Stem Cell Hair Treatment

• You take hair-loss medication but thinning still concerns you
• Your hair has thinned but the follicles are still there
• You want to hear the evidence and limits of regenerative care before deciding

It has not been shown to create new follicles where the scalp has already become smooth and bare. Such areas may need a different approach.

• 01

  Where you are now, and where we start

  Where the stem-cell material comes from, how it is processed, Korean regulation and the hair-loss evidence

• 02

  The change you want, the impression you keep

  It has not been shown to create new follicles where the scalp has already become smooth and bare. Such areas may need a different approach.

• 03

  How it differs from similar options

  All three are supportive treatments for the area around the follicle, but what goes in differs.

• 04

  Health information and recovery schedule

  Redness, tenderness and small bruises at injection sites usually settle within a few days.

Before the name “stem cell”: what was obtained, from where, and how it was processed.

Stem-cell materials used in hair-loss research vary in source and form: stromal vascular fraction (SVF) from fat, adipose stem cell conditioned medium, cells from hair follicles, bone marrow mononuclear cells and others. Some use the cells themselves, others only what cells release. The hypothesis is that signals such as growth factors may influence the follicle environment and hair thickness, but results differ by material and cannot be summed up as one effect.

How it works

• 01

  A different source is a different treatment

  Fat, blood, bone marrow and follicles differ greatly in the type and number of cells they contain. Sharing the name “stem cell” does not let one borrow another’s evidence.

• 02

  Cells, or what cells release?

  Injecting living cells differs from using only cell products such as conditioned medium or exosomes. Which one it is changes both the risks and the regulation.

• 03

  Culture and Korean regulation

  In Korea, cells manipulated beyond simple separation, washing, freezing and thawing — for example by culturing — are regulated under the Advanced Regenerative Bio Act and the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act and cannot be used outside the set approval process. Ask whether cells are cultured and on what legal basis before treatment.

• 04

  Follicles need to be present

  Most studies enrolled people with male or female pattern thinning. There is no established evidence that new hair grows where follicles have been lost.

1. 01

   The material, explained first

   Before treatment we explain the source and processing of the material, whether it is cultured and the route, and answer your questions.

2. 02

   An order that fits the diagnosis

   For active male or female pattern hair loss, evidence-based medication comes first and this treatment is supportive.

3. 03

   Assuming it may be temporary

   Some studies saw effects fade after a few months, so whether to continue is decided together from photo-based progress.

What the procedure is like

• Redness, tenderness and small bruises at injection sites usually settle within a few days.
• On the day, avoid rubbing the scalp, saunas, alcohol and strenuous exercise.
• If material was collected from another site, follow the separate aftercare for that site.

Safety & considerations

Stem Cell Hair Treatment does not cure hair loss or guarantee a result, and outcomes vary between people. Contact us straight away for warmth, pus or worsening pain, and do not stop prescribed hair-loss medication on your own.

1. Same day

   Redness, tenderness or small bruises may appear at injection sites. If material is collected, that site is checked for pain too.

2. Weeks 1–2

   Redness and bruising settle. Warmth, pus or worsening pain can signal infection — contact us straight away.

3. Months 3–6

   Studies generally assessed changes in hair density after several months. Photos taken under the same conditions are compared.

4. After that

   Some studies reported effects fading after about 3–9 months, so whether to maintain is discussed again based on progress.

None of the three replaces standard oral or topical medication. What to combine is decided after the type of hair loss and the scalp are examined.

• Q. Does stem cell treatment actually increase hair density?

  Small studies in thinning hair have reported increases in density and thickness, but there is no evidence that it creates new follicles. A 2024 systematic review also noted small study sizes, varied methods and some temporary effects. We discuss realistic expectations at consultation.

• Q. Can I have cultured cells injected?

  In Korea, using cells manipulated beyond simple separation, washing, freezing and thawing — such as cultured cells — requires review and approval at a designated regenerative medicine institution under the Advanced Regenerative Bio Act. If you are told cultured cells will be injected without that process, check the legal basis first.

• Q. How does it differ from scalp PRP?

  Scalp PRP concentrates the platelet component of your own blood and is not a stem cell treatment. Stem cell treatment is regenerative care using cells or their products, with a different preparation, cost and kind of evidence. After examination we explain which suits you.

• Q. How long does the effect last?

  There is no fixed duration. Some studies reported effects fading after about 3–9 months, so the need for maintenance is decided from photo-based progress. Continuing prescribed hair-loss medication matters for keeping results.

• Q. Can it replace a hair transplant?

  Generally not. A transplant is surgery that moves follicles from the back of the head, while stem cell treatment aims to support the thin hair that remains. Large areas where hair is already gone may need a transplant consultation.

• Q. When is it better not to have it?

  Active scalp inflammation or infection, ongoing cancer treatment or a bleeding problem mean postponing or considering another option. Pregnancy and breastfeeding, and hair loss with an immune cause such as alopecia areata, are also identified at examination first.

• Q. How do I choose a clinic for Stem Cell Hair Treatment in Gangnam, Seoul?

  Look at the examination and the plan rather than the treatment name. First, what the clinic checks before deciding — at QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, the first thing we look at for this treatment is “Where the stem-cell material comes from, how it is processed, Korean regulation and the hair-loss evidence”. Second, whether it explains why it recommends that scope and method, compared with the alternatives. Third, whether it reviews your progress with you when results are expected. Our doctor goes through these three points at consultation before the treatment is decided.

• Q. Where can I get Stem Cell Hair Treatment in Seoul?

  At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea. We are at 3F, 502 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (Nonhyeon-dong, Seohee Building), a 4-minute walk from Exit 3 of Nonhyeon or Sinnonhyeon Station. Call +82-2-514-1650 or use the consultation form on this site to book a doctor’s consultation first.