Thymosin beta 4 - activation of hair stem cells

[debris]

I do agree that PRP+acell seems a bit disappointing on all the pictures, but on this one I do see some regrowth even after the combing to forward is removed from the equation.

Notice it near the top edge of the bald spot for example, or notice hair that seems to be sprouting from the bald areas

[HairTalk]

I have yet to see even one piece of photographic evidence in support of treating hairloss with P.R.P. or P.R.P.+ACell injections. This whole thing seems like either a failed experiment at cost to the patient (rather than on the researcher's dime, which is how testing should be conducted), or a simple scam.

[matlondon]

Is that a before–after comparison? I see no marked difference, if it is: look at the way the hair is combed in the second shot.

Agree the hair the 1st is combed to the side the hair on the 2nd pic is comb forward and is longer.

[VictimOfDHT]

But have you guys seen the video on youtube about Dr. Greco (also on his web site) ? It kinda gave me a little bit of hope but I'm not really that optimistic about it any more.

[level]

But have you guys seen the video on youtube about Dr. Greco (also on his web site) ? It kinda gave me a little bit of hope but I'm not really that optimistic about it any more.

Yeah, I saw it. But that video is about 2 years old. It's probably the only documented PRP case that shows vast improvement. If anyone has seen other pictures/videos of patients who have had noticeable success with PRP, please provide a link. I personally haven't seen any evidence that leads me to believe that PRP is a viable solution for hair loss. And this is coming from someone (me) who received PRP injections over a year ago.

Man, like seriously, with all the talk about PRP over the last 3 years and with all dialogue about acell over the last 18 months, there should be substantial, undeniable evidence that these treatments are working. There's been a bunch of hearsay, but nothing concrete.

[DepressedByHairLoss]

I heard that Dr. Greco has a new thing now called Orogen Plus which is a supposed improvement over PRP. I like Dr. Greco because: 1. He seems dedicated to developing new treatments for hair loss, 2. He doesn't solely focus on hair transplants to treat hair loss, and 3. He is always very responsive and informative on here and in e-mails.
If he developed something new, I would go to him.

[level]

I heard that Dr. Greco has a new thing now called Orogen Plus which is a supposed improvement over PRP. I like Dr. Greco because: 1. He seems dedicated to developing new treatments for hair loss, 2. He doesn't solely focus on hair transplants to treat hair loss, and 3. He is always very responsive and informative on here and in e-mails.
If he developed something new, I would go to him.

I heard about it too. I'm hoping the new formula is better. And I agree, Dr. Greco is a respectable doc. I just wish these treatments weren't released until proven worthy. They should definitely be testing new formulas on people to see if they can eventually connect the dots, but they should be providing the treatment for free or for a fraction of the current price.

[VictimOfDHT]

So, let me ask you this. Would you guys go for that "new" treatment offered by Dr. Greco ? I've heard good things about this doctor but I'm asking the same thing, how come we're not hearing more about this treatment ? Any body knows if it at least stops further hair loss ?

[HairTalk]

Yeah, I saw it. But that video is about 2 years old. It's probably the only documented PRP case that shows vast improvement. If anyone has seen other pictures/videos of patients who have had noticeable success with PRP, please provide a link. I personally haven't seen any evidence that leads me to believe that PRP is a viable solution for hair loss. And this is coming from someone (me) who received PRP injections over a year ago.

Man, like seriously, with all the talk about PRP over the last 3 years and with all dialogue about acell over the last 18 months, there should be substantial, undeniable evidence that these treatments are working. There's been a bunch of hearsay, but nothing concrete.

At least, with ACell, work's been going on for only less than ~one year, and one expects to hear news at this September's (2011) I.S.H.R.S. meeting. Straight P.R.P. injections seem to me to be a total bust.

I heard that Dr. Greco has a new thing now called Orogen Plus which is a supposed improvement over PRP. I like Dr. Greco because: 1. He seems dedicated to developing new treatments for hair loss, 2. He doesn't solely focus on hair transplants to treat hair loss, and 3. He is always very responsive and informative on here and in e-mails.
If he developed something new, I would go to him.

I heard about it too. I'm hoping the new formula is better. And I agree, Dr. Greco is a respectable doc. I just wish these treatments weren't released until proven worthy. They should definitely be testing new formulas on people to see if they can eventually connect the dots, but they should be providing the treatment for free or for a fraction of the current price.

I've nothing against Dr. Greco or against trying new things to address hairloss, but it's important to keep in mind all these "experiemental procedures" are at high out-of-pocket costs to the patient. Doctors seem to sometimes hide behind "disclaimers" such as, "This is wholly experimental; you might not achieve any benefit," but the fact is, if it's being offered, the patient's being told there's reason to think it might work. It's unsurpising desperate people would be willing to invest in such perceived promise.

This largely is why I think it's respectable for surgeons to refrain from jumping on every "innovation" bandwagon that comes along: doing so might annoy those who wish doctors would "just try something; stop spinning the same old wheel," but it also keeps the surgeons from looking somewhat unscrupulous.

[level]

@hairtalk-Actually, Dr. Hitzig did one his first presentations back in 2009. Check this link out: http://www.baldtruthtalk.com/showthr...ighlight=Acell (click on the link inside of the thread). There should be several documented cases and this forum should be flooded with acell pictures, considering it's already been two years.

[level]

@victimofdht-Yeah, I would try it, but I'm going to hang tight until some documented cases come forward showing it works. I don't want to jump the gun again.

[HairTalk]

@hairtalk-Actually, Dr. Hitzig did one his first presentations back in 2009. Check this link out: http://www.baldtruthtalk.com/showthr...ighlight=Acell (click on the link inside of the thread). There should be several documented cases and this forum should be flooded with acell pictures, considering it's already been two years.

To my knowledge, Dr. Cooley did not begin working with ACell and plucking until 2009/2010, and he did present those results late in 2010. The work he's done since should be shared later this year (2011). Dr. Bernstein didn't begin his research with the compound until, I believe, just mid 2011; of course, we can't expect a "flood" of data or pictures just a couple of months into a study.

I hope I don't come off trying to defend the merits of ACell — I don't know whether there are any. It seems to me, however, this still is a "new" product, and I thus am reservedly hopeful it can be beneficial in treating hairloss. As for straight injections of P.R.P., there's a lot less I have to be enthusiastic about. For one thing, yes, the idea has been around longer, and I don't see any positive results from it. For another, I feel it requires less experimentation: ACell is supposed to work in conjunction with surgery, and figuring out how best to administer it might require a fair amount of effort and creativity. With P.R.P. on its own, however, one more simply must work out dosing; after that, it's direct shots into the scalp, then checking for growth.

I suppose by the end of 2011, though, we all should have a stronger sense to where we ought to set our hopes.

[DepressedByHairLoss]

VictimOfDHT: You ask if I would go to Dr. Greco for this new treatment........ I know that I have to do something soon because I just can't 'accept' this hair loss. I am narrowing down where to go for either straight PRP, PRP & Acell, or PRP & Acell & Thrombin. Dr. Greco is definitely one of the three doctors that I am now considering. He has shown great respect in responding at length to all of my e-mails and I certainly trust him more than I do other doctors. It seems that some of these other doctors don't really give a shit about you unless you're interested in a hair transplant (their main money maker). But honestly, I'm still not sure. I am so desperate to do something to either stop my hair loss (besides the Propecia I'm taking), yet there are just no effective options out there. And now I'm hearing that PRP+Acell may cause some initial shedding as well. If there is something that could just thicken my hair and reverse some of my miniaturized follicles, I wouldn't even hesitate to do it. And I'd pay whatever it costs.

[HairTalk]

VictimOfDHT: You ask if I would go to Dr. Greco for this new treatment........ I know that I have to do something soon because I just can't 'accept' this hair loss. I am narrowing down where to go for either straight PRP, PRP & Acell, or PRP & Acell & Thrombin. Dr. Greco is definitely one of the three doctors that I am now considering. He has shown great respect in responding at length to all of my e-mails and I certainly trust him more than I do other doctors. It seems that some of these other doctors don't really give a shit about you unless you're interested in a hair transplant (their main money maker). But honestly, I'm still not sure. I am so desperate to do something to either stop my hair loss (besides the Propecia I'm taking), yet there are just no effective options out there. And now I'm hearing that PRP+Acell may cause some initial shedding as well. If there is something that could just thicken my hair and reverse some of my miniaturized follicles, I wouldn't even hesitate to do it. And I'd pay whatever it costs.

O.K.: you really need to step back and take a breath. I can imagine how sick you may be of hearing things like that, but, as you admit, you have no magic bullet to load, here. What you want — to stop losing hair, and to grow back a significant amount — does not exist. I'd recommend you not resort to pissing away money simply because you're frustrated and want to do "something."

Try to keep in mind, you don't actually want to do just "something": you want to do something that works. Again, besides transplantation and medical therapy (the latter of which you say you already are on), nothing has been demonstrated to do so. Paying to have things shot into your scalp that have not proved to help with your problem is no more likely to treat your balding than is your withdrawing several thousand dollars from your bank account and using the bills as kindling.

If you want to, try to think of it this way, too: you very likely have limited funds. Let's say you go out and blow $4,000.00, to-morrow, on some bogus procedure; a year down the line, then, that new gold standard in treatment does come along. Do you really want to find yourself, at that point, with as little cash in your pocket as you have hair on your head?

Go ahead and try to take that step back and that breath.

[VictimOfDHT]

VictimOfDHT: You ask if I would go to Dr. Greco for this new treatment........ I know that I have to do something soon because I just can't 'accept' this hair loss. I am narrowing down where to go for either straight PRP, PRP & Acell, or PRP & Acell & Thrombin. Dr. Greco is definitely one of the three doctors that I am now considering. He has shown great respect in responding at length to all of my e-mails and I certainly trust him more than I do other doctors. It seems that some of these other doctors don't really give a shit about you unless you're interested in a hair transplant (their main money maker). But honestly, I'm still not sure. I am so desperate to do something to either stop my hair loss (besides the Propecia I'm taking), yet there are just no effective options out there. And now I'm hearing that PRP+Acell may cause some initial shedding as well. If there is something that could just thicken my hair and reverse some of my miniaturized follicles, I wouldn't even hesitate to do it. And I'd pay whatever it costs.

I am as desperate as you are if not even more, you know. That video about Dr. Greco's procedure kind of raised my hope for a day or two but now when I think about realistically I dont feel optimistic about it at all. If it really worked as good as we're told we would be seeing and hearing a lot more about it, it would be offered by a lot more doctors, and people would be jumping on it. But that's not happening even though it's been out for a couple of years as you know, which only means one thing....