Dermal Papilla Cell and Dermal Sheath Cup Cell Expansion and Implantation
The two biggest newly available hair loss treatments that I have covered on this blog during the past few years are as follows:
- Shiseisdo (Japan)’s S-DSC hair multiplication procedure that came out in 2024 for Japanese citizens. It involves the culturing, expansion and implantation of autologous dermal sheath cup (DSC) cells. This treatment went through all three phases of clinical trials.
- HairClone (UK)’s DP cell hair multiplication procedure. that came out in 2026 for Guatemalan citizens. It involves the culturing, expansion and implantation of autologous dermal papilla (DP) cells.
Prior to its arrival, I followed Shiseido’s progress for well over a decade, including its ex-partner RepliCel (Canada)’s original work. Of most significance, Shiseido’s DSC cell multiplication technology went through all three phases of clinical trials with no reported major side effects. So I have no hesitation in recommending it to those with the wherewithal. Unfortunately, for the time being, it remains almost exclusively limited to Japanese citizens.
I have also followed HairClone’s DP cell expansion work for over a decade (even longer when including past work from Intercytex). In contrast to Shiseido’s procedure, HairClone’s procedure should be available to most people from around the world before the end of 2027. Patients can already get their hair follicles extracted and banked at various HairClone partner clinics around the world. However, they will ultimately need to travel to Guatemala to get the cultured and expanded DP cells injected into their scalps.
Combination DP Cell and DSC Cell Hair Multiplication
Over the years, I have read a few studies in which they mention that a combination of multiplying and transplanting both DP cells and DSC cells to regrow hair is more effective than doing each procedure separately. So I was quite excited to see both the Shiseido and HairClone technologies becoming available. Sooner or later, someone will surely manage to get both treatments.
However, out of the blue, a few months ago I read about and wrote about Medeze Group (Thailand). They started to offer Asia’s first hair follicle banking and cultivation service in 2025. Moreover, they were planning to culture both DP cells and DSC cells for subsequent injections into patient scalps. And they were partnering with Shibuya Company of Japan to implement the world’s first robotic culture system.
Although Medeze Group’s CEO has presented at reputable conferences and given a number of interviews to western publications, I was still skeptical about their progress. I felt like this was yet another hair multiplication related over-promise (in terms of speed of delivery) from an Asian company. Just like we have seen with South Korea’s Epibiotech and Han Bio. So I did not expect to cover Medeze Group again for several years, if ever. And of course the biggest drawback is that they have never conducted any clinical trials.
Alvaro gets his own Expanded DP Cells and DSC Cells Injected into his Scalp at Medeze
Since this blog’s inception in 2013, I have written just a handful of posts that were entirely driven by a reader’s personal experiences. For obvious reasons, I want to avoid anecdotal content. But there are always exceptions to the rule.
Over the last few months, long-time blog reader “Alvaro” went to Switzerland and Thailand to get his hair follicles banked and his loss treated. He made his decision based on the posts I have written about HairClone and Medeze Group. I would urge readers to never make such important decisions based solely on my content!
In any event, I am very excited to see Alvaro’s results in the coming year. Alvaro sent me all the details of his treatment (see below) as well as a bunch of photos, three of which I have added in this post.
On January 26, 2026, Alvaro got his hair follicles banked at HairClone’s Switzerland-based partner Clinique de la Croix d’Or in Geneva. They extracted 100 of his scalp hair follicles and sent them to HairClone’s cryopreservation bank in Guatemala (at their partner Schambach Hair Clinic). This cost him 4,000 Euros.
Thereafter, on February 9, 2026, Alvaro had a video call appointment with Dr. Schambach who was at her clinic in Guatemala. He begged her to let him participate in their “clinical trial”. However, they told him that because he previously received a hair transplant, he wouldn’t be selected as a candidate. So it seems like HairClone’s DP cell hair multiplication procedure is still only available via participation in a trial.
In any event, the persistent Alvaro then contacted the Medeze Clinic in Thailand after reading about it in my blog post. Originally, he was hoping to get his banked cryopreserved hair follicles in Guatemala transferred to Thailand. However, after he contacted HairClone (or the Schambach Clinic) and told them his new plans, they told him that they could now treat him for 9,000 Euros. Please note that I have not verified all of this with the company, and am just posting what Alvaro is claiming.
At this point, Alvaro just decided that it would be cheaper and more logical to get his hair follicles extracted and banked again in Thailand. And then multiplied and injected back into his scalp in Thailand at the same Medeze Clinic. Quote from Alvaro:
“I think it’s the best thing I’ve ever done (I’ll always be grateful to you, administrator). At this clinic, the price is adjusted to the number of cells the patient needs, and they also multiply both DP and DSC cells. When I traveled there, I didn’t know anything about Bangkok, and Anya, the patient relations manager, arranged for cars to take me to the clinic, personally invited me to lunch, and picked me up herself in her car several times. They showed me the laboratory and the cryopreservation bank, and introduced me to all the people who work there. It’s a 100% safe and effective clinic. The medical team, the doctors, have always explained the process to me from the very beginning, and finally, yesterday, I traveled to Thailand for the second time and received the injections. I’d be happy to share photos of my progress throughout the process with the administrator.”
Alvaro also said the following:
- In his case, they multiplied his extracted cells to 20 million cells (with each vial contains approximately 10 million cells). But if you have more extensive balding and miniaturized hair, you could receive a larger quantity.
- He paid around 4,700 Euros (plus two trips to Thailand at 1,000 Euros each). I assume this cost includes follicle storage as well as the expansion and implantation.
- They don’t shave your head, and the extraction is virtually invisible.
- They told him that he would start to see results in 3 months and should see the full results in 6 months.
- They didn’t extract 100 follicles like HairClone. He thinks that they extracted fewer than 50 follicles.
- The doctor told him that this would be more than enough for at least 5 injections.
- In both of his extraction procedures (in Switzerland and Thailand), he barely needed any recovery time. The procedures are very simple and painless.
- If it works, Alvaro plans to repeat the treatment several more times.
Before anyone gets an urge to fly out to Thailand to get their hair multiplication procedure, please note that:
- This treatment even if fully effective will almost certainly not grow hair on totally bald regions of the scalp.
- Unlike Shiseido (DSC cells) and HairClone (DP cells)’s decade-plus work, Medeze Group is fairly new in this arena. You can forget about them ever going through three phases of clinical trials.
Having said the above, since the procedure is “autologous”, serious side effects are unlikely (though there is never any guarantee). I would not write this post if they were using someone else’s expanded DP cells and DSC cells and injecting them into your scalp. i.e., an allogeneic procedure.
Hi Alvaro,
Any results starting to come through yet?
I banked with Hairclone in 2019! Their progress the last 7 years has been painfully slow.
All the best,
Matt
Hi Mate, I contacted them today, but so far there are no visible results. It’s been two months, maybe it’s because I work in the sun and my hair turns blonde. I’ll let you know how it’s going after summer, around September.
Hi Álvaro
Did they tell you that this is normal and results should be visible later?
I was planning to follow your progress before making a decission.
Espero que puedas ver resultados. Un abrazo!
Around October it will be six months, and that’s when I’ll be able to give a proper assessment. Thanks, Alberto.
https://cosmeticsbusiness.com/new-postbiotic-biotechnology-stimulates-natural-melanin-and-helps
Not hair loss related but maybe worthy of the gray hair reversal updates? Any other updates on that front?
https://www.genengnews.com/topics/translational-medicine/cosmo-pharma-eyes-2027-nda-for-baldness-candidate-after-positive-phase-iii-12-month-data/
Crazy I took almost a year off of checking here and we’re circling the moon (and we have AI) but we can’t cure baldness. Still. What a joke (and yeah I understand why it’s hard to do). I thought for sure by now we’d be cloning hair and transplanting. Sigh.
Sorry to rain on everyone’s day, but Shiseido’s technique of DP and DSC cells has not shown any success of hair growth. It is looked at as an expensive way to improve what hair a person has I think is fair comment.
Having said that, I thought I read where one company was using 3 cell types and having success. I want to say epithelial cells were added and some success was seen. Anything on that admin?
I recommend you don’t comment if you have no idea about the subject. And I’m not your guinea pig, understand?
I don’t know why he is saying that (assuming he said something comprehensible and worth reading). Isn’t Shiseido supposed to work only with DSC cells? Also, as the admin said in the article, the therapy cannot regrow bald areas and no one is assuming otherwise.
Álvaro, you said that the clinic showed you some successful cases. Do you know if there have been more cases with the same results than the few shown on their website?
Yes, my error. Shiseido does only the DSC cells. Please forgive my shameless mistake.
Nevertheless DP and DSC cells in combination (50/50 is not the preferred ratio), have not shown a reversal of baldness. Maybe best to save the money until the real deal is here.
There is no desire to down play your experience. Everyone wishes you the ultimate response. I report the results of the reports I have read. I have many years in medicine. We are sorry, you take offense.
DSC and DP cells like you received are better than Shiseido’s DSC injections alone, but still not a home run for AGA. There still is no treatment that restores complete hair growth of scalp with dermal papilla cells and/or dermal sheath cells. Not sure what your expectations are but this is the current thought. No guinea pigs needed.
Admin, you wrote in the body of the article:
“This treatment even if fully effective will almost certainly not grow hair on totally bald regions of the scalp.”
Please, if you and / or Alvaro would, please explain why this is so. Thanks.
Please read my past posts on Shiseido’s clinical trial results and what they say on their S-DSC website.
Also read my recent post on HairClone and what they say on Dr. Schambach’s website in the Hair Cloning section.
All signs suggest existing hair thickening and mild regrowth of lost hair at best. People with major hair loss will likely not benefit, and are not even meant to go for this treatment. But of course they might still accept you if you want to test the waters and pay up.
I am hoping for better results with the combined DP + DSC from Medeze. But the company is new to this, and I have no idea about any of their past work or results.
Will do Thanks much.
I live in Thailand (part time at least). I am seriously considering undergoing the same procedure. Would it be possible to get in touch with Alvero? Perhaps admin could connect us? Thank you.
A number of people have been posting various AI responses to their hair related questions lately. And a number of people are annoyed at too much of this activity.
Now it has hit me hard too (Mariners are my local team):
https://x.com/JonnyRoot_/status/2044813400409305217
GRANDE, ÁLVARO!
I have a question and I wonder if you Admin or Alvaro could clear it up to me. My biggest concern with these treatments is the risk of serious side effects that could be fatal, like for example, being injected with cells of other person accidentally, which could put your life at risk.
Do you know what is their procedure to ensure that the cells injected will be yours 100%? I would be less worried if I knew they have some sort of double verification or a personal code for me to unlock it or something like that.
Thanks in advance!
This also worries me when going to an unknown company. But from what I can tell so far, Medeze seems trustworthy. Shiseido (a multinational company) and HairClone even more so.
You get the same risk with exosomes too by the way.
I would not go to Medeze yet, but Alvaro is much bolder.
I think that if there were no risk of serious side effects and the worst case scenario was simply absent or minimal efficacy, it would definitely worth it if you have the money and don’t have complete, irreversible miniaturization.
Let’s see if Álvaro knows in detail about their process and can reassure us.
That issue was explained to me during the visit to Alberto’s laboratory. Each cryopreservation tank has 3 locks with numerical codes assigned to 3 different people, so a single person could not move the samples.
Receiving another’s cells may cause rejection and infection. If not treated in good time, yes death is possible but not one I would not expect. We are talking intradermal or sub Q injections. IV administration is another story.
My greater concern would be sterile technique but it should not be any greater concern than a HT. People have died from HT technique. Most physicians if not everyone provide antibiotics for any surgery that is invasive.
Please keep us updated Alvara!
What I like the most about this post is the fact that we might ( a man can dream ) just wake up one day and hear about some random clinic in Asia that is offering, out of the blue, a cell multiplication treatment and actually cured AGA.
Not having to wait those excruciating 10+ years that we have to wait for the whole FDA process route means that once someone cracks the code, the cure is potentially out the next day for everyone.
I generally don’t trust companies that promote follicles banking, but that’s just me. Hope to hear some good news from Alvaro!
Take care everyone, and thank you admin for your work. This is legit the only place left on the internet that provides actual informations and news about hair loss.
Thanks:-)
Took some effort to write an already delayed new post this time.
Rewarding myself at the bar right now.
I thought I am one of the last ones who goes to a bar to have a drink and a chat…guess admin does it too! Cheers!
These days, the majority of my local bar’s regulars are on the phone a lot more than chatting!
I prefer 50/50 unless with a friend.
Just amazing!
And thank you Alvaro.
Any early hair growth or thickening updates?
Alvaro you are now a hair loss world legend!
We are all hoping that you get at least some hair regrowth.
Please do not make me delete this post like you made me delete several of your past comments.
For those concerned, Alvaro has got permission from the Thai lady in the photos to keep her face visible. She is in charge of the laboratory. From what he was told during that visit, she learned the process of cell cultivation and multiplication in Japan and was the one who developed it at Medeze.
Please no insults about any of these companies. Even if any of them are too financially driven… or “flexible” in their decision making. We can’t wait for Pelage to go through Phase 3 trials and then cancel any future plans (or go through an IPO and later go bankrupt).
Asian fast movers are our best hope in my opinion. Or Guatemalan fast movers.
Now I am hoping that we can get a Japanese reader to go to Shiseido and get treated and post about his experiences here.
Thank you, administrator! I’ve been waiting since 2015 for someone to offer this treatment. As you say, the fact that an enterprising clinic is committed to treating patients without so many trials or years of promises and delays is invaluable to me. I hope it works and it’s not too late to regrow the hair I’ve lost in the last two years (which is quite a lot), and I hope this clinic does well; I’ll be very grateful to them.
And even more thanks to you Alvaro!
FYI — can you elaborate on the below costs:
1) Your 100 hair follicle banking with HairClone at Switzerland-based Clinique de la Croix d’Or cost you 4,000 Euros.
2) If you had then got the expansion, multiplication and implantation in Guatemala at Schambach Clnic (via Hairclone’s new lab there), it would cost you an additional 9,000 Euros.
3) At Medeze (Thailand), you ended up paying 4,700 Euros for the extraction and banking of close to 50 hair follicles, as well as the expansion and implantation process?
4) At Medeze, they multiplied the cells from these follicles to 20 million cells (with each vial containing approximately 10 million DP and DSC cells)? And you then got one vial injected into your scalp so far? What will be the cost of the second vial or injection if you go again?
Thanks.
So 20million cells to cover the crown or evenly dispersed?
What are the after directions? Treat scalp normally after 2 weeks, etc? Any growth solutions to apply like ATP? Anything not to use?
Thank you Alvaro.
Admin, please remove this comment and the one above “20million cells”. Thanks partner.
People get bent out of shape over a simple comment. I wish him well but hope he has reasonable expectations.
You are on top of all this. I glance at the hair news sometimes because we hear lots of misleading news from researchers and investigators. You know as well how fake their “20% gain in number of hairs” reports are so misleading. Take care.
Can’t figure out which comments in the thread, but I think I need to leave them all as is (so the replies make sense). People will figure it out and it does not hurt to get all types of opinions.
For whatever it’s worth I agree, and didn’t think Jim was being demeaning to Alvaro, just expressing his opinion. Sometime people get very vested in their treatments, especially when they drop a lot of money and effort into it. Fact is, this is unproven at this point one way or the other. Hopefully Alvaro’s efforts and resources that he’s committed to the treatment bring amazing results and undisputable proof to this community. In the end, it’s not scientific mumbo jumbo, it’s visual, cosmetic improvement that you see in the mirror with your plain eyes. I thank him for pioneering it and reporting to us.
Thanks yoda.
The prices I mentioned were in euros, which is my currency. In Switzerland, I paid in CHF, which has a higher value when converted to euros. Perhaps the extraction in the US is cheaper because it’s in dollars, as is the treatment in Guatemala, which is also in dollars. In Thailand, I paid in baht, which has a lower value than the euro. These prices are just a guide; I recommend that anyone interested ask the clinic for their prices. I’ve only shared my experience. Regarding the Medeze clinic, the price does include storage. At Hairclone, you also have to pay $150 per year for storage. I received two vials with 20 million cells. If I repeat the treatment in the future, the cells will be multiplied again from the samples.
Hi Alvaro,
I am interested in the treatment as well. How can I get in touch with them? I check their clinic website and i can’t see that they are offering hair banking and the treatment.
Thanks.
Alvaro, no pressure being the ultimate guinea pig for AGA. Just update daily…ha.