Going bald? Scientists say injections of FAT from your thighs could reverse process
Injecting fat into the scalp can help prevent baldness and make hair thicker.
A scientific study concludes that injections of fatty tissue removed from a person’s body can help regenerate hair.
The unusual technique seems to work particularly well on scarring alopecia, which usually causes irreversible hair loss, which is believed to be an autoimmune disease and from which comedian Matt Lucas famously suffers.
But it also shows promise for the most common form of hair loss in men, male pattern baldness, which affects about half of men before the age of 50.
The unusual technique appears to work particularly well on scarring alopecia, which usually causes irreversible hair loss, which is believed to be an autoimmune disease and which comedian Matt Lucas suffers from.
The review looked at a study of four men with this type of baldness and five women.
They had the fat removed from their thighs, after which 20 ml of fatty tissue was injected into their scalp three times at three-month intervals.
These people saw a significant increase in their hair thickness six months after treatment, as measured by the density of the hairs on their heads and the diameter of the individual hairs.
They also lost less hair during the ‘hair pulling test’ to see how easily it falls out.
In total, the review looked at ten case reports and studies on the use of fat injections for different types of hair loss.
The authors of the study, led by Iran University of Medical Sciences, conclude that the treatment can significantly control harmful inflammation in the scalp, increasing hair density and diameter.
About injections of fat, which scientists call “adipose tissue,” they say it “can induce hair growth” and is a “rich source of stem cells.”
The authors conclude: ‘Autologous adipose tissue transfer can be considered a new and potentially effective treatment method for hair loss and alopecic conditions.’
The review, published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, describes existing treatments for baldness, ranging from hair transplants to the use of microneedling.
But many treatments have limitations, the authors say, so new approaches are always needed for a “debilitating” medical problem that can have a “significant impact on patients’ attractiveness and appearance, self-esteem and quality of life.”
Fatty tissue produces molecules called ‘growth factors’ which experts believe can help hair regeneration and fight inflammation, preventing damage to hair follicles.
It has been used in cosmetic surgery for years to make people’s faces look fuller and more youthful.
Post-treatment side effects did not appear to be serious, mainly temporary bruising, mild to moderate pain after fat removal, and mild to moderate burning and pain after the scalp injection.