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In order to increase the ultimate survival, caliber, and even the rate at which hair follicles grow after transplantation, patients and hair restoration physicians alike are looking for methods to best care for them when they are in the precarious state out of the body (after extraction, but before implantation).  Dr. Carlos K. Wesley will lecture to fellow physicians on “New Frontiers in Surgical Hair Restoration” at the Mount Sinai Medical Center Multi-Specialty Spring Symposium in New York City in which he will discuss the various advancements in hair follicle storage prior to transplantation.

Sentiment in the field of surgical hair restoration is increasingly favoring the use of platelet rich plasma (PRP) as a possible storage solution to achieve the three goals stated above.  Dr. Wesley has even noted the benefit of incorporating PRP into the intra-operative graft storage process as patients appear to produce transplanted hair growth slightly earlier than the standard timeline at which transplanted hairs are normally appreciated.

While these observations related to PRP are promising, the mystery behind this product remains: What is it about PRP that may produce this benefit?  Is there a particular element within the autologous solution that is most critical in the stimulation of hair growth and development?  To shed light on this question, Dr. Wesley collaborated with immunologists at Mt. Sinai Medical Center to investigate the following variables on hair characteristics:

1. The degree of physiologic concentration of platelets in PRP

2. The specific concentration of certain growth factors thought to be involved in the stimulation cascade:

Hair multiplication, or the act of removing hair follicles and hair follicle stem cells, cloning the follicles/cells, and implanting the cloned follicles/cells into areas of balding scalp, is one of the most anticipated futuristic hair loss treatments. Though several methods of hair multiplication have been proposed, researchers still believe isolation, cloning, and multiplying dermal papilla stem cells from the hair bulb of the follicle represents the greatest chance of true multiplication.

In a new scientific publication, researchers at Harvard Medical School revisited the role of dermal papilla cells in hair follicle function, and confirmed the importance of these cells in the future of hair multiplication treatments. Recently, recommended hair restoration surgeon and hair follicle stem cell researcher Dr. Parsa Mohebi was kind enough to review the new article and share the important scientific information in “laymen’s terms” on his blog. According to Dr. Mohebi:

Hair stem cells and their role in the future of hair restoration has been a hot topic in recent years. It is easy to understand how success in the area of hair multiplication (or hair cloning) would be another quantum leap in hair restoration. People affected by genetic baldness could have the stem cells of hairs from their permanent zone multiplied for hair transplantation.

One day, stem cell therapy may help the blind to see and the paralyzed to walk. It may regrow lost limbs and damaged organs, cure illness and even prolong life. Given this seemingly endless potential for medical miracles, it’s no wonder that balding men and women are anxiously anticipating news of a stem cell hair loss cure and the recent advent of a 3D stem cell printer just might bring that idea one step closer to reality.

Recently, researchers from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland announced the development of a 3-D printer that uses “bio ink” (a material made from living cells that behaves much like a liquid, allowing people to “print” it in order to create a desired shape) to create living, human embryonic stem cells.

According to scientists,

“The cell printer was made from a modified CNC machine (a computer-controlled machining tool) outfitted with two ‘bio ink’ dispensers: one containing stem cells in a nutrient-rich soup called cell medium and another containing just the medium. These embryonic stem cells were dispensed through computer-operated valves, while a microscope mounted to the printer provided a close-up view of what was being printed. The two inks were then dispensed in layers, one on top of the other to create cell droplets of varying concentration. The smallest droplets were only two nanoliters, containing roughly five cells.”

About 99% of cells created through this process were alive and viable for replication. These cells then have the capacity to develop into any cell type from brain tissue to muscle, bone and even hair follicles. 

Recommended hair transplant surgeon Dr. Ivan Cohen of Fairfield, CT recently became the first physician in New England to implement the ARTAS Hair Restoration System. ARTAS is the first of its kind, FDA cleared robotic hair transplantation system that allows a skilled and experienced hair restoration physician to perform follicular unit extraction (FUE) hair transplants with greater efficiency and accuracy.

Regarding the addition of ARTAS to his practice Dr. Cohen states, “By utilizing this advanced technology, I am able to provide my patients with the most effective surgical options available today”. He continues, “I am dedicated to maintaining state of the art surgical techniques and continuing to be at the forefront in the field of hair transplantation.”

To learn more about ARTAS, see the article, “Advantages of the ARTAS Robotic Assisted Hair Transplant for Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE): By Dr. Robert Bernstein“.

For more information about Dr. Cohen, his experience and technique, click the link to his recommendation profile above.

Hair loss sufferers seeking treatment in Connecticut and beyond are encouraged to consult with Dr. Cohen.

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David (TakingThePlunge)
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.
To share ideas with other hair loss sufferers visit the hair loss forum and social community

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This insightful hair loss information was posted on our Hair Restoration Social Community and Discussion Forums: by Dr. Jerry Cooley of Charlotte, NC who is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.

How does ACell work? Are there any studies to show its effectiveness in hair restoration surgery?

Please see my recent update on ACell in the Hair Loss Q&A blog, “Updates on Hair Duplication (AutoCloning) and ACell: Hope For a Hair Loss Cure.

Performing full scale blinded, controlled studies on agents that might improve hair transplant results is exceedingly difficult if not impossible. To prove something is helping and that this result did not occur by chance, you need to study 50-100 patients with a split scalp design, and follow these patients carefully with good photographs and hair counts. Virtually no clinic could do this, and would you want to be one of these study patients where one half of your transplant came out looking different than the other half?

Nevertheless, we can adopt practices and techniques that are safe and scientifically sound and begin reporting our clinical observations. This is what I have done over the years with holding solutions like HypoThermosol, PRP, ACell, and liposomal ATP. Other hair restoration physicians who have also begun using these are reporting improvements similar to mine.

Since receiving FDA approval in 2011 for the harvesting of follicular unit grafts from the scalp, the ARTAS Hair Restoration System has been adopted by some of the world’s leading hair transplant surgeons. However, while ARTAS hair transplantation continues to grow in popularity; many misconceptions remain among hair loss sufferers regarding its use and limitations.

What IS ARTAS?

ARTAS is a system combining robotics and digital imaging that allows a skilled and experienced hair transplant surgeon to perform follicular unit extraction (FUE) hair transplants with greater efficiency and accuracy. It employs state of the art imaging technology combined with a computer-controlled robotic arm that can identify and harvest individual follicular unit grafts.

What ARTAS Is Not

Unlke the NeoGraft hair transplant machine, the ARTAS has not been actively marketed to the novice wishing to add surgical hair restoration to their repertoire of services.  Manufacturers of the ARTAS system recognize that their device is not a suitable substitute for a skilled and experienced hair transplant surgeon. Instead, it’s simply one of many possible tools with the potential to enhance FUE results. While many have chosen to adopt the machine, many more are producing natural and undetectable results with a variety of other follicular unit extraction tools.

ARTAS is not an implanter but only capable of harvesting. FUE with ARTAS still requires a highly qualified doctor and staff implant the grafts.

Where Can You Learn More?

This question, asked by a member of our hair loss social community and discussion forums, was answered by Bill – the Managing Publisher of our Hair Restoration Network: 

I’ve started researching hair transplant surgery and found some interesting information about the NeoGraft. I’m curious, how effective is the NeoGraft procedure? How does it differ from normal hair transplantation?

Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misinformation available on the NeoGraft which has caused prospective patients some confusion.  For starters, NeoGraft is both a company and one of dozens, if not hundreds of extraction devices a physician can use to harvest follicular units from the back of the scalp.  Thus, “NeoGraft” is not the name of a procedure.  The actual procedure is called follicular unit extraction or FUE.

The NeoGraft hair transplant machine, like other tools, comes with a list of advantages and disadvantages.  Unfortunately, NeoGraft’s misleading marketing has led prospective patients like yourself to believe that NeoGraft is an actual procedure and that neophyte surgeons and/or technicians can perform follicular unit extraction hair transplant surgery using their machine with little or even no experience.

The reality is, any tool in the hands of the inexperienced can be dangerous.  If you give a fool a hammer, he’ll most likely break his thumb.  However, a skilled and experienced contractor can use a hammer to build a magnificent home.  Thus, the quality of hair transplant results relies much more on the skill and experience of the surgeon and his/her staff than on which tool they use.

Whether or not hair duplication (formerly known as “autocloning“) may become a true cure for hair loss in the near future has been a hot topic of discussion since the topic was introduced by Coalition member Dr. Jerry Cooley at the 2010 Annual Scientific International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) Scientific Meeting.  Dr. Cooley recently presented a brief presentation at last year’s 2012 ISHRS Meeting.  To view the highlights of his findings, visit the 2012 Annual Scientific ISHRS Meeting.

Hair Duplication (autocloning) works on the principle that a hair, when plucked properly, will emerge with its epithelial cells and follicular stem cells intact.  According to Dr. Cooley, applying ACell (a natural agent regularly used in optimal wound healing) to the plucked hair and implanting it into the scalp stimulates the body’s natural regenerative potential to create new hair follicles.  Since plucked hairs also regrow in the original site, a potentially limitless donor supply is created, providing hair loss sufferers with the possibility of restoring a full head of hair.

Below, world renowned hair transplant surgeon Dr. Cooley  presents his ongoing research on the use of ACell MatriStem for wound healing and the promising hair duplication technique.   While the below, preliminary data gives hope to hair loss sufferers waiting for hair multiplication technology to provide a cure for baldness, much more research and testing is required.

To view the entire power point presentation, click here.

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What is ACell?

This question, from a member of our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion Forums, was answered by recommended hair transplant surgeon Dr. Richard Mejia:

What is the advancement in hair restoration technology if one can’t get enough hair on head? What about taking hair from the body? I heard it has helped many people like me.

In Part 3 of a 3 part series of highlights from the annual 2012 ISHRS (International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery) scientific meeting in the Bahamas, Coalition hair transplant surgeon Dr. Robert Bernstein shares his insight and experience with the ARTAS robotic follicular unit extraction system.

View Part 1, Scalp Micropigmentation (Scalp Tattooing) at the 2012 ISHRS (International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery) Scientific Meeting – Dr. Robert Bernstein Provides His Input.

View Part 2, Coalition Hair Transplant Surgeon Dr. Robert Bernstein Discusses the Efficacy and Safety of Finasteride

For more highlights from the meeting, visit “Highlights from the 2012 ISHRS (International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery) Scientific Meeting in the Bahamas”

View Dr. Bernstein’s expert review of Robotic FUE below.

One of the most important new advances in hair transplantation is Robotic Follicular Unit Extraction (R-FUE).  I have been using the new ARTAS Robot, manufactured by Restoration Robotics, for almost a year now. It has made follicular unit extraction (FUE) a more exacting and reliable procedure. The “Coffee with the Experts” session that I gave on the topic of Robotic FUE at the ISHRS was standing room only, attesting to the great interest that members of our society have in this new technology.