Regenerative hair and skin treatments: what the evidence really supports
Medical team, Nuance Clinic
Regenerative aesthetics is the most over-promised field in the industry. This guide separates what PRP and growth-factor treatments genuinely achieve for hair thinning and skin quality from marketing claims, and explains the medical work-up that should come first.
Quick facts
- Works on living but miniaturised follicles, not on scarred or lost ones.
- A blood work-up should precede any hair-loss treatment.
- Measure results with trichoscopic photographs at three and six months.
- Insist on transparency about which product is being injected.
What it is
- The term covers several distinct approaches: autologous platelet-rich plasma, growth-factor concentrates and cell-derived conditioned media. They share a mechanism — signalling molecules that push resting cells into an active, repairing state.
- For hair, the target is the follicle in the resting phase; for skin, the target is the fibroblast and the dermal matrix.
Who it suits
- Early to moderate androgenetic hair thinning, telogen effluvium after illness or stress
- Skin with early laxity, dullness and poor texture
- Patients who want a biological rather than volumising approach
- Not suitable in active scalp infection, blood disorders, some cancers, or pregnancy
Products we use
Autologous PRP prepared in a closed CE-approved system, and CE-approved growth-factor products
How the treatment is performed
- Assessment: for hair, a trichoscopic examination and blood tests where indicated (ferritin, thyroid, vitamin D).
- Preparation of the product in sterile conditions.
- Micro-injections across the scalp or face, with topical anaesthesia or cooling.
Safety
- Autologous treatments carry no rejection risk but must be prepared in a closed, sterile system.
- We do not offer unlicensed 'stem cell' injections; we explain clearly which product is being used and what evidence supports it.
Before your appointment
Well hydrated on the day; avoid anti-inflammatory medication for 3 days if medically allowed; wash hair before scalp treatment.
Aftercare
No hair products or washing for 12–24 hours after scalp treatment; no sauna, pool or gym for 24 hours.
Results and longevity
- Reduced shedding within 4–8 weeks; visible density change from month 3.
- Skin texture and firmness improve gradually across the course.
- Underlying causes — iron deficiency, thyroid disease, hormonal factors — must be treated in parallel.
Possible side effects and risks
Scalp tenderness, mild swelling, bruising, temporary headache; infection is rare with sterile technique.
Follow-up
Trichoscopic photographs at baseline and month 3–6 so change is measured, not guessed.
Questions about this treatment
Will it regrow hair I have already lost?
It improves follicles that are still alive but miniaturised. Completely lost follicles do not return with injections; a transplant is the option there.
Is it painful?
Scalp injections are uncomfortable rather than painful, and we use cooling and topical anaesthesia.
How many sessions before I see change?
Reduced shedding at 4–8 weeks, visible density at three months, assessed with comparison photographs.
Ask us anything — in your language
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