What Hair Restoration Treatments Do We Offer?

We have several treatment options available that may be used solo or in combination with each other. The choice depends on the severity of your hair loss and your budget. A treatment plan will be formulated during your consultation visit.

For noninvasive daily treatment, we can prescribe medicated topical hair formulations.

We offer two options for a One & Done Approach to Hair Restoration: the Vampire Hair Regrowth Procedure® and the DEP Treatment.

How does the Medicated Topical Hair Formula Work?

Dr. Leonardo is a member of the Medical Advisory Board for Hair Science, the company that compounded an ideal hair growth formula in 82D. The main active ingredients are Minoxidil, which improves circulation to the scalp and follicles, and Dutesteride, a 5 alphareductase inhibitor, which slows the conversion of Testosterone to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It is DHT which is responsible for male pattern baldness.

Hair Science formulas are free of Propylene Glycol, an irritant to the follicles, which is an ingredient found in products like Rogaine. 82D is also compounded with Retinoic Acid which makes Minoxidil 5% behave like 10%. 82D also contains Fluocinolone, an anti-inflammatory. Inflamed follicles are basically nonfunctional. There are other ingredients that make 82D ideal for daily treatment. The texture is smooth/silky allowing for greater compliance to use twice daily. It does not leave a residue on your pillows. It does not interfere with styling.

Formula 82D is a great treatment option for those who were nonresponders or unable to tolerate Formula 82F which contains Finasteride. Dutesteride has a much longer half life than Finasteride and is more forgiving to those who are non compliant to twice daily dosing. Formula 82D is ideal for those taking androgenic supplements and anabolic steroids.

How does the Vampire Hair Regrowth® Procedure Work?

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is the business end of the Vampire Hair Regrowth® Procedure. The term is a trademarked name coined by Dr. Charles Runels. Dr. Leonardo is a licensed provider of Dr. Runels. However, Dr. Leonardo has made certain protocol upgrades for better results. Platelets contain growth factors which are responsible for healing and repair. Platelets also contain cytokines that draw stem cells to the area of injection. Hair follicles house stem cells in an area called the bulge region. Hair follicles lose the stem cells through atrophy or migration as we age resulting in thinner weaker strands and decreased hair density. PRP replaces the stems cells in the hair follicles. In addition, platelets when activated i.e. release their contents signal the body to create new blood vessels to improve circulation. Obviously the more platelets that are injected the more therapeutic the treatment. Hence, PRP must be rich in platelets.

How is the Vampire Hair Regrowth® Procedure Performed?

You are instructed to present to the office ideally with freshly washed hair without any products. A set of photos and videos will be taken to document your baseline hair density.

120mL of blood is drawn typically from the arm/antecubital fossa and processed using a double spin PRP centrifuge. Most clinics only draw 10 - 20mL of blood using a single spin PRP system or Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) device. These blood draw volumes are significantly less than our protocol and deliver very few platelets in comparison.

A scalp ring block is performed to anesthetize the injection sites on the scalp. You may experience mild to moderate discomfort during this process, but patients reports this is much more tolerable than receiving PRP injections with only topical numbing cream as performed by most clinics.

Once the scalp is thoroughly numb, injections are performed using the highest concentration of the PRP sample. Another round of injections is performed using a small amount of plasma along with an activating agent for the PRP. The procedure concludes with micro needling a small amount of Platelet Poor Plasma (PPP). Platelets respond to trauma such that micro needling provides microtrauma in a controlled fashion. Exosomes are typically microneedled during this process. Exosomes are peptides that signal hair follicles and neighbouring follicles to up-regulate hair production. They are approved for topical use only. Microneedling drives exosomes beneath the skin and provides controlled microtrauma to activate PRP.

How does Dermoelectroporation® (DEP) Work?

Dermoelectroporation® (DEP) is a non-invasive, stand alone drug-delivery system which increases the skin's permeability by using the skin's water based channels opened by a particular controlled current delivered to the patient, therefore allowing the substances to be absorbed by the hypodermis and muscle membranes. DEP allows for the delivery of compounds beneath the skin without the use of needles. Use of topical and/or injectable local anesthesia is unnecessary. Patients may feel a tingling or an occasional zap, but it is often masked by the delivery of vibrations from the treatment probe.

Dr. Leonardo delivers a cocktail of Ariessence Pure PDGF and Exosignal Hair from Marea Distribution.

Ariessence Pure PDGF+ contains up to 300,000 times the growth factor concentration of competitive applications. This potency means results may be obtained with fewer applications. Dr. Leonardo loves a One & Done approach and it is achievable by combining Ariessence Pure PDGF+ with Exosignal Hair.

Exosignal Hair contains 20 Billion Exosomes enriched with Polyribonucleotides (PDRNs), 16 Hair Specific Biomimetic Peptides & Vitamins, and Plant Stem Cells. It represents the future of hair restoration with synthetic exosomal technology.

This cocktail of Ariessence and Exosignal Hair appears to be the ultimate blend of ingredients designed to prevent and slow down hair loss and ultimately stimulate hair regrowth. It is delivering results similar to the One & Done Vampire Hair Regrowth Procedure, but without the use of needles.

How Often Are Treatments Performed?

Many state hair restoration requires a series of 3 treatments due to the various hair follicle phases. This simply is not true as proven by the success of Dr. Leonardo's One & Done approach. The hair follicle phases are more pertinent with laser hair removal and not growth. Hair follicles will benefit from improved circulation, cell signaling, and stem cell migration no matter what phase. If a series of treatments is required, the treatment is simply not delivering a sufficient amount of platelets or growth factors in one sitting.

Our One & Done Hair Treatments are typically repeated after 12-18 months. We have had some patients return after 3 years with hair density still better than baseline.

What Does Aftercare Entail?

We request that you wear dark coloured clothing for your procedure in case there is any blood, PRP, or medication that may drop on your clothing. Place a dark towel over your pillow to minimize any stains from the procedure. Sleep with a 30 degree angle upwards to reduce any facial swelling. Do not wash your hair until the morning after your procedure. Avoid any harsh hair products for 72hrs to allow any puncture sites to heal. You may resume application of medicated drops after 72hrs. Avoid NSAIDs like aspirin, Aleve, Naproxen, Ibuprofen, etc. for at least 6 weeks if possible if you received PRP hair restoration treatment.

When Will I See Results?

Any changes whether beneficial or deleterious will be most evident at 6 months. For patients who wear shorter hair, results may be noticeable at 3 months, but it is still considered a sneak peek.

What Happens If I Stop Using the Medicated Drops?

The natural course of aging unfortunately is hair loss. Our various interventions fight the natural course. When we stop using the medicated drops, nature takes over. Your hair density will start to thin. Restarting treatment will allow hair density to thicken once more unless permanent hair loss has resulted.

Am I a Good Candidate?

As with any aesthetic medical procedure, ideal candidates are generally healthy, nonsmokers with mild to moderate age-related changes. Consultation is necessary to discuss anticipated outcomes based on your medical history and presentation. Please contact the office to schedule an appointment.