by Dr. Patricia Lutfy, MD, DC. Diplomate, American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Studies show more than half of all men and one in three women will experience hair loss in their lives. It’s a major source of insecurity for adult men and women worldwide, especially when it happens at a young age.
Thankfully, technology and science are producing simple, effective, non-invasive ways to promote hair growth by harnessing the power of stem cell rich cord blood and amniotic fluid products. Three of the most exciting hair restoration treatments available are stem cell (derived from cord blood), PRP- and Amniotic Fluid or AmnioFix scalp injections by practitioners.
Hair loss and the use of PRP, Amniotic fluid and stem cells:
PRP, stem cell, AmnioFix and Amniotic Fluid hair restoration therapy harness the power of regenerative extracts originally used for sports injuries in elite athletes. Today, these naturally regenerative sources of cellular building-blocks, rich in cytokines and other growth factors are also being used to stimulate hair growth and even facial rejuvenation. PRP and Amniotic Fluid treatments are quick, affordable and are administered with very little pain.
A hair restoration consultation with a Doctor or Naturopath at KOI Wellbeing can help you learn what’s possible based on your genetics, hair loss, age, and hormones.
These treatments can slow or reverse hair loss naturally and are collectively referred to as “regenerative” hair restoration treatments. PRP, amniotic fluid and cord blood treatments are part of a larger body of medical research and cutting edge therapies that have proven effective in repairing, restoring and strengthening human cells and structures.
A patient prior to receiving a hair restoration treatment using a stem cell rich cord blood product:
A KOI Patient prior to receiving 1cc of cord blood stem cell product in February of 2019. This patient was experiencing accelerated hair loss, thinning an temporal balding.
Dr. Lutfy applied 1cc of a product called StemShot, an FDA cleared- but not approved for a specific use- tissue allograft taken from a donated umbilical cord that’s rigorously screened and cryogenically preserved.
Dr. Lutfy uses a small needle to inject product into two areas in the temporal region, two areas where the hair was receding and into the crown of the head where thinning was beginning to occur.
Dr. Lutfy performing hair restoration treatment at KOI Wellbeing, San Diego:
Dr. Lutfy uses a small needle to inject product into two areas of the temporal region, two areas where the hair was receding and also one injection into the crown of the head where thinning was beginning to occur.
5 Months Later:
Research and sharing of information of doctors practicing this leading edge treatment for balding concludes that the benefits of regenerative hair loss treatments produce hair growth over several months. After one treatment your hair may continue to grow or fill in for as much as 8 months.
This patient -like most who have stem cell and other like treatments for hair loss- reported that the fist thirty days were much the same in terms of hair loss. After thirty days the he was encouraged to find less and less hair was falling out when brushing and showering.
By the second month he reported that the hair loss had stopped entirely. And by month three began to see “peach fuzz” and new hair growth where his scalp was entirely bald before treatment.
Here in month five we can see that he has experienced hair regrowth and thickening after just one treatment and is very happy with the outcome. He is scheduled to undergo a treatment with AmnioFix or one of the amniotic fluid treatments mixed with PRP next month and expects to have three treatments total over the course of 16 months.
Three of the latest and most effective treatments for hair loss explained:
PRP was the first treatment to gain international attention in 2013 after Kobe Bryant famously flew to Germany to have his own PRP injected into his chronically inflamed knees. After returning to play in his 14th season Bryant looked like a kid again, jumping over his opponents and running the court as if years younger.
AmnioFix and the use of amniotic fluid began to see increasing acceptance in 2018. The idea to apply the growth factor rich product for use in stemming hair loss and hair restoration was a natural progression for doctors working in the regenerative medicine field. If PRP which is comparatively low in growth factors and stability worked well, AmnioFix, with its 285 regulatory proteins and over 300 growth factors should be better.
Cord blood products have stormed the market and several US companies offer various types of allografts that are rich in mesenchymal stem cells, cytokines and growth factors- components that are integral to bone consolidation and tissue repair. These products have become the new next leading edge for hair restoration. They are the most expensive and arrive at our office cryogenically frozen, having been harvested from donors sometimes just hours prior.
The stem cell rich hair restoration product Dr. Lutfy used to treat your hair loss at is derived from the Wharton’s jelly which is harvested from the umbilical cord.
The cryogenically preserved amniotic fluid product (different from AmnioFix- which is slightly more processed and freeze dried) is used alternately with the stem cell rich product above. It is a sterile filtered flowable allograft that leverages the healing properties of amniotic fluid for clinical applications. The cytokines, proteins, exosomes, hyaluronic acid and growth factors found within this product are known to promote healing and protect human cells and tissues in a number of scenarios.
Hair Restoration at KOI Wellbeing, San Diego:
Numerous practitioners including Dr. Lutfy began using AmnioFix, PRP, stem cells and other cord blood products in their practice for treatment of joint pain and commonly, knee injuries and degradation. Their intuitive knowledge and research led them to realize these same products could have profound effects on other cells and even alopecia (hair loss). After assessing your hair loss and a thorough consultation to discuss your goals Dr. Lutfy will determine which product is right for you.
Often time the doctor will suggest combining PRP with one of the cod blood derived products or AmnioFix to maximize your results.
Hair Restoration Pricing:
Stem Cell Rich Hair Restoration & Amniotic Allograft Hair Restoration : $2,400
PRP add-on: $500
Dr. Lutfy uses a stem cell product to treat hair loss that is derived from cord blood, a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stromal cells, similar to those found in bone marrow. These cells have the ability to develop into many different cell types. They are attracted to the site of degeneration- dormant and degenerating hair follicles and signal cells to regenerate new, healthier cells and activating follicles to produce new hair growth.
AmnioFix Hair Restoration: $1195 (40cc)
PRP add-on: $500
AmnioFix which has won FDA approval for use to treat osteoarthritis of the knee is among the most popular products available in regenerative medicine. The product is stable and consistent because of the process used by MiMedx (maker of AmnioFix) to freeze dry the amniotic fluid allograft. Practitioners like AmnioFix for use in treating hair loss because every vial of the product is essentially the same, delivering a potent mix of cytokines and growth factors in measured quantities backed by clinical trials and studies.
PRP Hair Restoration: $995
As a standalone or in conjunction with another cord blood, stem cell-rich or AmnioFix product PRP is a safe and popular option for treating hair loss. Signaling your bodies natural response and regenerative powers, PRP introduces thousands of times more platelets than your body produces in an injury response. With more cellular building blocks to work with your body is able to produce more new cells and potentially awaken dormant hair follicles to grow hair where thinning or balding have occurred. PRP is also used to treat aging skin, fine lines and wrinkles and acne scarring.
Causes of Hair Loss
Genetic:
There’s a chance you’re genetically predisposed to hair thinning, which means you may see a progressive, gradual reduction in hair volume. In these instances, certain hair follicles are sensitive to hormones. This sensitivity causes follicles to gradually shrink and produce slightly finer and shorter hairs with each passing hair growth cycle.
Reactive:
This means your hair loss is the result of a trigger. Excessive daily hair shedding (which is know as telogen effluvium) is not reliant on having a genetic predisposition, it occurs as the result of an internal imbalance or upset, such as a nutritional deficiency, severe stress, crash dieting or an illness.
Further causes of hair loss include:
- Hormonal imbalance
- Stress
- Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism
- Iron deficiency or anemia
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Aging
Treating these various causes by addressing their root cause and making adjustments to your diet, lifestyle and by using therapies such as bio-identical hormone balancing and other effective treatments we offer at KOI Wellbeing may prove effective in restoring your hair’s natural thickness and growth.
Hair loss is not always permanent and in cases where it is caused by some imbalance, stress or vitamin deficiency, a consultation with an MD or Naturopathic Doctor and functional lab testing may ultimately best address your underlying cause and remedy the problem.
In the interim, PRP and Amniotic Fluid hair restoration treatments can be used to stimulate hair regrowth and restore your hair’s thickness in conjunction with the root cause treatments prescribed or recommended by your doctor.
For hair loss that is more progressive and caused by aging or genetic predisposition Amniotic Fluid and PRP hair restoration alone is among the most effective treatment options available today.
Cutting Edge Medicine Without Limits
About the doctor
Dr. Patricia Lutfy, MD, DC is an expert in regenerative medicine which includes the use of PRP, and Stem Cell derivatives such as Amniotic Fluid.
Her practice array and expertise includes treating hair loss and thinning hair with PRP and Amniotic Fluid, ultrasound-guided Amniotic Fluid, PRP and Traumeel injections to treat body pain and injuries, cold laser therapy for pain and weight-loss, and treatments for migraine headaches, spasticity, dystonia, and hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating).
Dr. Lutfy provides same-day consultation and treatment at our La Jolla KOI Wellbeing offices. A 30 minute consultation with Dr. Lutfy costs $150.
Dr. Lutfy is a Board Certified Doctor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and has treated hundreds of patients using advanced techniques in regenerative medicine, stem cell therapy and ultrasound guided injections. Before attending medical school and graduating with honors Dr. Lutfy was a Dr. of Chiropractic Medicine.
She applies her comprehensive knowledge of the whole body and years of practice to deliver exceptional results and spends time with her patients, explaining treatment options and expectations for treatment outcomes and giving post-treatment guidance and support.
Book online or call today to schedule your appointment 858.257.2808
