Stem Cell Hair Transplant: Cost & Considerations
Human hair can be really tricky to grow. Whether you’ve been diagnosed with androgenetic alopecia or another form of hair loss, we’re guessing you already know this and are curious if stem cell therapies might be your pathway to new hair follicles.
Stem cell research — specifically, stem cell hair restoration research — is a growing and complicated field. While its potential for hair regeneration is seemingly endless, the reality of anything resembling a proven pathway is still in the proverbial test tube phase.
Below, we’ll share some basics about stem cell treatments and their effectiveness, along with the potential risks, costs and controversies associated with trying to treat hair loss this way.
Stem Cell Hair Transplant Procedure
Stem cells aren’t science fiction — though SciFi might be what introduces many of us to the idea. And while hair cloning seems like a cool and plausible way to treat baldness, it’s not exactly the “next big thing” in the world of hair loss.
Why not? The answer lies in some of the facts Marvel and DC left on the cutting room floor.
What Are Stem Cells?
Though the last few decades have hosted much discussion about the ethics of stem cell use, the modern reality is far from controversial.
Stem cells from the human body exist in both adults and embryos. Harvesting them from fetal tissues isn’t really how things are done anymore.
Stem cells are essentially any cells that haven’t been assigned a purpose yet. These cells exist in various tissues and can develop into any cell type of an organism. They can also self-renew.
If you’re thinking of superheroes who can regenerate, you’re not exactly missing the mark. One way to explain the abilities of SciFi characters like Wolverine or Captain America would be to say they have really, really active stem cells that can develop at super speeds.
How Stem Cell Hair Transplants Work
Stem cell hair transplants can happen in several ways. But generally, stem cells are harvested from autologous tissues — tissues from your own body.
These could be fat stem cells or mesenchymal stem cells (harvested from bone marrow cells, fat tissue or dental pulp). Or they may come from elsewhere.
In any case, they’re typically harvested under local anesthesia using a circular blade. The “punch biopsy” is a puncture procedure that accesses the subcutaneous fascia layer of the skin — where your hair follicles live.
After the cells are harvested, a centrifuge separates unneeded parts of the sample from the stem cells to create a cell suspension.
The solution is then injected into areas of the scalp where the stem cells will be converted into follicular cells, theoretically stimulating new hair growth.
Recovery Time for Stem Cell Hair Transplants
The good news for stem cell treatments is that the recovery time is often quite quick.
A traditional hair transplant that takes skin grafts can require days or weeks of healing in the donor area. But there’s very little cutting or surgical damage to the harvest site or the area of hair loss with stem cells.
Hair transplant surgery also means a risk of scarring. This may not happen with stem cell harvesting, but it can leave bruises similar to what a liposuction surgery does when removing adipose tissue (fat cells).
In fact, fat cells have been used as a source of stem cells in several procedures, so lipo is more than a close comparison — it’s the same procedure.
In other words, the procedure will generally heal leaving little to no sign it ever happened. Healing time is likely quick for this type of procedure, as it’s not super invasive. However, depending on the exact retrieval technique, recovery time may be a little longer.
Stem Cell Transplant Cost
Most stem cell treatments aren’t FDA-approved. This means any stem cell hair transplants will be considered cosmetic treatments, investigational therapies or clinical trials — and not covered by your insurance.
The price of stem cell hair transplant varies greatly. The best way to find out how much these treatment options cost is to talk to a hair transplant specialist with a free online consultation.
Stem Cell Hair Regrowth Success Rate
The reality is, there’s simply not enough data to give you an idea of the success rate of stem cell injections for hair loss — regardless of whether the condition is due to androgenic alopecia or something else. Most of the data is anecdotal at this point and will remain that way for some time.
We’ll share a number of positive study results with you. But bear in mind the potential of stem cells is far from proven, and the studies thus far have been small.
Here are a couple of promising studies:
One study of 11 individuals aged 38 to 61 reported a 29 percent increase in hair density with stem cell treatment.
In a study with 22 participants (half men, half women), those who got stem cell treatment reported significant increases in hair growth compared to a placebo. But some adverse events were noted, including post-procedural pain.
Stem Cell Controversy: What to Know
Modern stem cell therapy isn’t really concerned with ethical questions surrounding embryonic stem cells — especially since the types of cells used in things like hair treatment are usually harvested from your own body.
That’s a relief for anyone who doesn’t want to touch the question of when personhood begins with a 10-foot pole.
That said, there are other concerns about this type of procedure. For one, it’s not FDA-approved for most of the ways it’s used today. Also, huge risks are associated with going through untrustworthy purveyors.
The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) warns: “Some patients may be vulnerable to stem cell treatments that are illegal and potentially harmful.”
Of course, there are pros and cons to any hair loss treatment, procedure or surgery. Still, it’s always best to speak with a licensed health professional when weighing your options.
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Side Effects of Stem Cell Hair Treatments
Since research is ongoing, we can’t give you a thorough list of side effects or risks. However, complications from the harvesting and injection procedures could include pain, infection or serious tissue injury if they aren’t performed poorly.
If you’re considering a stem cell hair treatment, it’s best to discuss the individual risks associated with your provider’s procedure ahead of time so you’re informed when you make your decision.
Or maybe you’ll go with another approach to hair loss treatment.
Alternatives to Stem Cell Hair Treatment
Your best hair loss solution might not involve surgery or potentially painful procedures.
Androgenetic alopecia goes by many names: male pattern hair loss, female pattern baldness and about a dozen others. It affects everyone — men and women, young and old — and despite advancements in medical science, there’s no cure.
But several treatment approaches actually work.
Various hair loss treatments are available. They include:
Medications like oral finasteride, minoxidil foam, minoxidil solution and topical finasteride & minoxidil spray
Surgical procedures like FUT and FUE hair transplants (short for follicular unit transplantation and follicular unit extraction, respectively) and NeoGraft
Non-surgical procedures like laser hair growth treatments and PRP (platelet-rich plasma)
Cosmetic procedures, such as scalp micropigmentation and microneedling
Many hair loss treatments are available online from Hims, making it easy to explore and access various options.
Shop by treatment options
No matter the treatment plan, the best place to start is somewhere. Early action is the best hair loss prevention.
The Bottom Line on Stem Cells for Hair Loss
Your hairline may not look like it used to. Whether that’s due to thinning hair associated with male pattern baldness or another type of alopecia like telogen effluvium or alopecia areata, stem cell therapies might help.
Or they might not.
Figuring out the right way to deal with hair loss is about finding a treatment that suits your unique needs.
Here’s what to know (and what to do):
Stem cell hair therapies may offer hair loss solutions for men who haven’t responded to other treatment types.
However, they’re not FDA-approved and haven’t been substantially demonstrated to work…yet.
If stem cell hair transplant or hair restoration doesn’t sound like the right choice for you right now, numerous other treatments are available both over-the-counter and by prescription.
Your best bet is to consult a healthcare professional or hair loss expert to learn more about treatments like minoxidil and discuss what might be best for you.
Ready to do something about male pattern baldness? We can help with telehealth treatments, education and more. Reach out today.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment or medication.