For this treatment, we harvest a small amount of fat of the patient’s choice. Usually, the donor site is either the abdomen or the lateral thigh or any other area that the patient chooses with the assistance of the surgeon. The surgeon injects a small amount of tumescent fluid, which is a dilute solution of epinephrine and lidocaine. This is allowed to sit for approximately 7 – 10 minutes for vasoconstriction to occur and then the fat is harvested with a suitable cannula. Once the fat is harvested, it is then decanted to separate the fat from the tumescent solution and blood. The fat is then resized from 2.4 mm to 1.2 mm and then to 0.4 mm or 400 microns by a series of filters. After passage thru the last filter, all of the fat cells are ruptured and what is left is known as SVF or stromal vascular fraction that consists of stem cells, pre-adipocytes and pericytes.
This is combined with PRP or platelet rich plasma. The preparation of which is started with a blood draw from the patient of approximately 10 mls of blood. This is then spun down in specially designed tube to separate the platelets from the plasma. As the platelets have 20 different growth factors, they have provide an ideal environment for the stem cells.
The mixture is then injected into the scalp in a one cm grid to help stimulate hair growth. These treatments have been noted to be more effective than injection with just PRP alone.
No sedation is required for this treatment and the patient can drive home directly afterwards.