Sounds strange but can SMP actually help regrow some hair in some cases?

[bullitnut]

Was reading elsewhere about a gentleman who had SMP to help camouflage his loss as he still had some hair left.....the guy seemed suprised that the SMP procedure actually stimulated a very tiny amount of hair regrowth in these areas......I know it could be compared to the likes of a derma roller in that the continues needling stinulated blood flow in the SMP areas but is this actually possible?

 

[matt iulo]

bullitnut

because SMP is still rather young, there are no studies or observances that can verify SMP helping regrow hair. Through my own experience as a client and practitioner, i would say if their is any correlation, it is small. There are some other studies that do show derma roller and other needling and resurfacing of the scalp can help with blood flow and regrowth, but thats still limited research.

With that said, we are sure that SMP will not do any harm to existing follicles, so those with hair should not experience any negative effects.

Matt

 

[topccat29]

Matt SMP has been around at least 10 years minimum and judging by past postings closer to 20 years...............I wouldn't consider that young.

BTW the wounding thing also goes back at least 10 years or so also. You had guys that were actually sandpapering their heads causing sometimes what one would consider deep wounding and all with the encouragement of others on the forums. Seemed to me that those that were encouraging it were more reckless than those that were actually doing it. My personal thought on that is instead of encouraging someone else do it yourself first.

The whole wounding the scalp was short lived and the theory behind it had something to do with growth type factors being brought into the area by the body as a consequence.

How many guys were scarred by trying this I could not tell you.................sometimes they don't come back.

 

[bullitnut]

matt iulo wrote:

bullitnut

we are sure that SMP will not do any harm to existing follicles, so those with hair should not experience any negative effects.

Matt

This has to be a big concern for many HT patients considering this type of treatment so it's good to know it doesn't damage follicles..one concern i can see regarding HT's and SMP together, is that i would imagine due to the thicker/darker nature of HT hairs being placed on top of the scalp i would imagine the SMP has to be done darker to match the colour of the HT hair on top......would this still look natural if the patient then lost some/all of his HT hairs down the line*nl

 

[matt iulo]

Topcat- i agree, i do not believe it is responsible to market that SMP or any other needling or friction of the scalp will result in increased hair density. theres nothing to really support that.

Bullitnut- Today skilled HT doctors are better at depositing the grafts so you dont get that "cluster" and dark effect. Even so, once SMP pigments are placed around these darker grafts, it helps blend them out and reduces their appearance pretty well.

here's a really rough demonstration of what i mean! bear with me haha....

if HT hair with little density looks like this:

' " " ' " " " ' '

what smp can do to blend them out and add density would look like this:

'"''""''"""''"'"""""

very rough but the idea is once you place follicle like pigments next to actual HT grafts, they all blend and match together.

-Matt

 

[topccat29]

Matt..............that's a great answer.........you're a true diplomatt

Actually there is some evidence to support that wounding causing hair growth but it seems to be so minimal that in my opinion it's hardly worth the effort and for someone to sandpaper their head seems a bit much. Then there was the wounding with Acell applied but of course after reading what some of the ex employees have had to say it doesn't surprise me that this was also a waste of time and seemed to be more about making some money.

I believe the same principle applies to a broken bone that requires a cast. When the casting is removed the hair is substantially darker and thicker............just going from memory as reading this was a long time ago but the same growth factors cause the effect.

 

[bullitnut]

Thanks Matt love the diagram dude ¬b` but i get the idea and it makes sense. Do you find that you need to vary the shade dependent on if a person wants to have the shaved look or if he wants to wear the hair longer......i would imagine it needs to be darker if the hairs longer but i'm not sure*nl

 

[matt iulo]

College art classes really paying off!

Yes. its always important to have a good discussion with a client on what his objective is with SMP. For some guys that have nothing up top left, and may be a bit in denial, its shave it short or move on ha!

but others that have some good amount of hair remaining then yes SMP can help create the illusion of fuller hair. In that case i will perhaps push the shade and color a bit darker, at the same time not jeopardizing his ability to cut short later on. its a fine line, but i tend to be a bit more aggressive in color with clients who want longer hair.

 

[Coopman]

Matt

In reference to your point about SMP for individuals with long hair. I fully agree that it can provide a thickening look.

But the question I would like to ask you is "How would you advise someone who is a diffuse NW 2 for example and that individual wants a thickening SMP effect, but also wears his hair on top say 50mm long?"

What im basically asking is how is the application of the SMP dots effected by the user having longer hair? It has to be a nuisance for the SMP Practioner.

It must take a lot of patience and highlights the need for any SMP potential client to carefully select his chosen Practitioner.
The diffuse NW2 could become a NW6 in less than 2yrs. Some SMP Practitioners may produce a less than satisfactory result which is only evident when the patient finally shaves their head. I guess careful planning for this eventuality is needed.

 

[matt iulo]

Coopman

For a NW2 i would advise for the time being stay behind or near the exiting hairline, and add density as necessary to the thin and week areas on the scalp. The existing hair shouldnt have impact on the SMP dots, because the practitioner should only be pigmenting where the follicles have miniaturized or become very weak. its not intened to pigment on top of already dense follicles because that could create a "blotch effect".

The point is to "even out" density so the hair looks uniform. Ideally the client would be open to buzzing the hair down during treatment, allowing the practitioner to get a full idea of the hair loss patter and be able to pigment where necessary.

With that said, i have personally treated guys who have kept their hair at a longer length during treatment, it just makes it a bit more difficult on my end. but no impossible.

When a clients hair loss progresses the only change will be the client most likely needing to cut the hair shorter as the top wont grow in at the same rate as the thick side hair.

Matt

 

[salvar]

bullitnut wrote:

Was reading elsewhere about a gentleman who had SMP to help camouflage his loss as he still had some hair left.....the guy seemed suprised that the SMP procedure actually stimulated a very tiny amount of hair regrowth in these areas......I know it could be compared to the likes of a derma roller in that the continues needling stinulated blood flow in the SMP areas but is this actually possible?

It known that pricking the scalp with needles can stimulate hair growth (marginally) but that is a temporary effect, similar to derma rollers being used on the scalp, so on its own I wouldnt expect it to do much.
When applying local injectable anaesthesia sometimes small hair regrowth can be noted but that usually is very minimal and temporary.

 

[bullitnut]

When applying local injectable anaesthesia sometimes small hair regrowth can be noted but that usually is very minimal and temporary.

Thanks salvar, I know this is probably totally unrelated but it's the truth....at the back end if last year I broke two bones in my hand and had local anaesthetic to pin the bones....when my cast came off my hand was red for weeks and had hairs on the top which I didn't have before....these have now gone but I'm no sure whether it was to do with blood supply or something as it was red or whether it could be related to the anaesthetic.

 

[salvar]

bullitnut wrote:

When applying local injectable anaesthesia sometimes small hair regrowth can be noted but that usually is very minimal and temporary.

Thanks salvar, I know this is probably totally unrelated but it's the truth....at the back end if last year I broke two bones in my hand and had local anaesthetic to pin the bones....when my cast came off my hand was red for weeks and had hairs on the top which I didn't have before....these have now gone but I'm no sure whether it was to do with blood supply or something as it was red or whether it could be related to the anaesthetic.

This is not uncommon after being injected and relates directly to what the SMP needles can do, minimal temporary regrowth with the needle pricking of the skin.