Stem Cell Treatment for Hair Regrowth
Mesenchymal stem cells, which are isolated from umbilical cords donated by mothers after term cesarean sections (NOT fetal or embryonic), have remarkable properties to stimulate tissue health and growth and decrease inflammation. These properties can be used to thicken hair with simple scalp injections. We treat patients routinely with consistent success in the beautiful Caribbean Island nation of Antigua where we have maintained our stem cell center for many years. We have also opened a stem cell center in Athens, Greece, at the clinic of a noted plastic surgeon, and we offer hair-thickening injections there as well. The procedure is not effective in patients who are bald but is effective in men and women whose hair is thinning.
The procedure is completely safe with no side effects or adverse events ever seen. Every treated patient is followed up for FDA reporting. In Antigua, the injections are performed by internationally renowned pain specialist Kenneth Candido, MD. Dr. Candido has abundant experience injecting PRP for hair thinning. The stem cell procedure is similar to scalp injections using platelet rich plasma except for substituting stem cells for PRP. However, stem cells produce a more robust and long-lasting effect. Dr. Candido is also the former chairman of a major anesthesia department in Chicago and can provide sedation for patients if they choose. Anesthesia is not required.
Results are evident several months after treatment and sometimes as early as a few weeks. For men, the procedure generally needs to be repeated at intervals to counteract the effects of male hormones. For women, the result is generally quite long-lasting.
The cells are brought to Antigua or Greece frozen in liquid nitrogen, continuously temperature monitored in flight, and then thawed immediately before use. In addition to the scalp injections, cells are infused intravenously. These IV cells are then drawn to the scalp at the site of injections thus enhancing the effect of the scalp injections. The cells are obtained from Vitro Biopharma in Golden, Colorado, the finest producer of stem cells in the world in my opinion. These cells have numerous international certifications and are also authorized by the FDA for use in humans: although we must travel offshore to inject them. Every treated patient is followed up and there have been no serious adverse events in any patient with their use.
Other hair-thinning strategies use medicines with female hormonal properties which can also produce side effects. Stem cells have no side effects, and as with the PCOS patient, can also have tremendous other benefits. Many patients elect to have skin facial rejuvenation with stem cells after facial microneedling, in addition to scalp injections.
Shampooing can be done the day after the injections, and coloring in one week. There is some soreness on the day of the procedure which mostly dissipates overnight. Patients may leave the day after the injections if they like. Although we are talking here about stem cell treatment for cosmetic purposes with moderate hair thinning, there is also a role for stem cell treatment for autoimmune alopecia for which we are just beginning a clinical trial.
But for most patients stem cell injection is part of a robust anti-aging program. Cosmetic improvements complement the generally increased energy and mental acuity after stem cell treatment. Unlike many other cosmetic treatments, stem cells are completely safe and natural and without risk or side effects. There are no chemical side effects to worry about. Stem cells are nature’s tool for healing us, honed over millions of years of evolution. These injections just harness and concentrate their effect in a site where they are needed.