New Hair Loss Treatments: 9 Best Websites for Info on Hair Follicle Cloning

The science of hair follicle cloning — or stem cell treatments for hair loss — is evolving rapidly. Alas, we remain years away from a practical, real-world alternative to current hair transplant techniques, even sophisticated ones that replace hair follicle by follicle. The real goal for most people suffering from hair loss is some sort of hair cloning process… in which a person’s own hair is extracted, then multiplied in a laboratory, and replaced en mass in the area of loss. This is the dream… and it remains elusive.

But for all those researching this potentially revolutionary field, as a treatment or an investment, there are a few good places to start. Here is our Top 10 (Actually, Top 9) List of the best websites about hair follicle cloning or which follow it closely. In no order of rank, they are…

1. Aderans Research Institute: “dedicated to developing state-of-the-art cell engineering solutions for hair loss.”

2. Intercytex: It promotes “an autologous hair regeneration therapy, a suspension of human dermal papilla (DP) cells, for the treatment of male pattern baldness and female diffuse alopecia.”

3.  Follica:  “Developing novel therapies for conditions and disorders of the hair follicle, the epicenter for the development and replenishment of human hair and skin.”

4.  Histogen:  It is marketing “a proprietary liquid formula created by the culturing of newborn fibroblasts in an embryonic-like environment and then harvesting the naturally secreted growth factors, anitoxidants and other synergistic bioproducts that are produced” that, it claims, may have “significant applications” as “an injectable for hair growth.”

5.  Luna Innovations:  It is use “nanomedicine” to stimulate new hair growth.

6.  Hair Science Institute:  Dr. Coen Gho’s clinic that claims a superior method for individual follicle transplantation.

7.  Phoenix Bio:  A Japanese biotech company that “propagates hair papillar cells which are the key element in hair growth and develops therapies that enable the implantation of these cells on patients thus regenerating the ability of the patient’s scalp to produce hair naturally.”

8.  Shisheido Research:  Another Japanese company that is doing research into hair multiplication technologies.

9.  Bernstein Medical Center for Hair Restoration:  An advanced hair transplantation clinic, the Bernstein Center also follows closely developments in hair cloning technologies and is a good source for a
“hands on” reality check on what is realistic at the moment.

Hair Growth Expert Appears on “Oprah,” Says There is Hope for Hair Loss

On a recent episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” a pioneer in a new hair regrowth technology, known as follicular unit hair transplants, said the future looks bright for men suffering from hair loss. The episode aired on October 7.

The doctor was Dr. Robert Bernstein, a Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University in New York. He is recognized world-wide for his pioneering work in the treatment of hair loss. Dr. Bernstein is known for developing the revolutionary Follicular Unit Transplantation procedure for hair restoration.

“Follicular Unit Transplantation is a procedure where hair is transplanted exclusively in its naturally occurring groups of 1-4 hairs,” explained Dr. Bernstein on the show. “It is the logical end point of over 30 years of evolution in hair transplantation surgery. However, this by no means implies our work is complete. We are obsessed with making the procedure as perfect as possible.”

After introducing Dr. Bernstein to Oprah, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Oprah’s resident health expert, showed video footage of Dr. Bernstein performing a hair transplant and then invited the patient onstage to be inspected by Oprah. In addition to engaging with the audience about baldness and hair transplant procedures, Dr. Bernstein examined a person from the audience who is experiencing early hair loss using an instrument known as a densitometer.

The densitometer is a self-contained, portable, device that houses a magnifying lens for viewing hairs close to the scalp. The idea behind densitometry is to determine the degree of miniaturization, or shrinking of the hair’s diameter, which contributes to hair loss. This information is used to evaluate whether the patient is a good candidate for hair transplant or medical treatment, as well as to predict future hair loss.

Dr. Bernstein performs hair transplant procedures at Bernstein Medical - Center for Hair Restoration at 110 East 55th Street, New York, NY. Tel: 212-826-2400 www.bernsteinmedical.com.