feel is a brief sting.
Aftercare
First 24 hours
- Do not wash your hair (you can wash it the next day)
- No hot showers, sauna, hammam or steam
- Avoid heavy exercise
- No alcohol
- Do not touch the injection points; do not squeeze or massage the bumps
First 48 hours
- Avoid direct and prolonged sun exposure; wear a hat outdoors
Expected findings Mild redness and tenderness at the injection points are expected and settle the same day. Small bruises may last 1–2 days.
Additional advice
- Wait 2–3 days before hair dye and similar chemical treatments
- If redness increases, or warmth or fever develops, contact the clinic
- A small bruise on the arm used for the blood draw may last 1–2 days
- After a hair transplant, the timing is planned in line with the team that performed it
Safety and anatomy
Because allergic reactions can occur rarely, treatments are carried out under medical supervision.
The serum is prepared from your own blood in a sterile closed system; no drug is added. Temporary redness, tenderness and small bruises may occur at the injection points; the expected durations are given in the aftercare section. Treatment is postponed if there is an active infection on the scalp.
Regulatory status: This product class consists of products assessed under CE and TİTCK frameworks for the relevant indications. The serum or plasma is prepared from your own blood; the kit used is a preparation system within the scope of medical devices. Approval belongs to a product and to a specific indication, not to a technique or to a physician.
Who is not suitable
Treatment is not performed, or is postponed, in the following situations:
- Active infection or inflammation in the treatment area
- Autoimmune disease in an active phase
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Known hypersensitivity to the product components
- Uncontrolled chronic illness
- Untreated bleeding disorder or unregulated anticoagulant use
Treatment is postponed if there is an open wound or an active flare of seborrhoeic dermatitis on the scalp, and in the early period after a hair transplant; injections are not given in alopecia areata during an active phase.
In treatments prepared from your own blood, treatment is also not performed in haematological disease or during a febrile illness.
Without being a medical contraindication, I also consider expectation and treatment to be mismatched in these situations:
- People expecting hair to grow in an area where the follicle has been lost completely and the skin is smooth — a hair transplant is considered in that situation
- People expecting a marked change from a single session or within a short time
- People asking for injections straight away for undiagnosed hair loss — the diagnostic step comes first
Suitability is determined by consultation in every case.
Pricing
Under the applicable regulations, price information cannot be published on our website. The cost of a treatment depends on the product used, the technique chosen and the extent of the treatment. You can call the clinic for detailed information.
Frequently asked questions
How long after a hair transplant can Sanakin be done?
From the third month onwards. The temporary shedding in the first weeks after a transplant is usually complete by the third month, when the new hair cycle begins; I plan the supporting treatment at this stage. In every case, we set the timing together with the team that performed the transplant.
How many Sanakin sessions are done for hair?
I plan 3 sessions, 3–4 weeks apart. This interval was chosen for the scalp; it differs from the interval used in the skin application. I assess the response at consultation after the course.
Is Sanakin suitable for an itchy, flaky scalp?
Itching and flaking may be caused by seborrhoeic dermatitis; its diagnosis and main treatment belong to dermatology. I do not inject during an active phase; once the condition has settled, I consider it as support.
Planning your visit
My clinic is in Nişantaşı, Şişli, on the European side of Istanbul, approximately 45 minutes from Istanbul Airport.
For Sanakin for hair I suggest planning a stay of two to three days: arrival, consultation and treatment, and departure. Because Sanakin for hair is planned as three sessions three to four weeks apart, it requires more than one visit. The first session takes place in Istanbul, and we plan the schedule of the following sessions together according to your travel arrangements, with remote follow-up in between. The three-hour preparation fits into the same day. If you have had a hair transplant, the timing is planned together with the team that performed it. Flying is generally appropriate 24 hours after an injectable treatment.
Consultations are conducted in English. Follow-up after you return home is arranged remotely, and I remain reachable for any questions during the period in which the result develops.
Dr. Ömer Fatih Şahin — Specialist in Anaesthesiology and Reanimation Diploma Registration No: 113606
Published: 22 February 2026 · Last updated: 2026-09-21 This content has been medically reviewed by Dr. Ömer Fatih Şahin.