Regrowth in hair loss – How hair growth can be stimulated again Natural process in your own body In our own bodies natural growth factor proteins grow out the new cell development. They are proteins called growth factors that signal the follicles in the skin to regenerate and to start to build up hair all over again. In fact there is often a shortage in this particular process which causes the follicles to shrink, and in worst cases, the production of the hair will cease altogether because of the deficiency that has risen. But by utilising your body’s natural process, you can also be part of it to halt your hair loss in its tracks and promote the regeneration of new strands of hair for a more natural look.
What Are Growth Factors and Why Do They Matter for Hair?
Growth factors are tiny signaling molecules and they let your body know whether it should grow, multiply or be in repair mode or rest. With the hair cycle growth factors regulate your hair follicle by controlling the activity of the hair follicle. They regulate how well it actually grows and how long it grows before the strand falls out.
Each follicle should cycle through all 3 phases – Anagen(active growth period), catagen(transition phase) and telogen(resting phase).
Growth factors are essential at helping keep the hair follicles into the anagen period longer.
The Key Growth Factors Involved in Hair Regrowth
The different growth factors act on different cell types within the follicle. Those which impact the hair are the following:
i) VEGF-increases vascularization around the follicles by stimulating angiogenesis, increasing blood supply to the hair root.
ii) IGF-1 stimulates the anagen, or growing phase of the hair cycle increasing duration.
iii) KGF affects the shaft producing cells of the hair and stimulates the recovery and healing of the hair follicle if damage occurs.
iv) PDGF stimulates the activation of follicular stem cells resulting in an increase in growth from the follicle.
V) EGF stimulates cell turnover on the scalp increasing the environment suitability for the hair to grow.
They all work on different targets of hair growth and that is why combination therapy of different growth factors are more effective compared to therapy with only one or two growth factors.
How Do Growth Factor Treatments Work?
How Growth Factors Can Be Introduced to the scalp: One of the oldest and best accepted methods to introduce growth factors to the scalp is through Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy. For this treatment, your own blood is drawn, processed in a centrifuge to concentrate your platelets and then injected into the areas of the scalp that are showing hair thinning. Your platelets naturally contain many growth factors (like PDGF, VEGF, and EGF) that can be released at the follicle level to encourage healing and cell proliferation when the platelets are introduced in the scalp.
Another growth factor therapy more recently introduced is exosome therapy.
Exosomes, which contain high concentrations of growth factors are small cell-messaging vesicles; results are exciting but PRP is far more commonly performed and clinically evaluated therapy to deliver growth factors to the scalp. PRP and exosome therapies both have good results when the follicle is damaged but not destroyed. They do not revive a completely lost follicle and are most effective when initiated earlier in hair loss.
Who Can Benefit from Growth Factor Treatments?
Growth factor treatment is best used for early and moderately balding individuals. It is particularly helpful for those who:
i) Experience thinning diffusely throughout the scalp rather than with total baldness
ii) Have Miniaturized follicles with low function, but active production
iii) Individuals that need to reduce the amount of further loss prior to surgical hair restoration
iv) Can be used in addition to Hair Transplant in Hyderabad. It cannot replace hair transplant for severe baldness with non-functional follicles.
Growth Factors vs. Hair Transplant: Do You Need Both?
While growth factor therapies and hair transplant surgeries fulfill various needs, it’s much better if they’re complemented than contrasted with one another. What hair transplants do- permanently recreate Hair in barren territories with damaged/dormant follicles-growth factor therapies aim to preserve The existent natural Hair in its optimum density and thereby decelerate further baldness/hair loss. Moreover, the majority of professionals advice PRP treatments-both before and after hair transplant in Hyderabad – to nourish the skin surface for optimum donor Area , thus supporting swift regeneration of transplanted grafts.
For those exploring the economic viability of surgery- inquire regarding FUE Hair Transplant Cost in Hyderabad during your consultation.
The factors impacting a specific patient’s Hair transplant cost- the number of grafts, the specific technique chosen, Hair restoration requirements based on existing Hair-can easily be evaluated during a clinical examination. Whereas, growth factor treatments often are cost-based per session; generally three to 6 sessions, spaced with a gap of 2-3 weeks, are performed for optimum benefit.
What Results Should You Realistically Expect?
Growth factor treatments aren’t magical, they show improvements over time. Here is a general guideline for timelines:
i) 1-2 sessions: Amount of hair falling out decreases. The condition of the scalp improves somewhat.
ii) 3-4 sessions: Hair appears denser and thicker than before the treatment, more hair is present.
Iii) 6 months: Hair feels thicker, more and full, minimal hair shedding.
Results will depend on: the extent of hair loss in relation to the patient’s stage of the hair loss, the age of the patient and the health of the patient. For early stage losses, the results will be more impressive than late-stage losses.
Is Growth Factor Therapy Right for You?
If your hair has started to shed more, recede at the hairline or gradually thin over the crown, then it would be prudent to seek an assessment from experts before it becomes far worse. A larger number of follicles is available in the system the earlier the growth factor treatment commences. QHT in Hyderabad can make this assessment of the health of your donor area, the state of your scalp and the pattern of hair loss before suggesting any form of treatment (surgical, PRP based or combination). Our clinic attracts people who are already contemplating a hair transplant in chennai or Hyderabad and wish to receive unbiased, reliable opinions.
