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Stem Cell Treatments For Hair Loss: The Process And How The Treatments Work

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Stem cell treatments have been in research for decades now. The treatments are being used for everything from redesigning the body's autoimmune system to fight autoimmune disorders to destroying non-malignant cells. Adult stem cells can be nurtured to become just about anything, which is why stem cells can also work for hair loss. Here is the process for this treatment and how the treatments work. 

Adult Stem Cells Are Encouraged to Grow Just a Little in a Petri Dish

When and wherever possible, doctors will attempt to take adult stem cells from your own body. The best cells for this can be found in your bone marrow, but the cells can be harvested from blood and certain organ tissues. Once the stem cells are extracted, they are placed in a Petri dish where they are encouraged to grow and are slightly manipulated into becoming the most basic hair cells possible. At this point, you are scheduled for a treatment. 

The Cells Are Put into a Syringe and Injected

The stem cells are then drawn up into a syringe with a sterile fluid to help mobilize the cells during injection. Your doctor will pick key locations on your scalp where the hair seems to be thinning the most and then inject the needle and the contents of the needle into your scalp in little squirts and multiple injection sites in that same area. You may have some slight bleeding because of the blood flow to the head, but with a little pressure and a sterile bandage, it will stop. 

The Injection Sites Are Checked

It will take a few weeks for the stem cells to start growing into hair and hair to start growing out of your scalp. Your doctor will schedule follow-up visits based on the expected time frames for results to occur. As the hair begins to grow, your doctor will be able to see where the hair is coming up and where you may still need more treatments. 

Repeating the Process

One stem cell harvest may produce up to three or four treatments, but your doctor may also get just one viable treatment. It depends on how well the cells cooperate with the process. If there are any treatments left from the original stem cell harvest, your doctor will have you return to complete those treatments before harvesting more stem cells for any additional treatments to restore your hair.


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