This page is for Menlo Park residents weighing PRP hair restoration and the related options in Dr. Susan Lin’s hair loss program. Dr. Lin is a physician who personally performs every treatment at MD Laser and Cosmetics, 448 N San Mateo Drive in San Mateo, about 15 miles from Menlo Park. Your first conversation with her can happen by video, so the drive only starts once you know what you want to do.
Hair restoration is the focus, not a sideline
Hair restoration is a particular focus and passion of the practice. Dr. Lin has practiced medicine since 1991, trained in obstetrics and gynecology, and has seen patients at this San Mateo address for nearly 20 years. She speaks English and Mandarin.
Thinning hair rarely has one cause. Hormones, stress, nutrition, medications, pregnancy and illness can all play a part, which is why the visit begins with questions rather than a procedure.
How a hair loss consultation works
The consultation is educational. Dr. Lin assesses, explains, and lets you decide. An initial hair loss consultation typically runs about 30 to 45 minutes, and it follows a consistent order:
- The reason for your visit. What you have noticed, when it began, and what you suspect set it off.
- What you want to solve. A widening part, shedding in the shower, a receding hairline, or hair that no longer feels like yours. Your priority shapes the conversation.
- How soon you want to reach your goal. Hair grows slowly and in cycles, so Dr. Lin explains what a realistic timeline looks like and what can and cannot be hurried.
- Assessment and education. A review of your history and photos, a scalp and follicle assessment, and a look at contributing factors. Targeted lab work may be recommended, and in some cases she may suggest you also see your primary care provider or a dermatologist.
- You decide. Options, risks and alternatives are explained, and you receive a written, itemized plan before anything is administered. A consultation fee applies; pricing is reviewed at the visit.
PRP and the related options
The hair loss treatment page describes a layered program. In-office scalp stimulation with PRP or growth factors is one layer. PRP uses a concentrated portion of your own blood, rich in growth factors, injected into the scalp with the intent of stimulating the follicles. It is a non-surgical option.
Comfort is addressed directly: local anesthesia and ice are used, and injections can be more uncomfortable at the frontal hairline than on the top and back of the scalp. Swelling at the injection sites for 24 to 48 hours is possible.
The other layers are at-home. The MD® Hair Restoration System is a physician-developed, drug-free regimen that includes a daily supplement, a hair growth serum and scalp-care products. These are not prescription medications. Scalp care and lifestyle guidance on stress, sleep and nutrition round out the plan. No treatment can guarantee full restoration, and maintenance is commonly advised to sustain progress.
Why a series of visits makes the trip something to plan
Because hair cycles slowly, PRP is generally delivered as a series of sessions spaced several weeks apart rather than a single appointment. The practice describes progress photos about every 8 to 12 weeks, and changes in shedding and fullness are described as gradual, over months.
From Menlo Park, a round trip is roughly 29 miles, so it helps to treat the schedule as a plan rather than a series of one-off errands:
- Use the video consultation for the first conversation, so your first in-person trip has a clear purpose.
- Book visits ahead. Hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, by appointment only.
- Same-day treatment after an in-person consultation is possible, but check that your work and social calendar allows for it, including the possible 24 to 48 hours of swelling.
Getting from Menlo Park to San Mateo
By car. From Menlo Park’s Civic Center the drive is about 14.7 miles, roughly 23 minutes without traffic. That figure is a floor, not a commute estimate, so leave extra time at busy hours. The mapped route follows Middlefield Road to Marsh Road, then US-101 North for about 9.6 miles to the East 3rd Avenue exit. That leg runs through the area of the US-101/SR-92 interchange, where Caltrans construction began in spring 2025 and is expected to finish in summer 2028. The practice also gives I-280 North to CA-92 East, then the Alameda de las Pulgas exit, as a route for patients coming from the south. A maps app will show live conditions.
If you use the San Mateo 101 Express Lanes, tolling applies on weekdays from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM and a FasTrak tag is required during those hours, which covers appointment times.
Without driving. Menlo Park has a Caltrain station, and the San Mateo station is about 0.80 mile, roughly a 15-minute walk, from our door. Caltrain has warned of possible service cuts, so check the current timetable before relying on it. SamTrans route ECR serves both Menlo Park and San Mateo and stops at El Camino Real and Poplar Avenue, about a 7-minute walk away.
On arrival. Parking at the office is free, and the entrance is ground-level and wheelchair accessible. For more on the city and the practice, see our Menlo Park page or the areas we serve.
Hair restoration questions from Menlo Park patients
Can my first hair loss conversation be by video?
Yes. Consultations are available in person or by video on Zoom. In the first conversation Dr. Lin goes through your reason for visiting, what you want to solve, how soon you hope to reach it, and the options. You then decide whether to come to San Mateo. Whether anything further is needed in person before treatment is Dr. Lin’s call.
How far is the practice from Menlo Park?
From Menlo Park’s Civic Center the practice is about 14.7 miles by road, roughly 23 minutes without traffic. The route uses Marsh Road and US-101 North to the East 3rd Avenue exit. Treat the time as a best case and allow longer at busy hours. Free parking is available on-site.
Does a consultation commit me to a series of PRP sessions?
No. The consultation is educational, and you decide afterward. The practice describes PRP and growth-factor treatment as typically a series of sessions spaced several weeks apart, with maintenance commonly advised. You receive a written, itemized plan before anything is administered, and pricing is reviewed at the consultation.
Is there downtime after PRP, and can I be treated the same day?
There is no surgery, and swelling at the injection sites for 24 to 48 hours is possible. Same-day treatment after an in-person consultation can be arranged, but plan around that swelling and check your work and social calendar before choosing the same day. Dr. Lin reviews risks and alternatives before starting.
Can I reach the office from Menlo Park without driving?
Possibly. Caltrain runs from Menlo Park to San Mateo, and the San Mateo station is a walk of about 0.80 mile, roughly 15 minutes. SamTrans route ECR also serves both cities. Caltrain has warned of possible service cuts, so check current schedules before planning around them.
MD Laser and Cosmetics is at 448 N San Mateo Drive, San Mateo, CA 94401, open Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, by appointment only, with free on-site parking. Call (650) 340-7546, book an appointment in person or by video, or contact the office with questions. Read more about PRP and hair loss treatment.