subject: Advancements in hair restoration and cloning as the next step forward [print this page] The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery's (ISHRS) 18th Annual Scientific meeting is being held at the end of the next month and physicians will attend to discuss all of the latest advancements in hair restoration. The president of the ISHRS explained that hair loss affects 50% of all men and more than 25% of women in the world. Considering these figures, it is no surprise that research into hair loss treatment and new developments are quickly advancing. It seems that the cloning of the hair for transplantation will be the next step in the future of restorative surgery.
One obstacle in the way of transplantation is donor density. Without healthy donor density, one does not qualify as a candidate for hair transplant surgery according to Nicole Rogers, dermatologist, hair transplant surgeon and clinical professor at Tulane University, New Orleans.
For those who are suitable for this surgery and who suffer from male pattern hair loss, Finasteride, while taken in conjunction with transplantation treatments, has been shown to reduce the number of transplants that a patient needs in order to complete the treatment and achieve the desired look.
The future of transplant surgery may include cloning but this is a long way off. Cloning would involve the production of hair copied from one single hair. This technique would require the approval of regulatory authorities.
The possible complications suspected include problems with the angle the hair grows and the calibre of the hair. It is also not certain whether cloning would cause any skin conditions or skin cancers. More research is required before the FDA will be approached and much criticism needs to be addressed.
The idea has sparked debate over the years including worries regarding the injecting of genetically modified cells back into a person. The ethics of such a procedure has been questioned.
It seems that exhausting other treatments in the early stages of hair loss is advisable and that hair transplantation should remain a later option. Taking oral medication such as Propecia is highly recommended and if taken early enough, can prevent further hair loss and even restore some of the lost hair.
Advancements in hair restoration and cloning as the next step forward
