Using stem cell hair transplants to regenerate hair growth looks promising. However, research is still ongoing, and the procedure is not yet FDA-approved.

A stem cell hair transplant is similar to a traditional hair transplant. But rather than removing a large number of hairs to transplant to the area of hair loss, a stem cell hair transplant removes a small skin sample from which hair follicles are harvested.

In a lab, the follicles are extracted and treated to obtain stem cell suspensions. The stem cell suspensions are then implanted back into the scalp in the areas of hair loss. This allows hair to grow where the follicles were taken from and where they’re transplanted.

Stem cell hair transplants exist only in theory at the moment. Research is ongoing for such applications as male pattern baldness and alopecia. Scientists are also looking into the use of stem cells for stimulating existing inactive hair follicles.

Keep reading to learn more about stem cell hair transplants, including the procedure, costs, side effects, and effectiveness.

Stem cells have the potential to develop into different types of cells found in the body. They can divide and renew themselves to either remain stem cells or become other types of cells.

Research has found that stem cell hair transplants can be effective in treating different types of hair loss, including:

Stem cell hair transplants have been successfully performed by Italian researchers in 2017 and by South Korean researchers in 2020.

A stem cell hair transplant procedure begins with a punch biopsy to extract stem cells from the scalp of a person undergoing the procedure.

The punch biopsy is performed using an instrument with a circular blade that’s rotated into the skin to remove a cylindrical sample of tissue.

The extracted tissues are exposed to collagenase, an enzyme that breaks down collagen. They then go through a processing procedure, which includes centrifuging and microscopy to separate and identify stem cells.

The resulting stem cells and suspension fluid are injected back into the scalp in the areas of hair loss.

Warning by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

In 2017, the FDA issued a warning about stem cell therapies.

The warning advises anyone considering using stem cells to choose clinical applications that are either approved by the FDA, such as blood disorders, or are being studied under an Investigational New Drug Application (IND).

The FDA authorizes all INDs.

Investigational procedures

Several different research teams are currently working on stem cell hair loss treatments. While the procedures may vary slightly, they’re all based on regenerative medicine.

Regenerative medicine has many applications. For hair loss, it combines the body’s cells with growth factors, like stem cells and platelet-rich plasma (PRP), to stimulate inactive hair follicles and promote the growth of thicker, healthier hair.

Some clinics are offering a version of stem cell hair transplants to the public. These aren’t currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and are considered investigational.

These investigational procedures are performed in-office on an outpatient basis. They involve removing fat cells from a person’s abdomen or hip using a liposuction procedure under local anesthesia.

A special process is used to remove the stem cells from the fat so that they can be injected into the scalp. This procedure takes approximately 3 hours.

The clinics that currently offer this procedure can’t provide a guarantee for the outcome of the procedure. The results, if any, can vary from person to person. It may require several treatments over many months to see results, and results aren’t guaranteed.

Some pain following the procedure is expected. It should subside within a week.

No recovery time is required, though excessive exercise should be avoided for a week. Some scarring can be expected where the fat has been removed.

You won’t be able to drive yourself home following the procedure because of the effects of the local anesthesia.

There’s very little information available about the possible side effects of stem cell hair transplants. As with any medical procedure, there’s always the risk of bleeding or infection at the site of the sample and the injection. Scarring is also possible.

Though complications from a punch biopsy are rare, there’s a small risk of damage to the nerves or arteries beneath the site. Liposuction can also cause the same side effects and complications.

The research available on the success rate of stem cell hair transplants is very promising. The results of the Italian study showed a 29% increase in hair density, 23 weeks after the last treatment.

The South Korean transplant study showed a 28.1% increase in hair density in participants after 16 weeks.

Overseas clinics that currently offer stem cell hair therapies not approved by the FDA don’t guarantee results or success rates.

The cost of stem cell hair transplants hasn’t been determined since they’re still in the research stages.

Some of the investigational stem cell hair replacement therapies being offered by various clinics range from $3,000 to $10,000, but depending on the area of hair loss, they can reach up to $25,000.

Final cost depends on the type and extent of the hair loss being treated.

What hair transplant procedures are currently approved by the FDA?

Slit grafts and micrografts are two hair transplant procedures that are currently approved by the FDA. They involve moving hair from the back or side of the head to the front or top of the head.

Slit grafts contain 4 to 10 hairs per graft, while micrografts contain 1 to 2 hairs per graft, depending on the coverage needed.

Hair transplants typically occur in a medical office under local anesthesia. Learn more about the procedure here.

Stem cell hair transplants may offer options to people who aren’t candidates for the hair loss treatments currently in use.

While some clinics are offering stem cell hair replacement therapies, these are considered investigational and haven’t been approved by the FDA.