Operation Restore
Locks of Love
National Alopecia
Areata Foundation
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THE HAIR RESTORATION REPORT September 2002 Congratulations! You have been selected to receive this issue of the "HAIR RESTORATION REPORT." This report contains tips on how to make the most out of the hair you already have, slow the hair loss process and more effectively plan and manage the restoration of your hair.
Randall Sword, MD, FACEP
In This Issue: Hair Cloning - Fact or FantasyThere seems to be a lot of discussion about hair cloning these days. While hair cloning is still experimental, researchers are working on ways to clone hair or to take a single hair and make several copies of it. The way cloning would work would be to remove a small section of the scalp with the purpose of dissecting an individual hair follicle. Unlike traditional hair transplantation, this would need to be done using a powerful microscope in order to see the cellular elements of the hair organ. The hair's own stem cells, known as bulge stem cells, could then be removed and placed in a special culture medium. They would be treated with a chemical that triggers them to divide. It is believed that each of the bulge cells has the potential to create numerous hair follicles, although even this has not yet been proven. If and when the cloned hair cells grow, some are harvested immediately while others are kept in a deep freezer for future use.
When the harvesting is complete, the cloned hair follicles would then be transplanted back into the scalp creating an unlimited source of growing hair. Or at least that’s the idea. Hair cloning promises to overcome the problem of supply and demand by having hair grown in a laboratory from an individual’s hair and then implanted into the scalp. Since the amount of hair is unlimited, results should be able to match the existing density of the rest of the person's scalp. While this sounds very simple, in reality these techniques are very complicated and many hurdles have not yet been overcome. Scientists and researchers have yet to prove that the cloned hair is permanent. It is also unknown if the hair will grow and cycle normally or if it will cause abnormal cellular activity. Hair cloning would be primarily beneficial for those with a limited amount of donor area at the back of the scalp. It would allow hair transplant physicians to take a small amount of hair from the back of the person's head and essentially multiply it for redistribution to the balding areas. Several researchers have made some strides in hair cloning but it is in no way an accepted or available form of treatment. A current research facility is studying the methods of cell therapy to induce hair follicle cell growth. Another group of researchers are using tissue engineering to develop methods to package and implant hair follicle precursors. This technology involves coating fine wires with a special polymer and then fusing them together. A pore-forming agent in the polymer is then triggered when researchers submerse the polymer in hot oil. The high temperature decomposes the pore-forming agent in something like a foaming process. The result is interconnected porosity that creates a scaffold with a lot of surface area where cells can attach and grow. Researchers then remove the fine stainless steel wire in the scaffold and create even larger pores that run throughout the scaffold. The intent is to provide the cells with rapid access to the scaffold interior so the cells can quickly integrate with vascular tissue.
In short, hair cloning is more fantasy than reality at this
time. It is looking more real with every passing year but
is still approximately 10 years away. Surely when cloning
does become a reality it will certainly involve microsurgical
hair transplantation as it exists today. The best way for
men and women to deal with hair loss is to catch it as early
as possible. The more hair transplant physicians have to work
with the better the restoration results. Today's combination
of drug therapy, advanced hair care products and surgical
options make complete restoration a possibility for most.
Your hair restoration specialist can give you more information
about how to treat your specific circumstances. Do you know that Dr. Sword can be in two places at one time?
Only Sword Medical Center allows you to meet Dr. Sword and
discuss with him your options for hair restoration from any
of the conveniently located offices all over Southern California
and in Albuquerque. The wide band video conferencing system
allows you to see the doctor, REAL TIME. He can examine you
and you can get all of your questions answered by one of the
world's leading experts in hair restoration face to face! Is there a topic you would like Dr. Sword to talk about?
Let us know. Dr. Sword established this report to help educate
and inform YOU his patients! His passion is helping men and
women to enjoy a fuller and more enriching life that comes
with the confidence of having a full head of hair. Now you can have a virtual consultation with Sword Medical
Center with just a recent photograph of yourself and an Internet
connection. By sending your photo to Sword Medical, the doctor
can get an idea of your hair loss pattern and recommend a
possible course of action. Just go to www.swordmedical.com/vc
and complete the brief form. You will receive our evaluation
and recommendations based upon your photos. Know that strict
security and confidentiality will be assured. Beverly Hills One-on-One with the doctor
West Covina One-on-One with the doctor
Want to know more about the many options available to you in hair restoration, hair maintenance and hair replacement? Contact the Sword Medical Center office nearest you 1-800-242-6900 or go to www.swordmedical.com
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