Intercytex and hair cloning

I’m often asked about the ICX-TRC Cell Therapy Human Clinical Trial and whether or not it was successful. For those of you who don’t know, the trial was (in very simple terms) the development of a therapy whereby cells are sourced from an individual, multiplied, and then returned to that same individual. Take a look at the Farjo website for a more detailed account – http://www.farjo.net/page.asp?id=203

For anyone who has experienced any form of hair loss, the idea that your own existing hair follicles can be multiplied and re-implanted is a huge breakthrough.

Initial results were very encouraging, with an excellent percentage success rate seen within the test areas of the trial subjects.

Unfortunately, whilst the ICX-TRC trial results appeared positive, another unrelated Intercytex project was having less success. As a result of this and Intercytex being listed on the stock market (to make a long story short) the project’s funding was cut, putting an end to the activity – for the time being. The global credit crunch exacerbated matters further.

In 2010, the different divisions of the company were broken down and sold off to different interested parties. The ICX-TRC trial was acquired by Aderans Research (ARI) in the USA, who are continuing to do trials on this subject.

Cell therapy is still an exciting and promising area for the future; however it has proved to be a complicated study that still holds lots of unanswered questions. We’re still very much committed to the concept as well as other exciting areas, and hope to have the opportunity to discover the answers to some of these questions soon – watch this space!

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Tags: Aderans Research, ARI, cell therapy, hair cloning, hair loss, ICX-TRC, Intercytex

Web of deception

The internet is a wealth of knowledge where literally anyone can have their say. Whether it’s a blog, tweet, or status update, men and women have the ability to get their views across to a global audience. This is a fantastic way to find out important information on a wide variety of subjects; however a lack of regulation means that often the information is widely inaccurate.

The other day, for example, I followed a tweet titled ‘Justifying the Cost of Modern Hair Implant Techniques’. The link led me to a blog discussing hair loss in women which naturally, bearing in mind the subject matter, I was interested to read.

Sadly, my interest soon changed to infuriation – the author was either severely uneducated on the subject or blatantly and significantly economical with the truth; either way I was unsettled by that fact that this misinformation was visible to potentially millions of people.

The author, referring to the strip method of donor harvesting, stated that: ‘A number of hair clinics will promote older, less good hair implant methods in order to keep costs down’. Nothing about the aforementioned sentence is correct; not even the grammar, nevermind the scientific information written especially since implying that FUE is the donor harvest method of choice in women.

This reiterated to me how important it is for potential patients to seek advice from trusted authorities on the subject, as it is all too easy for advertisers and novices to pose as educators on the net.

Another promotion from a relatively new provider of one technique only, claimed they are the leading clinic in Europe, that they produce no scars, actually pioneered the procedure and pretty much saved the British public from the dire services of the existing providers (including ourselves!).

For the above reasons, especially when considering surgery, it is crucial that men and women acquire knowledge from reputable sources, such as the Institute of Trichologists, International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery, Hair Transplant Network and International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons. I would also suggest looking for scientific research with proven clinical data, as well as case studies when considering any kind of medical or surgical treatment.

So, even with cutting edge technology, the old age saying is true; be it on paper or online, don’t believe everything you read!

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Tags: blog, British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery, donor harvesting, FUE, hair implant techniques, hair loss, Hair Transplant Network, Institute of Trichologists, International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons, International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, status update, strip method, tweet

‘Chatty Man’ is chatting rubbish

Whether Alan Carr’s supposed sudden hair growth is or is not the result of a hair transplant – I can’t categorically say, however one thing I’m sure of is that it is not due to the herbal remedies he claims to have been drinking!

Certainly green tea, aloa vera juice and the like may make you feel better and healthier; however they will do zilch to bring back genetically lost hair.

As I’ve said, judging by the media photos I don’t know whether he had a transplant or not, but it doesn’t look like he’s supporting a weave either. It’s possible he’s just coupled up creative styling with a camouflage cosmetic like the ones commonly used by screen celebs.

Another possibility is that he has been using one of, if not both, the licensed drugs for hair growth for a while. With both Regaine and Propecia, results may begin to be apparent after 8 months or so but continuous use is needed to maintain the benefits.

Perhaps Alan began trying to turn back nature’s clock a while ago and his hair has been boosted alongside his career. Whatever the cause, his new improved look from his hair through to him ditching his signature specs, has certainly got the nation and press talking.

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Tags: Alan Carr, hair loss, Hair Transplant Surgery, herbal remedies, propecia, Regaine

Over-styling to stay in-style

A woman can change her hairstyle as often as she changes her mind.

A recent study found that women change their hairstyles more than 100 times between the ages of 13 and 65 – that’s a lot of serum, hair spray and hair dye!

The numerous hairstyles sported throughout a woman’s lifetime aren’t just limited to different cuts; women often perm, dye, straighten and bleach their hair. Whilst all these may look good, persistently over styling the hair can cause a fair amount of damage over the years.

I’ve previously talked about the negative effect that hair extensions can have, but all of the above can cause damage too. The damage may be limited to broken and split hairs; however it can still result in hair loss.

Just as hair extensions can cause traction alopecia, so can excessive dyeing and bleaching. Trichorrhexis nodosa is another type of hair loss that is particularly seen in people who overuse heated appliances such as hair straighteners to style their hair. Once the cuticle is removed from the hair fibre then the hair cortex swiftly breaks down causing hair loss.

A person’s hair has a significant effect on their overall appearance and, more importantly, their self-esteem. I see men and women suffering from hair loss everyday and even when the loss is minimal, the emotional impact is still hugely significant.

Using caution and common sense is crucial here ladies. Whilst change is as good as a rest, as with everything, moderation is the key!

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Tags: hair cortex, hair fibre, hair loss, Traction Alopecia, trichorrhexis nodosa

‘Unbeweaveable’ – has Naomi’s hairstyle made her go bald?

It’s a common misconception that hair loss is a problem faced predominantly by men. We see a high number of women at the practice suffering from hair loss for a variety of reasons. One cause of hair loss in women that is on the increase is traction alopecia due to hair extensions; which would appear to be what Naomi Campbell is suffering from.

Whilst the British press were shocked by the photographs of Naomi showing visible bald spots last week, it is clear to me (and has been for some time) that she is suffering from traction alopecia, a condition caused by constant pulling or tension over a long period to the dermal papilla and hair follicle.

By wearing straight hair extensions over her naturally curly hair for many years, Naomi has most likely caused permanent damage to her natural follicles.

Despite the many risks, hair extensions continue to prove popular, thanks to celebrity fans such as Cheryl Cole, Lady Gaga and Katie Price.

Over time I have seen a growing number of young women come to me looking to reverse the damage caused by hair extensions with hair transplant surgery.

Hair transplant surgery may seem like an extreme solution, but in many cases it’s the only way to restore hair permanently. Even this method is only guaranteed as long as the person puts less stress on their hair in future.

The damage caused by hair extensions will, in most cases, correct itself once the user stops wearing them. However, there are cases where the damage is so severe it can resemble alopecia areata – similar to Naomi’s.

I can’t help but wonder: is the long term damage really worth the short term aesthetic?

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Tags: alopecia areata, bald spots, hair extensions, hair loss, Hair Transplant Surgery, Naomi Campbell, Traction Alopecia

Saturday night weaver

I was interested to see an article the other day, commenting on John Travolta’s ‘possible’ hair loss and his attempt to cover it – in his case, with a hair piece.

The article made me think two things:

Firstly, I’m confident that there is no ‘possible’ about it – John has gradually been losing his hair for several years.

Secondly, whilst a hair piece may be suitable for him, it’s probably not the most desirable option for other men in the same situation.

I see many patients seeking hair transplants who, for whatever reason, aren’t eligible for surgery. This may be because of a lack of donor hair, or because the candidate may not yet know the full extent of their hair loss. These candidates can opt for other methods to conceal their hair loss.

Whilst John appears to have plumped for a hair piece (maybe due to his on screen roles), many men feel that a wig is too high maintenance. They also worry that people will clock their wig and that they’ll be open to ridicule. Men faced with this dilemma have been known to resort to some rather unorthodox methods of disguise – I’ve heard tales of men using eyeliner, boot polish and even car grease to conceal their loss (that particular gentleman soon regretted his decision when the grease began to melt in hot weather!).

The reality is there are now many professional camouflage products that are available, such as Couvre Masking Lotion, Toppik or Nanogen micro-fibres, Mane hairspray and DermMatch Topical Shading – all of which are far more competent at deceiving people and hiding hair loss.

I think it’s important for men to realise that there is a wide variety of solutions to help with all levels of hair loss. Whether it’s transplant surgery, medications or camouflage products…when it comes to covering up hair loss, grease is not the word!

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Tags: hair loss, hair piece, Hair Transplant Surgery, John Travolta, weave

Some patients have to graft more

Whilst in between consultations today I received an email from a recent patient of mine, enquiring as to why some men have to undergo 2-3 operations to receive the same number of grafts he had received in one. This is a subject that can often prove very confusing to patients as they try to differentiate between the number of grafts and the number of implanted hair follicles, and how many operations they should expect to have.

There are only a selection of surgeons (myself included) who are capable or maybe willing to do 3000 or more grafts in one operation. This is due to a variety of reasons – both technical and commercial.

Surgeons need to be skilful and experienced enough to efficiently fit sufficient number of grafts per sq cm in the target area to achieve good density after one procedure. This can also be dependent on various factors including the quality, size, density and elasticity of the donor area, which all differ from patient to patient.

A hugely defining factor may be that the area on one individual cannot support harvesting the numbers of hair follicles as my enquiring patient received, and therefore would need multiple operations for complete satisfaction. Everyone is different, and having say, 3000 grafts can mean anything between 3000 and 7000 implanted hair follicles.

Unfortunately, there are no definitive answers here – everything is relative to the individual and the surgeon performing the procedure. Patients need to discuss with their surgeon (at length) their expectations and the reality they should be able to expect with surgery by that particular doctor.

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Tags: grafts, hair loss, Hair Transplant Surgery, implanted hair follicles

Has Ryan Giggs done something about his hair loss, or is it just a good picture?

I have to confess to having an interest in the movements of Ryan Giggs and even named my son after him; yet rather than his form on the pitch, it was the images that surfaced in several national newspapers that caught my attention over the last several weeks.

It would appear that Ryan, like several of his peers, has been seeking treatment for his hair loss.

Nothing unusual there – we have several footballers and sport stars who have visited us here at Farjo with one or two who are happy to discuss it publicly very soon. What did catch my eye was the quality of the pictures (or indeed lack thereof) and the very dubious, ‘before and after’ titles they had been given.

The issue I have with these images is that some of the picture examples shown in several of the publications were very misleading to anyone currently considering treatment. This is something the Advertising Standards Authority (www.asa.org.uk) has been rather damning of in recent years, so I would have thought the press would exercise a little better judgement. Using before shots with wet hair and then after shots when the hair is dry is a very old trick, as is using camouflage products in the after shot. It gives men inaccurate information leading to unrealistic expectations.

The only way to get an accurate impression of the results from any type of treatment is to have comparable, like for like photographs. Hair should be clean, dry, and without any product. Anything less isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on!

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Tags: Advertising Standards Authority, camouflage, hair loss, Ryan Giggs

Is lowering the hairline a good enough reason to have a hair transplant?

I was interested to read that a well-known TV doctor  has recently admitted to having a hair transplant.

Whist the hair transplant itself is hardly unusual, or indeed the fact that he’s in the public eye (we have several celebrity clients at The Farjo Medical Centre, including Kyran Bracken, Shawn Williamson and Duncan Bannatyne) what was of interest, was his reasoning behind the transplant.

The Doctor insits that his hairline wasn’t receding, he just wanted to change the shape of it. Whilst I’ve never treated nor indeed met this individual, judging by the images I’ve seen, I’d say it’s a safe bet that there has been a gradual hair loss and weakening of the hairline.

Whilst it is not unheard of for men to undergo hair transplant surgery merely to improve a hairline that isn’t receding, this type of surgery is usually reserved for women who have a particularly high hairline. For a man, it will depend on their age and their own and their family’s hair loss history.

What concerns me is that his comments may encourage younger men who are receding to opt for a hair transplant too soon, before the full extent of their hair loss is apparent.

This is a topic I’ve touched upon many times before, and do find very concerning. Patients under the age of 25 should not be encouraged to resort to surgery and should consider taking preventative drugs such as propecia, in an effort to slow down or stop their hair loss.

If this gentleman is, like one in three men, simply losing his hair, why not just come clean and say it, as so many other celebrities in his position have done in the past?

Whatever his reasons, I do hope that he helps to clarify some of the facts about hair loss – the options that are available to men, and their suitability.

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Tags: Duncan Bannatyne, Hair Transplant Surgery, Kyran Bracken, Lowering the hairline, Shawn Williamson

Is 16 too young for hair transplant surgery – YES

I’ve been talking about this for a while, but I was reminded about it yesterday when we received a call from a mother enquiring about hair transplant surgery for her 16-year-old son!

Over the past few years I have noticed a steady increase in the number of younger men requesting surgery; however this is the first time I have been approached by a parent of someone so young – far too young to be considering hair transplantation.

Hair loss can be quite unpredictable in its early stages, with the full extent of loss very difficult to determine in men under the age of 25. Men under this age should consider taking preventative drugs such as propecia, in an effort to slow down or stop their hair loss.

Surgery may improve the hairline of very young men in the short term; however, if further hair loss occurs they could find themselves with inconsistent coverage, giving them a ‘patchy’ look.

A boy of 16 is most definitely not a suitable candidate for surgery; and whilst the impetuousness of youth may make him think otherwise, I was surprised to see that his mother did not recognize this.

More worryingly though, is the fact that they had already been offered surgery from another clinic, which they had approached prior to our conversation. Sadly, there will always be someone taking advantage of young, vulnerable patients by agreeing to perform surgery and not advising them of the potential long-term results.

No matter what the circumstances, I would never consider performing surgery on someone so young and I implore other surgeons to take a similar stand. It is unethical to allow someone of this age to opt for surgery and, as professionals, it is our responsibility to make sure that doesn’t happen.

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Tags: hair loss, Hair Transplant Surgery, propecia