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Location: Scarsdale, NY
Sex: Female
Age: 50 years old
Hair Loss Started: 15 years ago
Hair Loss Prior to Treatment: Gradual
Treatments Tried Before: Steroid injections
Diagnosis: Alopecia Areata
Treatment Plan: Optimal Platelet Concentration Therapy, Supplements – Tresse Fortifier, Revitalizer, Minoxidil
Ellen was a new patient to the Medi Tresse Scarsdale, NY office. Her hair loss had begun 15 years earlier when she had noticed patches of loss. Ellen had been previously diagnosed with Alopecia Areata, which was confirmed with a biopsy.
She had tried steroid injections and some creams with some success, but hair loss came back.
Ellen visited Medi Tresse looking for a way to regrow her hair, halt further loss, and hopefully stop future flareups from occurring. She was diagnosed with alopecia areata, a prevalent autoimmune disease impacting approximately 7 million people in the United States.
Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition characterized by inflammation around hair follicles, which inhibits hair growth. It typically manifests as coin-shaped lesions or distinct patches of hair loss with well-defined edges. However, it can also result in more diffuse hair thinning.
With all of our treatments, we have three main goals: stop further loss, make the hair you have thicker, healthier, and if possible regrow hair. We like to remind all of our patients that attaining any of these goals is a success.
While not typically a first line treatment for Alopecia Areata, the Medi Tresse team decided to move forward with Optimal Platelet Concentration™ as the patient had tried other first line treatments in the past with mixed results. In addition, Ellen would be supporting her treatment with Medi Tresse At Home Supplements (Tresse Fortifier and Tresse Revitalizer), and topical minoxidil.
Optimal Platelet Concentration™ Therapy, which is exclusively offered at Medi Tresse, is similar to PRP Therapy, in that it relies on injecting platelet rich plasma into the scalp. However, Optimal Platelet Concentration™ Therapy takes the PRP one step further as the treatment is customized to the specific patient. Prior to each treatment a baseline platelet level is measured so that the final platelet rich plasma solution can be optimized to reach the optimal number of platelets that research has shown to support blood vessels and hair restoration. Three treatments are required one month apart, followed by booster treatments every six months.
Supplements and minoxidil are great supporting treatments for most patients experiencing hair loss. While rarely used as a standalone treatment, they help the hairs in additional ways making the total treatment protocol stronger. The vitamins and nutrients in the Tresse Fortifier and Tresse Revitalizer have been shown to address the key nutritional factors that may play role in hair growth. Minoxidil is the only FDA approved topical for hair loss and has been used for decades.
The good news about Alopecia Areata is that regrowth is possible since the hair follicle is not destroyed. However, even when the hair grows back, it is always possible for flare ups to occur at any time causing loss in areas that hair previously regrow. Ellen is happy with the current results and will continue to complete booster treatments every 6 months and continue her supplements and minoxidil treatments. We are hopeful she will continue to see more regrowth overtime.
All case studies are from real patients at Medi Tresse affiliated practices, and may not reflect the typical patient’s experience, and are not intended to represent or guarantee that anyone will achieve the same or similar results. Individual results may vary. However, these results are meant as a showcase of what these patients have achieved. Not all patients can achieve the results depicted here and it is important to speak with your Medi Tresse practitioner about your individual case and the best treatment plan for you.
