Hybrid methods
A fascinating technology already on the market is the so-called HASCI method (12). This is offered by the Hair Science Institute in its clinics in the Netherlands, UK, France, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia. The method is similar to a standard hair transplant. Surgeons invasively remove follicles from healthy donor areas and transplant them onto balding parts of the scalp.
Where the method is unique is that only part of the follicle is removed. The rest remains in place, where it regenerates and grows out new hairs in the donor area. The result is that multiple transplants are possible drawing hairs from the same donor area. This process leads to an increase in the total number of healthy follicles on the head.
A similar method to HASCI transplantation is being developed by the CFS clinics in Barcelona and Madrid (13). Directing this is Dr. Christophe Guillemat.
Just last year, a partnership was announced between German biotech TissUse and a Japanese company by the name of J. Hewitt (14). The aim of the partnership is to promote TissUse’s “smart transplant” technology in Japan. In principle, TissUse’s transplant can also supply an unlimited number of new hair follicles.
Other Companies
Other smaller players to keep an eye out for in the future include Rapunzel Bioscience and Stemore.