New Hair Restoration Therapy

[Guest LizMarie]

Dr. Robert Niedbalski (and certain other doctors I am less familiar with) have begun using a new hair restoration therapy. No, it won't completely fix everything but every little bit helps. I'll quote Dr. Niedbalski here:

ACell MatriStem (ACell for short) is an advanced treatment for the genetic hair loss. When injected into the scalp, ACell activates stem cells present in the scalp tissues, which in turn, direct the duplication of hair follicles and other scalp tissues while decreasing scar formation.

It can be used in conjunction with Follicular Unit Hair Transplant surgery or as a stand-alone procedure.

Now as I understand it, this is still no miracle cure. However, individuals who have some hair on the head may be able to use ACell treatments to increase existing hair density so as to make a hair transplant look even better in the long run.

My current plan, which called for allowing Propecia, Minoxidil, and HRT to work together for at least two years is going to get changed. Once my divorce is finalized sometime next year (after the sale of the house), I will go see Dr. Niedbalski as soon as possible after that. His website quotes prices up to $3300 for a full scalp treatment which is what I will pursue. I personally have very thin hair in the top center of the head, very deep widow's peaks in front, and a "friar tuck" large bald spot in back so my male pattern baldness is extensive.

Under Propecia and Minoxidil I have seen remarkable regrowth in the center of the scalp over just 6+ months of treatment. However the back and frontal bald areas have no hair follicles left at all apparently so there's been no regrowth there. What I hope to achieve is to get some growth in those bald areas and hopefully close to normal density in the center area. If I can do that, then a hair transplant would return me to almost normal hairlines and I could give up wearing wigs.

From Doctor Niedbalski's web site: ACell + PRP Injection Therapy: What our patients want to know.

Personally, I am excited by these prospects as this is also very early results. As time goes on, they may be able to make even more headway with this therapy.

[Guest Robin Winter]

Yeah, I actually posted something about this back when it was still experimental. It looks like they're right on schedule, they said it would likely be available to the public around this time. I have to admit though, it sounded far more effective in the article I read than they're saying it is now That's unfortunate. Still sounds pretty good though.

[Guest LizMarie]

Normal hair density on top is between 100-400 hairs per square centimeter. If, using ACell, I can get an already growing area into the lower end of that range, that's fantastic. If, using ACell, I can get a bald area from zero to 50 hairs per square centimeter, that's good too. All of these options to increase density mean that a hair transplant suddenly becomes more realistic and also looks better when done. And that's my goal, ACell first, to "seed" the scalp, then follow it about 2 years later with transplants to fill in the remainder and hopefully give me a decent head of hair. Or even a second ACell treatment if there are further advances.

[Guest MsPerseveres]

Wow! Thanks for this post LizMarie - hair is probably my biggest concern right now. It seems to be the only part of the physical transition that needs something pre-existing to be effective... and I basically have a wedge shaped divot from temple to temple, back to the the crown of my head, with a circular bald spot on the crown just to add insult to injury. Not sure how well the Minoxidil is working so far - only been doing it once a day for about two months, with the non-script strength. Apparently it only works on the crown anyway...

I'll definitely be looking into this along with anything else that I can afford to get - I want my own hair (probably at least as much as any other surgical/physical transition, oddly enough - I just realized that myself!).

Love and hugs, Tami

[Guest Paradox]

I see that he is in Tacoma, Washington. That is a bit of a hike for us Texas girls! Still, it is something to consider, and I thank you!

[Guest LizMarie]

Yes, unfortunately Dr. Arocha, one of the top hair restoration surgeons in the US who has offices in both Dallas and Houston, is not yet doing ACell based treatments. He's written about them but not applying them yet. And I honestly need all the help I can get before I try hair transplants hence my interest in ACell. I note also that Dr. Niedbalski uses ACell on the donor area when doing transplants and it results in much less scarring and in some cases no scarring at all.

[Guest Paradox]

Estrogen, propecia, & minoxidil have been helping me for the last few months. It can make a difference.

[Guest LizMarie]

Estrogen, propecia, & minoxidil have been helping me for the last few months. It can make a difference.

They've been helping me in areas where I still had hair, even if the hair was very miniaturized due to DHT exposure. What it is not helping is the bald spot at the back that has no hair at all, or parts of the widow's peak recesses that are also completely bald. I do not plan to stop estrogen, propecia, and minoxidil. Rather I hope that a supplemental treatment of ACell can stimulate some new follicles in the truly bald areas and that the other three agents can encourage growth thereafter. For $3000 versus $15K-$25K for a full hair transplant, it seems well worth the risk even if the results are less than ideal as it could reduce the total hair transplant cost down to $10K-$15K. And there is the outside chance that it could stimulate sufficient new growth that no transplants would be needed at all.

[Guest DanD]

yeh.. but ya feel bad for the men who take propecia and found they had side affects they didnt want.. (hormone levels affected alot)

but for MTFs thats not a bad side affect of course.

I kinda wonder what it would do with me..? probably mess things up, huh?

mom was in the hospital a while sick, and they put hwer on tons of steroids to help her fight this bronchitis.. then a few montsh later her hairdresser noticed she wasnt growing hair, and hair she did have was falling out in clumps..was getting thin.

so she went to the doctor, then a dermatiologist who recommended rogaine and something.. I think it was Hair, Hands, and Nails...its some kind of natural vitamins mixed, in pills. she didnt bother with the rogaine.. but after she took the Hair Hands and Nails, her hair grew back, and its nicer and thicker than it was too.. and her hands and nails looks better too. very nice sort of thing to have. i dont know if it would help someone else, like an MTF, but it maybe couldnt hurt to try it.. Id probably ask the endo first to see what they think.

just 2 cents.

[Guest Paradox]

Perhaps this what what you were talking about. I can't find anything else by the name you gave.

[Guest Paradox]

Sorry forgot: is this it? Holland & Barrett - Skin Hair and Nails Formula