Growth factors, we have been using them now for almost a year and have been very happy with the results when applied during cosmetic surgery procedures. Growth factors are concentrated plasma and platelets which comes from the patient’s own blood which is obtained by putting some of the patient’s blood in the centrifuge which then concentrates the growth factors to no more than to 10 to 12 cc. A variety of applications for growth factors are available. We use them for plastic surgery procedures. When combined with thrombin, it can help reduce the bruising and speed up the healing in the face-lifted areas, thus allowing the skin flaps to stay nice and flat. We are also utilizing it for the treatment of hair loss as a stand alone treatment which when it is injected into the scalp that contains thinning hair and may help slow down or altogether stop the falling out of hair and may even cause some thickening of the existing hairs. In addition, growth factors is used during a hair transplant procedure both combined with thrombin and sprayed into the donor site incision to help speed up healing and leave a finer line scar, as well as being injected into the recipient area of the scalp where the growth factor cuts down swelling and bleeding and seems to speed up healing and perhaps provide a better bed for which these hairs to grow. I believe that as we start doing more research on bioproducts such as growth factors, its use will become more and more popular. The doctors at the Foundation for Hair Restoration and Plastic Surgery are committed to staying at the forefront of these emerging technologies.
Posted by Jeffrey S. Epstein, MD, FACS