I originally planned to add the contents of this post on Advanced Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Protein Extract (AAPE) within my prior post on adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs). But the latter post became too lengthy after my regular updates.
One would assume that when a person wants to add ADSCs to his/her hair, the cells are taken from that person’s own body (e.g., from the abdomen where there are significant quantities of fat cells present). Such a procedure is considered to be an autologous transplantation that is in all likelihood safe, since one is essentially just moving one’s own cells from one area of the body to another.
AAPE for Hair Growth
However, a number of recent studies from Asia mention the utilization of a product called Advanced Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Protein Extract (AAPE), a registered trademark. It is made by a South Korean company called Prostemics (via ABio Materials). Of note, 170 clinics in Japan currently offer AAPE to treat hair loss.
AAPE® is a freeze-dried powder of human-derived adipose stem cell culture supernatant. It contains hundreds of growth factors and proteins. It is described as a mixture of extracellular matrices extracted and purified from the culture supernatant of human adipose-derived stem cells. It also stimulates collagen synthesis in dermal cells.
I was unaware that it would be possible to purchase such a product legally, since the AAPE product contains protein extracts derived from other people’s adipose cells. However, it seems like this is all legal and according to the most recent quote from the above linked page:
“The brand AAPE is approved by dermatologists and medical professionals from Korea, Japan and USA.”
There are various places from which one can purchase AAPE (largely Asia based companies), but I would not trust this kind of experimentation unless a well known hair transplant surgeon is willing to buy this product and work with you. It also seems like some companies produce their own AAPE-type products too, but buyer beware and these products might be illegal to import in many parts of the world.
Here is a video about AAPE:
ADSC versus AAPE
I would assume that results from actual entirely ADSC based autologous hair transplantation will be significantly superior to those from AAPE. But such entirely ADSC cell based procedures are probably not legal in the US at the moment (though SVF is legal). There do exist clinics outside the US doing such ADSC procedures.
For example, the late Dr. Rhett Bosnich used to offer an “amplified PRP” procedure at clinics in Australia and Thailand that included a small amount of abdominal fat extraction. I think that a lot of doctors who offer PRP will also start adding some adipose-derived stem cells to their procedure.
Who knows what all these guys really do once they extract your fat cells and put them into their centrifuge and final concoction. Probably not worth paying much more than what one pays for PRP when it comes to such experimental procedures at the moment.