Vampire Hair Regrowth

Vampire Hair Regrowth® procedure is a method of bio-stimulation using Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) to cause regrowth of hair. For more information on PRP, read Regenerative Injection Therapy. In order to understand how PRP works for hair regrowth, it is important to understand how hair grows.

Hair follicles are in different stages of hair growth, regression, or at rest at all times. These stages are non-synchronized, meaning, different hair follicles are in different stages at the same moment in time. Anagen is the active growth phase. Catagen is a transitional phase. Telogen is the resting phase. The Anagen stage lasts much longer than other stages, approximately 90% of the hair follicles are in a state of growth while only a small percentage are in the Catagen phase (regression) or the Telogen phase (rest). Permanent hair loss occurs during the Anagen phase of active hair growth.

Normal hair loss is approximately 50-100 hairs per day from the scalp as of course, 50-100 hairs enter the Anagen phase each day to replace these losses. The average amount of hair for individuals with healthy hair is approximately 100,000 hairs for dark hair, over 100,000 hairs for red heads, and fewer than 100,000 for blondes. With normal hair loss, most hairs fall out during the Catagen and Telogen phases of hair growth.

With abnormal hair loss, hair can be shed in all phases of hair growth. Men typically suffer pattern baldness with receding hairlines. Women experience generalized thinning hair over the entire area of the head. Most hair loss is genetically passed on my both maternal and paternal ancestors. Depending upon patient presentation, this can be treated. Medical hair loss can be multifactorial including medical, environmental, hormonal, medication-related, and disease.

Hair growth is dependent upon a number of processes including stem cell signaling and a cascade of biological events to take place for proliferation and remodeling of hair follicles. Conventional medicine focuses on heredity for the majority of hair loss. However, research shows that stem cells located within follicles can regulate hair follicles and is the reason behind why hair can be in a dormant state or permanently eliminated.

Autologous platelets (platelets collected from you and used on yourself) when activated, release concentrated growth factors and chemical markers. The growth factors initiate and organize growing tissue by forming a fibrin mesh or extra cellular matrix under the skin. These proteins and growth factors interact with present cells residing in tissue such as fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and osteoblasts. They also signal migration of macrophages and stem cells to the area to be treated. PRP contains leukocytes that are key to tissue growth. PRP also contains stem cells that attract more stem cells to differentiate and form various tissue. It is through these processes that hair regrowth can be accomplished using bio-stimulation from PRP.

The Vampire Hair Regrowth® may not work on all people. The viability of the remaining hair follicles needs to be assessed. Follicles that have fibrosed (become fibrous tissue or scar tissue) will not respond well. Assuming the follicles are salvageable, blood is aspirated and processed to collect the highly concentrated platelets and plasma (PRP). A topical local anesthetic is applied to the scalp to provide comfort during the procedure. Nerve blocks may be added for additional numbing coverage. Several injections are made using very fine needles into the scalp to administer the PRP. The scalp is massaged briefly to disperse the PRP throughout the scalp. Results may vary but new hair may be seen anywhere from a few weeks up to even five months. A series of three treatments spaced 2 to 3 months apart from each other may be necessary.