PRESS RELEASE from HAIR SCIENCE INSTITUTE

Transcription

1 PRESS RELEASE from HAIR SCIENCE INSTITUTE Amsterdam/Maastricht, 28 January 2010 Last Friday, 22 January 2010, a news item was posted on the internet ( with the headline "Doctors warn of questionable hair transplant clinic''. (See 'news' on This led to the following being broadcast in the programme Shownieuws (Show news) of SBS of 22 January 2010 (late edition): "Hair Surgeons angry with Gerard Joling (see 'news' on In response to the above, the Hair Science Institute has already published a general press release on Monday, 25 February on the website (See 'news' on Here we will respond more technically and scientifically to the criticisms. A. This method has been patented by HSI and may be used by HSI exclusively. HSI basically offers a normal Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) method in which hair follicles or parts thereof are removed one by one and implanted, which is not patented or different from the method offered by the clinics mentioned below. With traditional hair transplant techniques such as the "Strip Method" a strip of skin with hair is removed. Obviously there will be no regrowth in the donor area and one will always have a permanent scar from this operation. In the case of a normal Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) method, the entire hair follicles are removed. The difference between Hair Stem Cell Transplantation of the Hair Science Institute and FUE is that there will be much more hair tissue left in the donor area and far less hair tissue is removed. In comparison with FUE, the chance of regrowth in the donor area is thereby many times greater. In previous studies, published by researchers from other institutes and clinics, it has been shown that the medium in which the grafts are kept is of vital importance for: - increasing the survival rate of the grafts (see 1); - and reducing cell death (see 2). By using state of the art materials and specially designed instruments (such as the new medium that has a powerful composition by which the transplanted tissue now remains even better preserved) we are able to transplant much smaller grafts that have an even higher survival rate in comparison to conventional transplantation techniques. The enormous value of the storage medium was presented at the Scientific World Congress of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHR, see 3, 4) in 2008 as well as in This also explains why our results on the regrowth of partial hair follicles differ from other clinical studies such as the study of Er et al (see 5). Er et al advised against implanting hair follicles because this would not result in the desired hair growth.

2 1. Raposio E, Cella A, Panarese P, et al. Power boosting the grafts in hair transplantation surgery. Evaluation of a new storage medium. Dermatol Surg 1998; 24 Dec: ; discussion Krugluger W, Moser K, Moser C, et al. Enhancement of in vitro hair shaft elongation in follicles stored in buffers that prevent follicle cell apoptosis. Dermatol Surg 2004; 30:1-5; discussion Coen G.Gho. Hair Stemcell Transplantation. International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) Congress 2008 Montreal, Canada, 5 September Coen G.Gho. Hair Stemcell Transplantation New Concepts & Insights. International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) Congress 2009, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 25 July Er E, Kulahci M, Hamiloglu E. In vivo follicular unit multiplication: is it possible to harvest an unlimited donor supply? Dermatol Surg 2006;32:1322-6; discussion With Hair Stem Cell Transplant of the Hair Science Institute, the entire hair follicle is not removed but only a very small part of the hair root sack which contains some stem cells. Hence, the name "Hair Stem Cell Transplant". The scientific name is "Partial Longitudinal Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT-PL). Earlier academic and clinical studies have shown that not the entire hair root sack is needed to regenerate hair growth. When a portion of the hair root sack remains in the donor area, this will produce a new hair, even when part of the hair follicle is removed. The part that is removed will produce a new hair when implanted in the recipient area as well. So two hair follicles can be created from one hair follicle and thus, in this manner, hair can be multiplied. A patent yields no evidence that the idea works. The idea is merely protected against copying. Correct. I suppose that I no longer have to explain why we have patented the technology. B. As a result of the Hair Stem Cell Transplantation (HST) method, one actually cannot speak of a hair transplant, but of hair multiplication. Hair multiplication as indicated by the HSI is not scientifically proven, despite many international studies. 1. Already in 1995 and 1996, researchers demonstrated that only a small part of a hair follicle is needed to be able to regenerate hair growth (see 1 and 2). The difference compared to the technique of the Hair Science Institute is that these researchers cut across the hair follicles, while the Hair Science Institute 'splits' the hair follicles lengthwise. 2. In 1999, other researchers also showed that only portions of the outer hair root cut are necessary to achieve hair growth (see 3). 3. In 2000, a researcher demonstrated that even traumatized, damaged as well as partial hair follicles can regenerate hair growth. (See 4). 1. Kim JC, Choi YC. Regrowth of grafted human scalp hair after removal of the bulb. Dermatol Surg. 1995;21;

3 2. Kim JC, Kim MK, Choi YC. Regeneration of the human scalp hair follicle after horizontal sectioning: implications for pluripotent stem cells and melanocyte reservoir. In: Van Neste DJJ, Randall VA, editors. Hair restoration for the next millennium. Elsevier Science B.V., Reynolds AJ, Lawrence C, Cserhalmi Friedman PB, Christiano AM, Jahoda CA. Transgender induction of hair follicles. Nature. 1999;402; Martinick JH. The results at 18 months of the longitudinal clinical research into the importance of transplanting intact follicular units versus follicular units that have traumatized using a variety of methods including transsection at the bulge. In: Presented at International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery Scientific Assembly, Kona, Hawaii; 2000 Moreover, doctor/researcher Coen C. Ghoof of the Hair Science Institute has written a so-called peer-reviewed article entitled "Donor Hair follicle preservation by partial follicular unit extraction; a method to optimize hair transplants in collaboration with Prof. Dr. H. A. M. Neumann of the Erasmus University Department of Dermatology and Venerology. This article proves that the percentage of regrowth in the donor area is more than 90%. This article has been accepted and will appear in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment soon. C. Guaranteed regrowth in the donor area. This is absolutely untrue. Practice has shown that at the very most 5% of the transplanted hairs by means of the hair stem cell transplantation actually yield regrowth in the donor area. It adds nothing to the hair transplantation. Previous studies have shown that hair growth is generated when a portion of the hair root sack remains in the donor area. This will produce a new hair, even when a part of the hair root sack is removed. The part that is removed will also produce a new hair when implanted in the recipient area. So, two hair follicles can be produced from one hair follicle and thus in this manner hair can be multiplied. See above. D. Absolutely no scars. Therefore not: no visible scars! Each time something is removed from the skin, a small wound is made. Where the hair root is removed, a (tiny) scar is left behind. The donor area looks no different from that of any FUE method of treatment. In a normal Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) method, the entire hair follicles are removed. Because of this, regrowth will not take place and a scar will form at the place where the hair follicles have been removed. Because with Hair Stem Cell Transplantation of the Hair Science Institute merely a part of the hair follicles are removed, there is regrowth of skin from the place where the partial hair follicles have been removed and the skin around the remaining (partial)

4 hair follicles, the natural wound contraction and the fact that the hairs grow on the place where the partial hair follicles are collected, no scar tissue will be visible. E. Treatment and anaesthesia occur painlessly An anaesthetised area is numb and consequently senses no pain. This is the same as for any other treatment. The anaesthesia depends on the surgeon who performs the treatment. We apply a pre-anaesthetic without needles, by which not only the treatment but also even the actual anaesthesia occurs painlessly. With traditional hair transplant techniques, such as the "Strip Method", a strip of skin with hair is removed as well. Since this is more traumatic, the pain (during and) after the treatment will be much more intense and sustained than in the case of Hair Stem Cell Transplantation. F. Completely natural result This does not depend on the hair stem cell transplant, but on the surgeon who performs the treatment. Correct. G. Continued treatments made possible through maintaining donor region Not true. The donor area is reduced by each hair transplant performed by whatever clinic in the world. The difference between the Stem Cell Transplantation of the Hair Science Institute and normal Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is that the former technique leaves (much more) follicle tissue in the donor area and removes much less tissue. Compared with FUE, the chance of regrowth in the donor area is many times greater because of this. For over 95% of the people the diameter of a normal hair follicle varies between 0.5 and 0.7 mm. Since the hair follicles are in groups of 2 to 4 hairs (follicle unit) in the scalp and we use needles of 0.5, 0.55 and 0.6 mm, it is almost impossible to collect too much tissue. In a Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) method, the entire hair follicles are removed by needles between 0.7 and 1.25 mm. Because of this, no regrowth can occur with FUE. In the SBS 6 programme Shownieuws (Show news, late edition) on Friday, 24 January 2010, the following statements were made: "It is said among other things that when you replace a hair from back to front, this regrows on the front as well as on the back and that is not true. It is either on the back or on the front. We cannot perform magic." As indicated above and could easily have been tested, practice and research have shown that hair growth can be generated when a portion of the hair follicle remains in

5 the donor area, even if a part of the hair follicle has been removed. The part that is removed will also produce a new hair when implanted in the recipient area. So from one hair follicle two hair follicles can be produced and hair can consequently in this manner be multiplied. See above. The donor area in Hair Stem Cell Transplantation of the Hair Science Institute is maintained, allowing the same donor area to be used for future treatments. This is of the utmost importance, particularly for patients with limited donor area, such as in the case of burn wounds. This is not a correct assumption. In earlier (scientific and clinical) studies, we and other researchers have shown that not the entire hair root sack is needed to regenerate hair growth. When a portion of the hair follicle remains in the donor area, this can produce a new hair, even when part of the hair root sack is removed. The part that is removed will also produce a new hair when implanted in the recipient area. So from one hair follicle two hair follicles can be produced and hair can consequently be multiplied in this manner. "The doctor in question does not dare to give lectures at which hair surgeons are present" It is easy to verify that the following lectures were given at (international) conferences on the Hair Stem Cell Transplantation technique of the Hair Science Institute and were all open to the public, colleagues and specialists: , 8 June. Cosmoderm VIII Meeting, Rotterdam, NL. Follicle by Follicle / HairStemcell Transplantation. Coen G. Gho , 23 March. Anti-Aging Medicine World Congress 2007, Monte Carlo, Monaco. Human Follicular Stem cells: Today and tomorrow. Coen G. Gho , 16 May. European Academy of Dermato-Venerology Congress 2007, Vienna, Austria. Hair Stemcell Transplantation. Coen G. Gho , 5 September. International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) Congress 2008, Montreal, Canada. Hair Stemcell Transplantation. Coen G. Gho , 25 July. International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) Congress 2009, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Hair Stem cell Transplantation New Concepts & Insights. Coen G. Gho. The malicious press release is also co-signed by Dr I. Boersma of the Albert Schweitzer Ziekenhuis (Albert Schweizer Hospital). The other clinics have in this way tried to push him to the fore as a kind of scientific "conscience. We can tell you that Dr I. Boersma has in the meantime declared in writing that he allowed himself to be dragged into this crude attack by the other clinics and that he completely dissociates himself from the malicious press release. Moreover, he has pointed out that the other clinics have misused his signature. We invite you to read the statement correcting the situation made by Dr I. Boersma. (see the PDF-attachment to this news report on In addition, two other clinics have indicated that the doctors who signed the press release no longer work for the clinic and have vanished. And, even more importantly: the people of Laser and Aesthetic Laser Surgery, who signed the press release, present themselves as doctors or surgeons, which they definitely are not. By doing so, they act in breach of the law and are punishable. So you are warned.

6 "SBS 6 Shownieuws" has also paid attention to the malicious press release from the other hair clinics and has interviewed someone from Laser Aesthetic. In connection with this, we also briefly note the following. Our client Gerard Joling is accused in this broadcast that he "... knowingly or unknowingly gave the impression that hair multiplication is possible". We find it unacceptable that a client is used in this way by Laser Aesthetic in an attack on the Hair Science Institute. We consider that this shows a lack of decency and that such conduct is not consistent with the medical profession. Gerard Joling's management have informed us that he was extremely satisfied with both our treatment and the outcome. This he has already made known through the media (LINKS). Furthermore, he does not want to get involved in a discussion about the technique in any way. We therefore hope that this is the last time that his name is associated with this issue. We hope we have given you enough information for you to understand that the Hair Stem Cell Transplantation is a technique, which is soundly based in medicine, for which we moreover have a patent. It is unfortunate that our competitors, who do not employ the latest technology, try to subvert our new technology for commercial reasons. If you have any questions as a result of the aforementioned, please do not hesitate to contact us by telephone or via to c.gho@hasci.com. We will be happy to provide you with further explanations. Jos M. W. Dohmen Director, Hair Science Institute Dr Coen G. Gho Head of Research & Development