Hair Loss Treatment Options

Hair loss is a widespread concern, affecting about 70% of men and 30% of women, most commonly in the form of male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness. ⁽¹⁾ Areas that are more prone to hair loss often include the hairline or the crown. Hair loss treatment is a way for patients to revitalize their hair growth, address hair loss, and find lasting solutions.

If you are interested in restoring your hair, look no further than Northwestern Medicine! Our team of experts at Northwestern Medicine offers the latest techniques and advancements in hair restoration treatments to stimulate impactful results. Our practice has established itself as one of the premier aesthetic destinations in the greater Chicago area.

We offer finasteride oral pills, minoxidil oral pills, spironolactone oral pills, PRP injections, and exosome therapy for hair loss. Exosome therapy is a new, innovative treatment that uses the body’s natural regenerative properties to promote healing and cell growth.

To learn more about how you can benefit from hair loss treatment, please schedule a consultation at our Glenview, Grayslake, or Lake Forest locations by contacting us online.

About the Hair Growth Cycle

Hair growth occurs in four stages: anagen, catagen, telogen, and exogen. Anagen is the growth phase, where hair is actively growing from the follicle. This phase can last for several years, with anywhere between 85% and 95% of hairs being in this phase. ⁽¹⁾ The catagen phase is a transition phase where the blood supply gets cut off from the follicle; this phase is the shortest, lasting only a few weeks. The next phase is telogen, a resting phase that occurs for several months before the exogen phase, or shedding phase, occurs. We can shed anywhere from 100 to 200 hairs a day. ⁽²⁾

About Hair Loss Treatments

Exosome Therapy

Exosome therapy is a minimally invasive treatment that utilizes the body’s natural regenerative properties to help stimulate new hair growth in areas of the scalp experiencing thinning or shedding. Exosomes are small, membrane-bound organelles that help transport proteins and other cellular matter throughout the body. These organelles are essential for facilitating intercellular communication and have gained popularity for their utility in treating multiple diseases. ⁽³⁾ Additionally, exosomes can be modified to help transport therapeutic substances and remedies to specific targets in the body, lowering the risk of complications and reactions in patients. ⁽⁴⁾

Most causes of hair loss are genetic, but some patients may experience shedding or patchiness due to hormonal fluctuations or medication side effects.

Finasteride Oral Pills

Finasteride oral pills work by disallowing testosterone from turning into DHT, or the hormone that causes hair loss. When taken, this medication can reduce DHT levels by 70% in the scalp, slowing hair loss and promoting new growth. ⁽⁵⁾

Minoxidil Oral Pills

Minoxidil is an FDA-approved medication that can improve blood flow to the scalp, delivering more oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles. This medication helps shorten the telogen phase of the hair growth cycle to lengthen and prematurely start the anagen phase, resulting in longer and thicker hair growth. ⁽⁶⁾

Spironolactone Oral Pills

Spironolactone oral pills are often prescribed to patients if their hair loss is attributed to the overproduction of testosterone or androgen. These medications help inhibit DHT from binding to these hormones, reducing the shrinkage of hair follicles and the overall amount of thinning and shedding.

PRP Injections

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are a concentrated solution of platelets derived from a sample of each patient’s blood and reinjected into the scalp to promote new hair growth. PRP contains different growth factors and proteins that can help stimulate collagen synthesis, encouraging new hair growth, and increasing hair density and thickness. ⁽⁷⁾ A specialist will filter the plasma from the red blood cells using a centrifuge, ensuring only the healthiest cells are reintroduced to the scalp. Because the blood sample is taken from the patient, there is a lowered risk of reaction or complication.

Benefits of Exosome Therapy

Patients can experience a myriad of benefits after undergoing our exosome therapy treatment. These benefits include the following:

To learn more about how you may benefit from exosome therapy, please schedule a consultation at our Glenview, Grayslake, or Lake Forest locations by contacting us online.

Suitable Candidates for Exosome Therapy

The ideal candidates for exosome therapy for hair loss include individuals experiencing thinning, shedding, or patchiness in areas of their scalp. Patients interested in this treatment are ideally seeking a non-surgical solution or have previously undergone other hair restoration treatments. Candidates interested in exosome therapy should be in good overall health, with realistic expectations regarding what this treatment can achieve. Individuals should also be free from any underlying medical conditions that may impact their experience. Our specialist will determine each patient’s candidacy during their consultation.

Personal Consultation

Each patient is asked to attend a personal consultation before scheduling their exosome therapy session. This consultation is not only a chance for our team to meet each patient but also to better understand the motivations and goals behind their decision to undergo treatment. Our specialist will perform an examination to evaluate the condition of each patient’s scalp and converse with them about their medical history, concerns, and desired results. After determining their candidacy, the specialist will craft each patient’s treatment plan, tailoring aspects to address each concern. Personalized preparation and recovery instructions will be provided, as well as a written estimate. We ask that each patient prepare to talk openly about their concerns and ideal results during their consultation.

To schedule a consultation at either our Glenview, Grayslake, or Lake Forest locations, please contact us online.

Preparation

Each patient will receive a set of personalized preparation instructions at their consultation, detailing how to prepare for their exosome therapy treatment. While preparation is relatively minimal, patients should ensure they follow any instructions they are given for the best possible outcome.

Patients may be asked to temporarily discontinue the use of medications and supplements that have blood-thinning properties, in addition to limiting sun exposure. Individuals should also eat nutritious meals and stay hydrated in preparation for their treatment.

Procedure

At the beginning of each treatment, the scalp is cleansed and sterilized. A local anesthetic or topical numbing cream may be applied for each patient’s comfort. The specialist then uses a small needle to inject the exosomes into areas of the scalp experiencing thinning or shedding. Depending on the size of the treatment area, the entire treatment can take between 30 and 90 minutes. For more comprehensive effects, our specialists can also perform multiple treatments in one appointment.

Recovery

As there is essentially no associated downtime with exosome therapy, patients can typically return to their daily routines immediately after their appointment. Mild redness and swelling may be experienced at the injection sites, but these effects are temporary and will gradually dissipate on their own. The specialist may recommend avoiding the use of certain hair products, hair washing, or intense physical exercise for 24-48 hours following treatment. Further post-treatment instructions will be discussed with each patient during their consultation.

Results

Following their exosome therapy session, each patient will be able to experience new growth after several months, with fuller results manifesting 2-3 months later. Patients will be able to experience thicker, healthier hair growth. The results of exosome therapy are long-lasting, with many patients experiencing the effects for up to 12-18 months.

Cost of Exosome Therapy for Hair Loss in Chicago, Illinois

The cost of each patient’s exosome therapy will depend on several factors, as each treatment is tailored to address their specific concerns. The severity of hair loss and the number of treatments needed will be factored into the cost. The specialist will provide each patient with a cost estimate once their treatment plan has been established.

To unlock the cost of your exosome therapy for hair loss, please schedule a consultation at our Glenview, Grayslake, or Lake Forest offices by contacting us online.

FAQ

References

1. Murphrey MB, Agarwal S, Zito PM. Anatomy, Hair. PubMed. Published 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513312/
2. Hoover E, Alhajj M, Flores JL. Physiology, Hair. PubMed. Published 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499948/
3. Muthu S, Bapat A, Jain R, Jeyaraman N, Jeyaraman M. Exosomal therapy—a new frontier in regenerative medicine. Stem Cell Investigation. 2021;8:7-7. doi:https://doi.org/10.21037/sci-2020-037
4. Cheng M, Ma C, Chen HD, Wu Y, Xu XG. The Roles of Exosomes in Regulating Hair Follicle Growth. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. 2024;17:1603-1612. doi:https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S465963
5. Zito PM, Bistas KG, Syed K. Finasteride. PubMed. Published 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513329/
6. Badri T, Nessel TA, Kumar D D. Minoxidil. PubMed. Published 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482378/
7. Paichitrojjana A, Paichitrojjana A. Platelet Rich Plasma and Its Use in Hair Regrowth: A Review. Drug Design, Development and Therapy. 2022;Volume 16:635-645. doi:https://doi.org/10.2147/dddt.s356858