How Effective is Stem Cell Therapy for Your Scalp Combined with Hair Grafts? (photo)

I'm unaware of any real use of using just stem cells for hair growth.  Medications like Rogaine and Propecia do work, and of course hair transplantation is perhaps the best tool.  I prefer FUE using NeoGraft to avoid a linear scar.

There is no such thing as Stem Cell therapy for hair loss. It is sometimes used to describe treatments such as PRP but it is not actual "stem cell" therapy.  

Unless you are obtaining stem cells from your fat, you probably are referring to recombinant stem cells.  I am not aware of studies with  stem cells and hair growth. If you are referring to PRP and the platelets containing growth factors, it may assist growth in some cases after transplants.Thanks

Dear Sean, there is NO medical / scientific evidence which supports the role of stem cells in hair growth in general, either prior to, or following hair transplants. Your comment about being"sold like fertilizer" is bang on.

Do continue with Minoxidil & Propecia as together, they will help both pre & post op.

Stem cell treatment for hair loss? I know of no evidence to support the use of stem cells for hair transplantation. Choose another surgeon who is experienced for the best results

Sean, while there are many studies that show a probable benefit PRP to hair restoration both nonsurgical and surgical, I know of no studies involving actual stem cell therapy.  In all likelihood your doctor would probably be doing PRP.  In looking at your photos certainly the nonsurgical options are good for start but it seems to me you have been doing this for some time.  Just by the looks of the posterior scalp you would be an excellent candidate for smart graft FUE or 1 of the other FUE techniques leaving you no linear scar on the back of the head.  I would also concentrate on the frontal portion of your hair loss where there is thinning and thicken this area with the 2000 grafts and then move on more posterior as the posterior area seems to be in better shape than your hairline and frontal hair concentration.  Good luck with your decision and let us know if you do have the stem cell therapy and how it works out.  Good luck Dr. Schuster in Boca Raton

I am not aware of any specific stem cell on the market that specifically improves hair regeneration by differentiating into a follicle. There are a number of umbilical cord stem cell allografts on the market that can benefit. 
This is not because they create new follicles, but because they are loaded with very vibrant beneficial near fetal growth factors, cytokines and many other beneficial materials. I have witnessed some additional benefit with these products, but not enough to justify the cost. 
On the other hand, certain types of exosomes when combined in the right cocktail have demonstrated to my satisfaction far superior results over PRP and stem cell allograft cocktails. 
I wish you the very best outcome. Please post your results.
Warmly,
Arbella Sarkis, MD   

PRP mixed in combination with hair transplant procedure delivers incredible results when mixed in conjunction with a procedure. It is 99.9% effective. PRP helps regrow, rejuvenate and thicken the small miniaturized hair and bring them back to life. While the transplants help with regrowing hair in areas that you have completely lost. Hair loss is progressive, So you will never lose the transplanted hair that is generically programmed to grow for life. Although, you might lose more native hair and that is where the PRP preventative comes in to play to help you hold onto everything. So, you aren't left feeling like you are consistently chasing the hair by doing transplant after transplant and wasting a bunch of money. 

By stem cells I presume you mean PRP.  If you get transplantation and PRP together it will be difficult to determine which one gave any results.  That may not be a reason not to get both, but if you are looking to try a less expensive alternative first, you can start with a nonsurgical approach added to what you are already doing and if not satisfied or desire more results or a longer lasting one that may or may not require a touchup try surgery later.  Know that most everything works for some and there are those who find nothing works.  You seem to have a lot of hair to work with so you should get satisfactory results.

Thank you for your question. To date, there is not a well designed study to support the use of stem cells at the time of hair transplantation. In theory, it may be of benefit as stem cells respond to a local stimulus to differentiate. Thus, if done at the time of, or shortly after, a hair transplant there "may" be some benefit as the stem cells would be receiving signals from the grafted follicles. I would not expect the stem cells to differentiate into follicles but perhaps they could have a positive effect on the remaining follicles or those that have gone dormant. I hope this was helpful - Dr. Moore.