Hair Restoration Surgery: Challenges and Solutions

July 2015 in “ Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology ”

Paul Rose

hair restoration surgery donor hair graft preservation optimization of growth donor preservation graft survival hair regeneration bald scalp stem cells platelet-rich plasma hair transplant surgery male pattern hair loss female pattern hair loss PRP

Studysummary This article discusses the challenges and possible solutions in hair restoration surgery, focusing on donor hair availability, hair survival, and concealing surgical evidence, and reports no new clinical results.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

This document discusses the challenges and solutions of hair restoration surgery, including limited donor hair availability, hair survival, and ways to conceal evidence of a surgical procedure. The article examines these challenges in the areas of donor surgery, graft preservation, optimization of growth, donor preservation and possible enhancement, improved graft survival, and possible regeneration of hairs in areas of bald scalp. The document also discusses the potential use of stem cells and platelet-rich plasma in hair restoration, but notes that no controlled studies in humans have been published demonstrating a positive effect. Overall, hair transplant surgery has become an excellent means to treat many forms of hair loss, particularly male and female pattern hair loss, and the techniques utilized today provide natural appearing results that are esthetically pleasing.

View this study on dovepress.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

36 / 36 results

research The Use of Stem Cells in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

31 citations , December 2014 in “Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine”

This review discusses current experimental research on the use of stem cells, particularly ADSCs and BM-MSCs, in plastic and reconstructive surgery but reports no new clinical findings.

Efficacy and Safety of a Low-Level Laser Device in the Treatment of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Multicenter, Randomized, Sham Device-Controlled, Double-Blind Study

research Efficacy and Safety of a Low-Level Laser Device in the Treatment of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Multicenter, Randomized, Sham Device-Controlled, Double-Blind Study

147 citations , January 2014 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology”

This study found that low-level laser treatment with the HairMax Lasercomb significantly increased terminal hair density in both men and women with pattern hair loss, with no serious adverse events reported.

research Use of Low-Level Laser Therapy as Monotherapy or Concomitant Therapy for Male and Female Androgenetic Alopecia

45 citations , January 2014 in “International Journal of Trichology”

This study found that low-level laser therapy may improve hair growth in patients with androgenetic alopecia, either as a standalone treatment or combined with minoxidil or finasteride, without reported adverse reactions.

Regenerative Medicine and Hair Loss: How Hair Follicle Culture Has Advanced Our Understanding of Treatment Options for Androgenetic Alopecia

research Regenerative Medicine and Hair Loss: How Hair Follicle Culture Has Advanced Our Understanding of Treatment Options for Androgenetic Alopecia

23 citations , December 2013 in “Regenerative Medicine”

This review discusses advancements in cell culture techniques for hair growth treatments and provides insights into the potential and challenges of follicular cell implantation, reporting no new clinical results.

research Robotic Hair Restoration: ARTAS System Review

31 citations , November 2013 in “Dermatologic Clinics”

This article discusses the use of a robotic system for hair graft harvesting in hair restoration surgery, focusing on its capabilities and the advantages and disadvantages, but it reports no new clinical findings.

research Organic Causes of Erectile Dysfunction in Men Under 40

2152 citations , November 2013 in “Urologia Internationalis”

This study reviews the significant prevalence of organic etiologies, especially vascular causes, in erectile dysfunction among men under 40 and emphasizes thorough evaluation and consideration of treatment options like exercise and PDE-5 inhibitors.

research Promotional Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Hair Follicle Reconstitution In Vivo

63 citations , October 2013 in “Dermatologic Surgery”

In this study using a mouse model, the researchers found that platelet-rich plasma significantly increased the number of newly formed hair follicles and decreased the time for hair formation compared to no treatment.

research Nonsurgical Therapy for Hair Loss

14 citations , August 2013 in “Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America”

This review discusses current and emerging medical therapies for androgenetic alopecia but reports no new clinical findings, emphasizing the importance of stabilizing the condition as a complement to surgical hair restoration.

research Future Horizons in Hair Restoration

11 citations , August 2013 in “Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America”

This review discusses the history and challenges of hair follicle regeneration using follicular fragments and dissociated cells, without presenting new clinical results.

research Scalp Micropigmentation: A Medical Tattoo Process for Hair Loss

24 citations , August 2013 in “Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America”

This review discusses scalp micropigmentation techniques and their customization to individual patients, but reports no new clinical results.

research Low-Level Light Therapy for Androgenetic Alopecia: A 24-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham Device-Controlled Multicenter Trial

106 citations , April 2013 in “Dermatologic Surgery”

This study found that low-level light therapy significantly increased hair density and diameter in androgenetic alopecia patients compared to a sham device, suggesting it could be an effective treatment option.

research Shh Maintains Dermal Papilla Identity and Hair Morphogenesis via a Noggin–Shh Regulatory Loop

138 citations , June 2012 in “Genes & Development”

This study found that dermal Shh signaling regulates specific dermal papilla signatures essential for maintaining hair follicle development, suggesting that the Shh-Noggin signaling loop is crucial for hair morphogenesis.

research Fully Functional Hair Follicle Regeneration Through the Rearrangement of Stem Cells and Their Niches

179 citations , April 2012 in “Nature Communications”

This study demonstrates the potential of using bioengineered follicles from adult tissue-derived stem cells for fully functional hair regeneration, illustrating possible applications in organ replacement therapy.

research Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma: A Potential Therapeutic Tool for Promoting Hair Growth

270 citations , March 2012 in “Dermatologic Surgery”

This study found that autologous platelet-rich plasma increased hair growth potential by enhancing dermal papilla cell proliferation and stimulating key signaling pathways in both cell cultures and mice models.

research Prostaglandin D2 Inhibits Hair Growth and Is Elevated in Bald Scalp of Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

205 citations , March 2012 in “Science Translational Medicine”

PGD2 stops hair growth and is higher in bald men with AGA.

research The Role of Inflammation and Immunity in the Pathogenesis of Androgenetic Alopecia

19 citations , December 2011 in “PubMed”

This study found that women with androgenetic alopecia showing a positive immunoreactant profile responded well to combined therapy with minocycline, topical steroids, and red light, indicating an immunologically driven trigger.

research The Nuts and Bolts of Low-Level Laser Therapy

1057 citations , November 2011 in “Annals of Biomedical Engineering”

This review discusses the applications of low level laser therapy (LLLT) in wound healing, pain reduction, and treating various conditions, but reports no new clinical results; the authors highlight the need for randomized controlled trials for serious diseases.

research Adipocyte Lineage Cells Contribute to the Skin Stem Cell Niche to Drive Hair Cycling

499 citations , September 2011 in “Cell”

This study found that intradermal adipocyte lineage cells in mice are necessary and sufficient to activate follicular stem cells, highlighting their role in regulating skin stem cell activity.

research Enhanced Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma Containing a New Carrier on Hair Growth

166 citations , August 2011 in “Dermatologic Surgery”

This study found that PRP combined with dalteparin and protamine microparticles may enhance hair growth by increasing hair thickness compared to PRP alone.

A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study to Assess the Efficacy of a 24-Week Topical Treatment by Latanoprost 0.1% on Hair Growth and Pigmentation in Healthy Volunteers with Androgenetic Alopecia

research A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study to Assess the Efficacy of a 24-Week Topical Treatment by Latanoprost 0.1% on Hair Growth and Pigmentation in Healthy Volunteers with Androgenetic Alopecia

81 citations , August 2011 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

In this study, latanoprost significantly increased hair density in young men with mild androgenetic alopecia after 24 weeks, suggesting it may stimulate hair follicle activity and treat hair loss.

research Human TSC2-Null Fibroblast-Like Cells Induce Hair Follicle Neogenesis and Hamartoma Morphogenesis

36 citations , March 2011 in “Nature Communications”

This study found that TSC2-null fibroblast cells from TSC skin hamartomas can induce hair follicle formation and hamartomatous changes in keratinocytes, with active mTOR signaling observable in a mouse xenograft model.

Therapeutic Hotline: Genetic Variations in the Androgen Receptor Gene and Finasteride Response in Women with Androgenetic Alopecia Mediated by Epigenetics

research Therapeutic Hotline: Genetic Variations in the Androgen Receptor Gene and Finasteride Response in Women with Androgenetic Alopecia Mediated by Epigenetics

16 citations , March 2011 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

This study suggests that genetic variants in the androgen receptor gene may predict which postmenopausal women with hair loss respond to finasteride therapy.

research Neural Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein Modulates Wnt Signaling and Is Required for Hair Follicle Cycling in Mice

37 citations , January 2010 in “Journal of Clinical Investigation”

In this study, N-WASP deficiency in mouse skin was found to cause severe alopecia and disrupt hair follicle cycling by 5 months, highlighting its critical role in skin function and Wnt signaling.

research Review of Factors Affecting the Growth and Survival of Follicular Grafts

17 citations , January 2010 in “PubMed”

This review explores factors affecting graft growth and survival in hair restoration, emphasizing the importance of fundamental care practices while considering advanced storage solutions and additives, but reports no new findings.

research HairMax LaserComb Laser Phototherapy Device in the Treatment of Male Androgenetic Alopecia

160 citations , January 2009 in “Clinical Drug Investigation”

This study found that the HairMax LaserComb® significantly increased hair density and was safe and well tolerated for treating androgenetic alopecia in men compared to a sham device.

research Human Hair Follicles Contain Two Forms of ATP-Sensitive Potassium Channels, Only One Sensitive to Minoxidil

102 citations , February 2008 in “The FASEB Journal”

This study found that human hair follicles express ATP-sensitive potassium channels, suggesting that minoxidil acts on these channels and that drugs targeting them may treat hair disorders.

research Minimal Scars for Scalp Surgery

10 citations , January 2007 in “Dermatologic Surgery”

This study reported that a new surgical technique resulted in minimal scars visible to the naked eye in most cases, suggesting a significant improvement over conventional closure techniques.

research Organogenesis From Dissociated Cells: Generation of Mature Cycling Hair Follicles From Skin-Derived Cells

205 citations , April 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This study describes a system for generating hair follicles from dissociated cells in mice, suggesting that successful development requires a foundational epithelial platform.

research Enhancement of In Vitro Hair Shaft Elongation in Follicles Stored in Buffers That Prevent Follicle Cell Apoptosis

10 citations , January 2004 in “Dermatologic Surgery”

This study found that storing hair follicle micrografts in HEPES-buffered DMEM with ACD inhibitors like aminoguanidine significantly increased hair shaft elongation compared to phosphate-buffered salt solution, suggesting improved viability for transplantation.

research Follicular Unit Extraction: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Hair Transplantation

153 citations , August 2002 in “Dermatologic Surgery”

This paper introduces the Follicular Unit Extraction procedure and its accompanying FOX Test, finding that 60% of tested patients were suitable candidates for this minimally invasive hair transplantation method.

research Control of Hair Growth and Follicle Size by VEGF-Mediated Angiogenesis

520 citations , February 2001 in “Journal of Clinical Investigation”

This study found that VEGF significantly enhances perifollicular vascularization during the hair growth phase, accelerating hair regrowth and increasing follicle and hair size, while its inhibition retards hair growth.

Changes in Hair Weight and Hair Count in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia After Application of 5% and 2% Topical Minoxidil, Placebo, or No Treatment

research Changes in Hair Weight and Hair Count in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia After Application of 5% and 2% Topical Minoxidil, Placebo, or No Treatment

115 citations , November 1999 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

In this study, men using 2% and 5% minoxidil solutions experienced a significant increase in hair weight for 96 weeks compared to placebo, with effects diminishing after treatment cessation.

research The Effects of Finasteride on Scalp Skin and Serum Androgen Levels in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

65 citations , October 1999 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

In this study, finasteride doses as low as 0.2 mg per day significantly reduced both scalp skin and serum DHT levels in men with androgenetic alopecia.

research Finasteride in the Treatment of Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

581 citations , October 1998 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

In male pattern hair loss, this study found that finasteride 1 mg daily significantly slowed hair loss and increased hair growth over two years compared to placebo.

research Elliptical Donor Stereoscopically Assisted Micrografting as an Approach to Further Refinement in Hair Transplantation

172 citations , December 1994 in “The Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology”

This study introduces a hair transplantation method combining elliptical excision and micrografting, suggesting it provides significant cosmetic improvements for androgenetic alopecia.

research Reversal of Baldness in Patient Receiving Minoxidil for Hypertension

95 citations , December 1980 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

Minoxidil helped bald patient regrow hair.