Any opinion regarding the NEOLTS light therapy for hair restoration by NeoGraft?

Dear improve110,Thank you for writing in with your question. The reality is that hair loss is like tooth decay in that (a) there is no cure for either phenomenon, and (b) they tend to be progressive in nature, in that the results of the phenomenon (loss of teeth in the tooth decay example, and loss of hair and appearance of scalp in the hair loss example) tend to get worse over time without treatment or intervention. Combine this fact with the fact that a hair restoration procedure of any nature is just a re-distribution of hair that happens to remain on the scalp, and it should be very apparent that holding on to your current hair is a top priority for you. One of the most effective therapies for preventing future hair loss is low level laser therapy, or LLLT. NeoGraft is a company that makes an FUE device. The NeoLTS light therapy system contains no lasers at all; just LED lights. LLLT works when light energy is directed at the scalp, and then that energy stimulates the cells of the scalp. LED lights certainly do not create a “beam” of energy that a laser does, but I have found a couple of reports in the medical literature that discuss LED lights for hair loss, but the overwhelming majority of data we have on LLLT is with laser energy, not LED lights. There’s a big difference. According to their website patients need to physically GO to a physician's office twice a week….!? I don’t know many people with that kind of time. In addition, the number one listed “Physician Benefits” for the NeoLTS system is “High ROI." There are many very effective LLLT devices on the market that you can take home and perform the LLLT when you have time and when it’s convenient for you. These laser devices, which do NOT contain a single LED light, come with a 3 year warranty. I see a lot of plastic surgeons and other doctors that have never in their lives treated hair loss suddenly acquire a NeoGraft device and perhaps this NeoLTS system and hold themselves out to the public as a “hair restoration expert” and offer hair restoration surgery after taking a weekend course or reading a few articles about how hair restoration is performed. These are places I would avoid. Hair restoration is its own specialty now, although as mentioned many providers are adding "hair restoration" to a long menu of services and literally trying their hand at it. However, hair restoration surgery is a complicated procedure, lasts all day, takes a surgeon and a team of assistants, and there are hundreds of subtleties and nuances that can affect the outcome. To answer your question about PRP….LLLT is complementary to PRP. As mentioned there is no cure for hair loss. Both PRP and LLLT have been shown to help a significant percentage of patients treated. It would make the most sense to perform LLLT 3 times a week for 30-45 minutes, and in addition undergo a PRP procedure about every 3 months for a year or so.I hope this information is helpful to you.

We have just brought on our light therapy system and in conjunction with all the other options available to maintain and help with hair growth.  Light therapy is just a part of an entire Hair Restoration and Maintenance program that includes oral and or topical medication and PRP or using your own blood plasma to help maintain hair and growth and stimulate and prepare the scalp for potential transplant if you are a candidate.  It can be particularly helpful in younger men who have not established their degree of hair loss yet and women.  In addition it has many other positive elements including being good for your skin and acne treatment.

Hello and thank you for your question regarding NeoLTS and hair restoration. NeoLTS uses LED lights to help stimulate the cells on your scalp responsible for hair growth. The treatment is similar to other treatments which rely on low-level lasers to stimulate scalp cells. If you have very limited or only early-onset hair loss, a NeoLTS treatment may help slow your hair loss and promote new hair growth. However, most patients derive more benefit from PRP (platelet-rich plasma) or NeoGraft FUE (follicular-unit extraction) treatments if they have more advanced hair loss. A NeoLTS treatment could work well as a supplemental treatment in addition to a more substantive approach to treat hair loss. Consult with a local board-certified facial plastic surgeon in an in-person consultation to get their recommendation based on your needs and aesthetic goals. Good luck with your hair restoration! 
- Elbert T. Cheng, MD