Stem Cell Therapy for Hair Regrowth

What Is Stem Cell Therapy for Hair Loss?

Stem cell therapy (SCT) is a modern technique used for hair loss or hair thinning. It uses regenerative cells along with the healing power of your body to fight against your hair loss. This therapy is different from transplanting hair, in which new hair is added, whereas in SCT, instead of this procedure, stem cell injections help in re-energizing weak or dormant hair follicles. These encourage weak hair follicles to regrow stronger and healthier strands once again. This procedure is considered to be safe and natural as it restores what you already have.

How Stem Cells Work to Regenerate Hair?

All hair follicles have special cells that are responsible for the control of growth. These cells become weaker because of age, stress, or hormonal changes.

These weaker cells are energized through the following methods:

• Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP):

In this procedure, platelets from your blood are used. These carry growth factors. These help in energizing weak hair follicles.

• SCT:

In this procedure, regenerative cells with stronger abilities are used to repair, rebuild, and stimulate the hair follicle environment.

It was noted that PRP provides nutrition to the hair follicles. Stem cells act as repair workers. These can restore the structure and function of the hair follicles. This provides greater and long-lasting improvement.

Procedure: What to Expect?

In the SCT procedure, first, a punch biopsy is done. Punch biopsy is done to extract stem cells from the scalp of a person who is undergoing this procedure. A circular blade is used for this procedure. This blade is rotated into the skin of the scalp to remove a cylindrical tissue sample from the scalp.

These extracted tissues are exposed to collagenase and processed. Collagenase is an enzyme. This enzyme is responsible for breaking down collagen. This processing involves centrifuging and microscopy to identify the stem cells.

After the tissues are processed, stem cells and fluids are injected into the scalp wherever there is hair loss.

According to recent studies, the PRP method and SCT are combined to stimulate inactive hair follicles and then to promote hair growth that is thicker and healthier.

Some other hair growth procedure that are not yet approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considered investigational procedures. These do not guarantee results. This type of investigational procedure is done in an in-office outpatient setting. In this procedure, the liposuction is done to remove fat cells from the abdomen and hip region. The liposuction is done under local anaesthesia.

A special process is performed to remove stem cells from fat. Then they are injected into the scalp. This procedure may take three hours.

What Are the Side Effects of a Stem Cell Hair Transplant?

There is very little information about the side effects of SCT. As some common side effects of any medical procedure, SCT also exhibits:

• Bleeding risk or infection at the site of injection.

• Scarring may occur.

• Though nothing happens at the site of a punch biopsy, there may be a risk of damage to nerves and arteries beneath the site of the biopsy.

In liposuction, similar side effects and complications can also happen.

What Is the Stem Cell Hair Transplant Success Rate?

The results of SCT are very promising and good. This was noted with studies done. One of the studies showed a 29 percent increase in hair density after 23 weeks of the treatment. Another study noted that there was a 28.1 percent increase in hair density after 16 weeks of the treatment.

Other procedures that are not approved yet do not give guaranteed results.

What Are the Benefits of Stem Cell Hair Treatment?

Stem cell hair treatment has many benefits. These include:

• This procedure is a non-surgical procedure that involves no cuts, stitches, or visible scars.

• This procedure involves natural regrowth. This procedure uses the body’s healing ability.

• SCT has a faster recovery when compared to a surgical procedure.

• This procedure helps in improving the survival of transplanted grafts.

• SCT provides help in slowing the further thinning of hair.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Therapy?

As with any other medical treatment, SCT also has pros and cons. Knowing and understanding can help make a decision whether to undergo this procedure or not.

Pros of SCT:

• SCT is safe and non-surgical.

• It stimulates natural regrowth of hair.

• SCT has a quick recovery time.

• Improves transplant outcomes.

• Exhibits long-term improvement.

Cons of SCT:

• This procedure cannot be done in the case of complete baldness.

• This may need many sessions.

• The result may differ from person to person.

• The cost of the procedure is higher when compared to PRP.

• The time taken for results is longer, and hence, it needs patience.

When to See a Doctor?

You can see your doctor for SCT for hair loss in the following situations:

• When hair loss is worsening despite other topical treatments.

• When you have significant thinning or balding that affects your quality of life due to lowered self-confidence.

• When you have been diagnosed with a proper cause for your hair loss, and other treatable causes have been ruled out.

Conclusion

Stem cell treatment is a procedure done for hair loss when all other treatments fail. This technique uses regenerative cells from your own body and is injected into the scalp. These cells act and help in regrowth, and improve the health of hair strands that are found to be weak. Like any other technique, SCT also exhibits its own pros and cons. Hence, before undergoing this procedure, you should be aware of the technique very well. For more information about this modern technique, you can consult a hair transplant surgeon for a detailed evaluation.

Key Takeaways

• Stem cell treatment (SCT) for hair loss is a modern technique.

• SCT uses the patient’s own stem cells that are extracted from fat or hair follicles.

• SCT provides natural regrowth of weak hair strands.