They Fight Baldness with Stem Cells

Chiara Insalaco is helping to change how cosmetic surgeons address hair loss. Boasting an M.D. and residency from the University of Rome, Sapienza, she is currently pursuing her PhD in Applied Medical Surgical Sciences at University Tor Vergata. One of her major focuses? Stem cell therapy for hair restoration. Dr. Insalaco is currently a pivotal member of a cutting-edge research project jointly helmed by the Forhair Clinic of Atlanta and Artemisia Lab. They hope to introduce new, groundbreaking hair loss methods worldwide.

It started two years ago with a research project in the field of regenerative medicine. Put simply, we began looking for viable hair loss treatments that use stem cells. The project continues at the Forhair Clinic in Atlanta with Dr. John P. Cole, a luminary in the field. Research in the United States has less economic or bureaucratic impediments, allowing us to faster identify solutions and pitfalls.

We are the first team to examine the practicality of follicular stem cells for hair regrowth. Researchers, until now, were not coordinating nor differentiating between stem cells variants. Resultantly, most were defaulting to adipose, or fat, stem cells. Follicular and adipose stem cells, though, have different embryonic origins. We are currently working to further pinpoint the best area from which to extract follicular stem cells. The follicular bulb is a major area of focus because it has the greatest concentration of follicular stem cells. Our current technique isolates and processes these stem cells with a machine from an Italian company.

Our current serum helps encourage regrowth. Patients’ results are far better than generic platelet rich plasma (PRP) treatments. The effect of our team’s stem cell serums also remain over time. There is no risk of rejection or infection and patients experience little to no pain. We are still in a phase of experimentation and data collection but it’s already evident this therapy is a radical improvement over current treatments.

Patients see obvious results from 3 to 6 months to a year. We currently charge around $1,800. This is a major improvement over transplants, which often cost around $8,500. Just remember that our treatment is only available at authorized facilities.

Italian hospitals do not consider baldness a disease. However, it functions as such and the U.S. recognizes this fact. People can go bald for numerous reasons but alopecia, an autoimmune reaction, is the most common. Think of it as a thyroid disease. Put simply, most instances of hair loss have a pathology that coalign with other autoimmune diseases and effective treatments must use acknowledge such. This is without detailing the devastating social and psychological impact hair loss can have on someone, female or male.

Science indicates that most hair loss is pathological. Research and treatment should focus on origins rather than aesthetics. Such a mentality will lead to more effective results. The current attitude discourages innovation and curtails research. Patients should seek surgeons who specialize in hair restoration before those who specialize in generic cosmetics. Due to misinformation, though, many Italians are engaging in medical tourism Turkey is a generic example of where people visit due to advertising that boasts all-inclusive packages: air flight, hotel, sightseeing, and hair transplantation.”

Doctors who sell these hair transplant packages are behaving like crooks. They look at the patient in passing and delegate the medical-surgical work to assistants that lack training, education, or experience. They only care about turnaround and are fully aware their false advertising and surgical practices are illegal.

Subpar “transplants” can be devastating. Those undergoing them often deal with surgical complications, infections, and awful aesthetics, Patients must then turn to more reputable clinics, often with little chance of resolution. The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery and Italy’s Trichology Society are taking action against any and all surgeons who offend the medical profession and violate the dignity of their patients.