An innovative hair regrowth treatment is helping women in the Middle East recover their crowning glory – without the stress of invasive implants
Vogue Arabia, December 2020. Photo: Sharif Hamza
Concerned about noticeable hair loss? You’re not alone. More than 50% of women will experience hair thinning and excessive shedding, with the leading cause tied to genetic predisposition. Also known as androgenic alopecia, this type of hair loss can be particularly distressing as it progresses, with genetic and hormonal factors making it difficult to treat. “Androgenic alopecia tends to be a chronic and progressive condition, necessitating ongoing management to address the underlying causes and slow down its advancement,” explains Dr Halah Taha, who specializes in hair loss and aesthetics at Ouronyx Dubai. Appearance aside, she says that hair loss can have a devastating effect on confidence and self-esteem. “The impact of hair loss goes beyond the physical aspect, affecting one’s emotional well-being and self-perception,” she notes. “Reversing hair loss can significantly enhance a client’s self-esteem by restoring a fuller, healthier hair, leading to increased confidence and a more positive self-image, ultimately contributing to a greater sense of well-being. And, without a doubt, confidence is pivotal in achieving success.” The market is rife with serums, creams, shampoos, and ingestibles that claim to offer a solution to hair loss but it is difficult to find something that works. After trying autologous micrografting technology, a type of micrografting, which is ideal for targeting genetic hair loss, Vogue Arabia can attest that this procedure offers real results.
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The treatment
Autologous micrografting technology, or AMT, harnesses a patient’s own skin tissues to stimulate hair follicles and encourage a natural regrowth cycle. The double pronged benefits also slows down hair loss, aiming to reset a new growth pattern for long term success. Based in Dubai’s Business Bay, aesthetics clinic Ouronyx takes a high-tech approach to follicle renewal, treating clients to cutting-edge procedures including AMT. “We have harnessed the potential of autologous and homologous micrografting technology in our hair micrografting treatment,” explains Dr Taha. “This innovative therapy is designed to address a range of hair-related concerns, offering hope to individuals seeking effective, safe, and sustainable solutions for hair restoration.”
The main difference between AMT and other hair loss treatments, reports early adopters, is that the results are apparent in a matter of weeks and only gain in momentum as time progresses.
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The process
Following an eligibility consultation, where the doctor takes pictures of the head, the patient’s own stem cells are extracted via biopsy. Skin samples are selected from a one-centimeter square where the hair follicles are at their strongest, with minimal disruption to the scalp. The samples are disaggregated and refined into groupings of stem cells, progenitor cells, and growth factors. Mixed with saline, the concoction is then reintroduced into the scalp at discreet and small key entry points, targeting the areas hit the most by hair loss and thinning. The doctor will inject this AMT solution into the areas where hair loss has occurred, with appointment wrapping up in under an hour. Performed under local anaesthesia, the pain-free procedure also requires minimal downtime. Following this, you return once every six months for fifteen minutes to receive more injections. Patients are recommended to avoid getting the treatment areas wet for two days to prevent bacterial growth.
The results
You’ll notice reduced hair shedding and thinning during the first one to two months following treatment. “From three to six months, there is a noticeable increase in hair thickness, and around five to six months, new baby hairs begin to emerge,” explains Dr Taha. “These results continue to improve over the course of a year to one and a half years with the most significant impact typically observed around the six-month mark.” While the treatment is proven in stimulating existing hair follicles, it does not create brand new hair, like a hair transplant would. The restimulated growth can last from one to one and half years, with repeat treatments required after this point depending on factors including case severity, hormonal imbalances, and lifestyle influences.
