Almost half of all Canadians will be affected by some degree of hair loss by the time they reach the age of fifty. Alopecia is a medical term for what is more commonly referred to as baldness. The most common types of hair loss are called male- or female-pattern baldness, but baldness can occur anywhere on the body and can be due to a number of different causes; sometimes, it’s simply genetics.
Whatever the cause, baldness can be very psychologically distressful to some people, leading many to seek a cure. Scientific research in the field of baldness is reaching new heights, with promising techniques and pharmaceuticals consistently being developed. One exciting new stride in the quest for a cure for baldness involves the use of stem cells. This type of regenerative medicine is useful for many different medical issues. Solomon Kamson, MD, PhD, at the Spine Institute Northwest, utilizes stem cell therapy to help heal and repair spine, joint, ligament, or muscle damage.
Kenneth Williams, D.O., is a hair restoration surgeon located in Irvine, California, who is interested in the use of stem cells mixed with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to cure baldness. Dr. Williams takes a patient’s own cells and then uses them to reactivate dormant or inactive hair follicles. To accomplish this treatment, he takes a small amount of fat from a patient’s abdomen, emulsifies it and separates out the stem cells. The resulting mixture of cells is then placed together with the patient’s own plasma which has been highly condensed. This stem cell “recipe” is then injected into the scalp. Patients receive two injections over a period of three months.
Dr. Williams’ NIH-supported clinical trial is already proving to be quite encouraging for hair regrowth. Initial reports from patients undergoing the trial have noted differences in hair density, though the final results are still months away.
Stem cell therapy shows great potential for a variety of uses in a number of different medical fields. Aside from utilizing stem cells and PRP to stimulate hair follicles and encourage new hair growth, research is also being performed on the potential for tooth regrowth. Stem cell regenerative medicine also has the potential to make great strides in the fields of brain, spinal cord, heart muscle, and wound-healing conditions.
At the Spine Institute Northwest, Dr. Kamson uses various types of regenerative medicine to promote healing on the cellular level. Some of the non-surgical, minimally invasive procedures that Dr. Kamson might offer certain patients include BioD regenerative therapy, MatriStem A-Cell injections, PRP therapy, and stem cell therapy. Stem cells can help repair sports-related and other injuries and degenerative conditions of the spine. Since stem cells are taken from a patient’s own body, there is a much lessened risk of negative side effects and complications.
If you are interested in learning more about how stem cell therapy, PRP, and regenerative medicine can help you, call us today at (888) 712-0318 at the Spine Institute Northwest to learn more.