Hair loss and thinning is a very common problem in our society, with approximately 40% of women experiencing hair loss by age 40, and 85% of men displaying visible hair loss by age 50. Not all hair thinning is a result of simple aging; hair loss in women in their 20’s and 30’s is becoming more prevalent than ever before.
Why Choose Hair Restoration?
Some hair loss, like that experienced with pregnancy, stress, and certain medications, may only be a temporary side effect. Each hair follicle goes through a normal cycle over the course of several years where a follicle grows, rests, and then sheds. Then a new hair replaces it and the cycle starts again. It is perfectly normal for a women to lose up to a 100 hairs a day; however, when new growth no longer keeps up with normal losses, the balance is tipped, and visual/troublesome hair loss results.
Causes of alopecia (hair loss)
Lifestyle factors
- Poor diet, specifically low protein or calorie restriction
- Excess alcohol
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Dry scalp
- Inflammation (physical and emotional stress, leaky gut, adrenal dysfunction, insulin resistance, obesity, toxin exposure). Recent research suggests hair follicles have receptors for cortisol. Cortisol is released as a response to stress, which results in inflammation at the level of the hair follicle. This inflammation results in decreased blood flow, oxygenation, and nutrient delivery and absorption at the level of the hair follicle, causing hair loss.
- Stress (physical and emotional, both acute and chronic) directly inhibits hair growth by pushing hair follicles into a “transitional” phase, which will result in shedding of that hair within weeks.
Hormonal Imbalance
- Testosterone deficiency/excess
- Thyroid deficiency/excess
- Pregnancy
Prescription Medications
- Oral contraceptives
- Blood pressure medications (B-blockers)
- H2 Blockers (Pepcid, Zantac)
- Antidepressants
Over-processing hair/ physical causes
- Hair color more often than every 10-12 weeks
- Chlorine exposure
- Harsh shampoo, products
The main type of hair loss in both women and men is androgenic alopecia, which is a genetic condition resulting in hair loss. In men, hair loss is characterized by a receding hairline, in the typical “M” distribution, as well as thinning and eventual baldness at the crown. Women experience a general thinning over the entire scalp (first noticing a widening of their part), with the most extensive hair loss at the crown.
Increased levels of androgens in hair follicles can lead to a shorter cycle of hair growth and thinner/shorter strands of hair. In today’s society, more men and women are seeking hormone replacement with testosterone, leading to the potential accumulation of its metabolites with replacement. Rarely, a woman with high levels of androgens may experience hair loss if they convert testosterone to DHT (dihydrotestosterone) in the scalp/hair follicle. This side effect of testosterone replacement can be managed with the supplement Saw Palmetto or prescription medication (finasteride), which decreases the conversion of testosterone to DHT.
Treatment Options
Hair loss may not be completely preventable, but there are several treatment options to manage it. If you are uncertain as to the source of your hair loss, please consider making an appointment with one of our providers for an examination and appropriate laboratory studies. Frequently, a discussion of your medical history and complete patient profile will reveal the cause behind your hair loss and the most effective treatment plan.
Adjuvant treatments found to be extremely effective in regrowing hair when combined with the treatment of any medical underlying causes of hair loss, if indicated, include:
Specific supplements for hair and nail growth, such as biotin and collagen, and Vampire Hair Restoration.
What is Vampire® Hair Restoration?
The revolutionary Vampire® Hair Regrowth procedure uses your own Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injected and microneedled into the scalp to encourage new hair growth. The application of PRP causes miniaturized hair follicles to become healthier and larger, producing more robust hair growth. Follicular progenitor cells become activated, and PRP is loaded with growth factors that promote rapid development of new blood vessels and localized cell growth.
Effective for both male and female pattern hair loss, Vampire® Hair Regrowth has also regrown hair in conditions such as alopecia areata, eyebrow hypotrichosis and other patient cases with non-hereditary hair loss.
Results
Please see https://www.realself.com/prp-for-hair-loss for treatment reviews and results!
Treatment Frequency
When performed in a series for optimum results, we recommend that treatments are scheduled every 4-6 weeks.
How Does Vampire® Hair Regrowth Work?
The Vampire® Hair Regrowth treatment takes about 90 minutes to complete. First, a blood sample is obtained which is specially processed to produce the PRP. A potent local anesthetic, BLT (benzocaine, lidocaine, tetracaine) is then applied to completely numb the scalp treatment area. The PRP is then administered via a series of injections over the full scalp, or in a localized treatment area such as the eyebrows or beard.
The recovery from the procedure is typically uneventful. Any procedural discomfort is easily managed with non-narcotic pain relievers such as ibuprofen. Mild swelling of the forehead is occasionally seen one to two days after injections; this is normal and will typically resolve in 48 hours. There is no other downtime nor noticeable effects of the procedure, and clients can wash their hair normally immediately after the injections.
**RevIVe takes its Vampire® Hair restoration procedure to another level of intensity! When blood is drawn via venipuncture to isolate PRP, an IV is started, and vitamins crucial to hair regrowth are administered intravenously, including B vitamins, biotin, vitamin C, and glutathione, among others! Additionally, we apply the Capillus cap system (an FDA-cleared laser therapy which stimulates and energizes the hair follicle, stimulating growth) post-procedure prior to the client’s departure. No other facilities offer this highly effective combination therapy!
New hair growth can be seen as early as 1-2 months following a Vampire procedure, but is typically most evident between 4-8 months, and continues to improve for up to a year following a single treatment. To date, results have been maintained without additional injections for up to two years in many patients!
Cost
What is Exosome Hair Restoration?
Exosome hair restoration is a procedure wherein exosomes and growth factors regenerate and regrow hair, reversing the earlier stages of hair loss in men and women.
Exosomes are extracellular vesicles responsible for inter-cell communication, i.e., they send messaging signals to other cells to control their behavior. The exosomes can now be isolated from human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells and then injected into the targeted treatment areas on the scalp. The exosomes carry a high concentration on growth factors, and they’re small enough to cross barriers that regular cells can’t cross. As such, exosomes effectively activate the dormant hair follicles, encouraging hair regeneration.
How is Exosome Hair Restoration Different from PRP Hair Restoration?
Exosome hair restoration is generally considered more effective and reliable than PRP hair restoration. That’s because the quality of the PRP harvested gradually worsens with age and other health factors. Furthermore, PRP doesn’t contain any stem cells. Exosomes, meanwhile, don’t have to be collected from the patient’s body. They’re procured from tissue banks that maintain the highest quality of exosomes sourced from amniotic mesenchymal stem cells. As such, the exosomes are simply injected into the patient’s body without the need for extraction.
How Does Exosome Hair Restoration Work?
Exosome hair restoration is a fairly simple and painless procedure that concludes in 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the treatment area and the number of injections necessary. After discussing your goals and reviewing your health history, our providers retrieve the exosomes procured from the tissue banks. The exosomes are injected into the scalp to restore skin cell regeneration. The procedure is painless and doesn’t involve any downtime. Most patients resume their daily activities immediately.
Results
Exosome hair restoration starts showing results in 2 to 3 months, with continued improvements for a year. The most noticeable results are generally seen 6 months after the procedure.
Treatment Frequency
Your cosmetic provider will determine the ideal treatment frequency for your specific needs. Some patients need 2 to 3 sessions for optimal results. The exosomes last in your body for 6 to 8 months, so you can repeat the treatment about 8 months after the last session. Contact us for more information about Hair Restoration.