Seven things you wish you knew about hair transplants

Want to know the differences between VieStem Hair with Regenera Activa and surgical hair transplants? Read on…

In response to a huge number of requests, as promised, here is my newest blog looking at the difference between VieStem Hair with Regenera Activa and traditional surgical hair transplants. My aim is to shed more light on the procedures and to discuss which treatment might be right for you…

You may recently have heard about VieStem Hair with Regenera Activa, a stem cell micro-transplantation. It’s a new breakthrough in combating the hereditary hair loss condition known as “androgenic alopecia”, more commonly referred to as Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) and Female Pattern Baldness (FPB).

We introduced the treatment to the clinic in early 2019 and have been very excited by the results it has produced. This has been picked up by mainstream media too, with reports in the national press and even on the TV show Lorraine.

Of course, you almost certainly would have heard much about hair transplants, too. The surgical hair transplant industry has exploded over the last 10 – 15 years, with techniques greatly improved since the 1980s and 1990s, and many celebrities, from Robbie Williams to Wayne Rooney, confessing to having procedures done.

So, what are Regenera Activa Stem Cell Micro-Transplants exactly? And how do they differ to Surgical Hair Transplants? And if hair loss bothers you, then which treatment might be right for you?

In this blog we attempt to answer those questions.

In simple terms, a hair transplant involves a surgeon taking healthy hair follicles from the back of the scalp – where the hairs aren’t susceptible to hair loss – and replanting them in the thinning areas at the front of the scalp. Eventually, these follicles grow thick, new hair and patients see final results between one year and 18 months after treatment.

There are two common types of hair transplant…

The Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) method – or “strip” method – involves the surgeon removing a large strip of skin from the back of the head. He or she then extracts hair grafts, which contain groups of hairs, to be distributed into the problem areas. The beauty of this method is that it is faster, cheaper, and allows for larger sessions. However, it does result in some scarring at the back of the head from where the strip was taken.

The other popular method is Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). In this instance, the doctor extracts hairs individually from the back of the head and replants them in the treated areas one-by-one. It’s excellent for procedures where total precision is required, for example, if you want to shape the hairline to perfection, or for filling in a small area. However, it is not usually suitable for larger sessions.

There is little question that surgical hair transplants can work wonders in the right hands, and there’s a reason why so many people are having them these days. Their appeal includes…

• Surgical transplants are the only hair loss solution that guarantees permanent results. All transplanted hairs will remain in place for life.
• Surgical techniques have improved dramatically over the last decade or so. In the hands of a skilled doctor, excellent results can be achieved, both in terms of density and coverage, and in appearing natural to the outside eye. However, DO YOUR RESEARCH – you should always research clinics and surgeons before plumping down this route! Although standards have improved, it can still be an unethical industry.
• If your hair loss is quite progressed (e.g. Norwood 5 and beyond – see diagram to the right), hair transplants are really the only realistic solution for restoring hair, besides wearing a hair-piece (which can also look great these days, too). Note: the Norwood Scale is used to measure the degree of androgenic alopecia in men.
• Finally, a hair transplant performed properly should work for everyone. Unlike medications, where some people respond better than others.

Regenera Activa is a revolutionary new treatment for hereditary hair loss. Despite its name, it’s actually quite different to a surgical hair transplant and is, in fact, a non-surgical procedure.

It begins with the doctor taking a tiny tissue sample from the back of the patient’s scalp, where the hair is still dense and not affected by androgenic alopecia (essentially, the same area from which a surgeon takes hair grafts in a hair transplant). A special machine is used to harvest regenerative stem cells from this healthy tissue, and these stem cells are then mixed into a solution.

The stem cells are then actively implanted into the areas of thinning (via injections), where they develop into follicles of their own, essentially producing new hair. The potential for growing hair is the most exciting aspect of this treatment. In addition, dying hair follicles are also reactivated by the injection of stem cells. Over the coming months, all these follicles return to the normal hair cycle, resulting in thicker, healthier hair.

For more on VieStem Hair with Regenera Activa click here.

Regenera Activa is a very new treatment that was introduced to Vie Aesthetics in 2019, making us the first clinic in the UK to offer it. Early results have been visibly impressive in patients, encouraging new growth and thickening hair. We see stem cells as the future in the fight against hair loss.

Benefits of the treatment include…

• It is ideal for patients in the early stages of hair loss or with mild to moderate hair loss. It can not only help halt the onset of MPB and FPB, it can even grow new hair.
• Treatments are 100% natural. It’s an autologous treatment – that means it uses cells or tissue from the individual’s own body. Consequently, there is virtually no risk of side-effects or of the body rejecting the treatment.
• There is no surgery or downtime involved, and treatments take less than 30 minutes. You can return to work on the same day if you wish. Conversely, surgical hair transplant procedures can take at least half a day and typically require two weeks off work afterwards.
• Patients don’t need to shave down their recipient areas, unlike in many surgical hair transplant procedures.
• The treatments can be used in conjunction with surgical hair transplant procedures, to halt the progress of further hair loss on the rest of the scalp. Basically, they can be a brilliant double-act.
• Results are permanent. However, repeat treatments will very likely be required. We believe this will be between every 18 months to six years.
• There is very minimal scarring from the area in which the tissue sample is taken. This is unlike a surgical hair transplant.

The answer to this question probably lies in the extent of your hair loss and what your hopes and expectations are.

If you’re in the early to middle stages of MPB or FPB, and your hair loss is mild to moderate, then Regenera Activa is an exciting option for not only maintaining what hair you already have, but for also potentially thickening existing hair and even growing some new hair. In these instances, it may prevent you ever needing to consider a hair transplant in the future.

Regenera Activa is also a brilliant alternative to taking approved hair loss medications such as Minoxidil and Finasteride (known by its brand name Propecia), because there is virtually no risk of side-effects with Stem Cell Micro-Transplants. Everything that is being injected back into you, is from you!

However, Regenera Activa can also be used as an additional treatment to hair loss medications. After all, it’s just another barrier of defence against androgenic alopecia.

Regenera Activa can also be an excellent additional treatment to people who have already had surgical hair transplants. As we explained earlier, transplants can’t stop you from losing further hair on your head, they merely restore hair to balding areas. Therefore, Regenera Activa can help you maintain that hair. Many of our clients who have come into the clinic for Regenera Activa have previously had a hair transplant, too.

However, if your hair loss is quite progressed, or you want to restore your hairline or fill in a larger bald area, then a surgical hair transplant may be the best option for you. These procedures still represent the only guaranteed permanent solution for baldness. Although you should always manage your expectations. And please, do your research when deciding on a doctor or clinic.

Well, we hope this has all educated about Regenera Activa treatments and surgical hair transplants. If hair loss is a concern of yours, then why not book your comprehensive, no obligation consultation with us today and see what we might be able to do for you.

Kind regards

Vicky Grammatikopoulou
CEO, Vie Aesthetics