Update: June 27, 2025
Warning for Foreigners Wanting the S-DSC Hair Growth Treatment in Japan
Recently, a US-based reader e-mailed me a few times as he is desperate to get the Shiseido S-DSC treatment in Japan. It became available in that country to Japanese citizens in June 2024 (read this entire post). Per my May 14, 2025 update, it seems like foreign nationals can finally get this treatment, but they need “a reference through an intermediary”. This reader asked me to contact any Japanese person I know who could help.
Of course I thought of my old friend Japanese hair loss blogger Fuji Mark Kagurazaka right away and contacted him. He became inactive in 2024, but is now back in full form. Mr. Kagurazaka called one of the four clinics in Japan that are now offering this treatment, and the response was not great. I have extracted it from Fuji’s colossal write-up.
“So, they were looking for a Japanese person to consult with, including arranging an interpreter. It would be nice if I could interpret myself, but I am completely unable to speak any foreign language, including English. So, I decided to contact Akihabara Skin Clinic, a treatment facility for S-DSC® hair regeneration medicine, located in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, which is not a large hospital.
Unfortunately, the result was that an interpreter cannot be used. The patient himself must be able to speak Japanese, understand the explanation in Japanese, and give consent in Japanese. The answer was very harsh for a foreigner who does not speak Japanese, but I got the impression that it was inevitable because it would be an expensive and complicated treatment.”
Fuji Maru will call the other clinics soon to see if he has any better luck. But my belief is that one should not try to go to Japan for this treatment at the moment. Remember that the entire process takes around two months. Your hair follicle tissue cells are harvested and then multiplied in a cell processing and culture facility (which can take up to six weeks). Then you get the cultured DSC cells injected into your scalp. It is not worth the stress if there is no English communication possible throughout the process. The high cost and no guaranteed results are also not ideal.
I am still excited that Shiseido’s treatment finally came out after over a decade of covering it. But I think it is best to wait and watch for now.
Update: June 24, 2025
Effects Last More than a Year
Dr. Ryoji Tsuboi has been writing an interesting blog on his clinic’s site. In the latest post, he ends with the following statement (slightly reworded by me):
“The method implemented by Shiseido (in which I am also involved) entails injecting cells called hair bulb root sheath cells (S-DSC) into the scalp. The cells are harvested from the patient’s own hair follicle tissue, multiplied in a cell processing and culture facility, and then injected into areas of thinning hair to promote hair growth. Because the cells are injected, the effects can be expected to last for more than a year. This regenerative medical treatment is quite expensive. So I think this is a treatment that people who can afford it should try as an added bonus.”
Update: May 14, 2025
Shiseido’s S-DSC Hair Loss Treatment now Available to Foreign Citizens?
For almost one year, we have been waiting to see if Shiseido’s new dermal sheath cup cell hair multiplication treatment (S-DSC) will become available for non-Japanese citizens. It seems like this is close to a reality now based on the below e-mail that reader “Eko” received from Tokyo Medical University (one of four centers in Japan that is currently offering this treatment):
“Thank you very much for your trust in our hospital. Do they have Japanese health insurance? If you have Japanese insurance, please take a letter of introduction and come directly to the hospital to make an appointment. In addition, the hospital does not accept overseas patients directly. All international patients must be referred through an intermediary. We can provide you with information on several agencies to assist you in making further medical arrangements. Please let us know if you have any questions.”
I have kept the hospital’s contact information in Eko’s comment in this post, but will refrain from posting it here. It might end up being very difficult in getting this appointment via an intermediary. Also note that they are not claiming any major hair regrowth from this treatment. And you will be required to visit the clinic at least four times, and perhaps more if you want the injections very year.
Shiseido DSC Treatment Cost
Shiseido’s DSC cell injection treatment costs $16,000 to $25,000. Much higher than I expected. And you will need this at least once a year or two in all likelihood. Per Tokyo Medical’s site, the cost will run from:
“2,300,000 yen (excluding tax) to 3,500,000 yen (excluding tax).”
June 28, 2024
Shiseido’s Dermal Sheath Cup Cell Hair Multiplication Treatment Has Arrived
Today might be among the five most important days in the hair loss world since I first started writing this blog in 2013. Shiseido’s decade-plus-long much awaited dermal sheath cup (DSC) cell hair multiplication (cell culturing and implantation) procedure is finally here for patients starting July 1, 2024. Albeit only in Japan, where they have favorable regulations for faster in-clinic use when it comes to regenerative medicine and stem cell based technologies.
Shiseido (Japan) completed small-scale Phase 3 equivalent trials for this hair multiplication technology in 2023. The results were positive but modest, with no major side effects. I hope the results will improve as they use this autologous DSC cell transplantation process in more patients and gain experience.
For now, you should only expect existing scalp hair thickening and perhaps minimal hair regrowth if you are lucky. Thicker hair in and of itself could lead to a slowdown in further damage from the ravages of dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
You can read today’s full announcement here (h/t “Theo”). The technology is described as having been developed by Tokyo Medical University Hospital, Kyorin University Hospital, and Shiseido. Interestingly, they leave out any mention of Replicel (Canada), with which Shiseido has had past legal issues after a technology sharing agreement went wrong.
S-DSC® Hair Regenerative Medicine
Shiseido has also created a new website related to S-DSC hair regenerative medicine, where the “S” stands for Shiseido. The about S-DSC page is very interesting. S-DSC® treatment promotes hair growth by supplementing the thinning areas of your scalp with your own cultured DSC cells.
They only make claims that existing hair will get thicker and more voluminous, while scalp inflammation will be reduced. Perhaps they also want to temper expectations, even if some people may get good regrowth? Interestingly, women might get better results then men.
The key person who led the development of this technology is Professor Emeritus (Department of Dermatology, Tokyo Medical University) Dr. Ryoji Tsuboi. I feel like a genius for using his image as my main one on my global hair loss research page from the get go. I originally picked Dr. Tsuboi over Dr. Takashi Tsuji just due to a more interesting image of the former at a white board.
Hair Regenerative Outpatient Treatment Begins in Japan on July 1, 2024
Associate Professor Shiro Niyama of the Department of Dermatology at Toho University Ohashi Hospital will start offering this “hair regenerative treatment for thinning hair” using cultured autologous hair bulb root sheath cell products (S-DSC®) from July 1st 2024. Patients will be required to get a referral, and also be responsible for their own costs due to the elective nature of the procedure. Note that this treatment is available for both men and women.
In the procedure itself:
- First, healthy scalp tissue of about 5 mm diameter is taken from a non-balding area such as the back of the head.
- From this, DSC cells are isolated.
- S-DSC is produced after about 6 weeks of culture and quality inspection (a total of 7 vials of S-DSC can be produced).
- Once production is completed, patients will return to the hospital and the cultured DSC cells will be injected with a special syringe.
Also check out the November 2023 study from the same team that is titled: “High migratory activity of dermal sheath cup cells associated with the clinical efficacy of autologous cell-based therapy for pattern hair loss.” The conclusion was that ITGA6-positive DSC cells, with superior migratory activity, may promote cell migration into nearby hair follicles.
Update: October 12, 2024
Shiseido’s Treatment has a 30-60% Success Rate?
When Shiseido’s hair loss treatment came out in June 2024 and I wrote this post, I was certain that this is the best news of the year. I was also optimistic that this dermal sheath cup (DSC) cell hair multiplication procedure would ultimately be superior to Minoxidil, and perhaps even match Finasteride results.
However, since Shiseido is only offering this S-DSC procedure to Japanese citizens at the moment, it will be a while before we get more details about success rates. So I am updating this post due to a possible new report on Shiseido’s efficacy, though it is a bit speculative and anecdotal.
In a new hair multiplication related article in Japanese newspaper Nikkei, they mention the “Big 3” of OrganTech (Japan — led by Dr. Takashi Tsuji), Stemson Therapeutics (US) and TrichoSeeds (Japan — led by Dr. Junji Fukuda). According to Nikkei, Stemson (Edit: Since folded) and OrganTech will start clinical trials in 2026 for their “Gen 2“ hair regeneration treatment. Junji Fukuda states that they have created a similar technology as OrganTech, but plan to start clinical trials in 5 years from now (i.e., in 2029).
The title of the article is:
“Planting hair seeds to treat alopecia. Clinical trials underway in Japan and overseas”.
However, the most significant news is via implication. In the article, it says that “Gen 1“ treatment is already in practical use in Japan with a success rate of 30-60% (which is ambiguous). This is quite likely to be Shiseido’s treatment, now available at four locations in Tokyo.
- Toho University announcement.
- Akihabara Skin Clinic S-DSC page.
- Tokyo Medical University S-DSC page.
- Kyorin University Hospital.
In the article, it says that for “Gen 3“ they are planning to use animal stem cells. “Theo” was not sure what this meant, and neither am I. If anyone subscribes to Nikkei, please read the entire article and give us your thoughts.
In general, I do not think that cosmetics behemoth Shiseido would ever take over a decade to bring something to market with only modest benefits. Lets keep our fingers crossed.
