Efficacy of autologous stromal vascular fraction injection in the treatment of androgenic alopecia

Androgenic alopecia (AGA) is a common condition associated with loss of terminal hair on the scalp in a specific pattern in both males and females. Management of AGA is usually challenging as the approved therapeutic options are limited. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of non-enzymatic stromal vascular fraction (SVF) as a new promising treatment for AGA. From April to December 2021, this prospective study included 30 patients with AGA who were enrolled from the University Hospitals' dermatology outpatient clinics. Patients received a single session of autologous SVF injection and were then followed up for 6 months. There was an increase in hair shaft caliber from 0.037 ± 0.01 mm before treatment with SVF to 0.056 ± 0.02 mm after 6 months of treatment. Also, hair count/cm(2) increased from 130.87 ± 14/cm(2) to 151.93 ± 22.36/cm(2) and terminal to vellus hair ratio increased from 77.06 ± 10.47% to 81.45 ± 11.98% at the end of the study. No significant difference was recorded between male and female groups as regard response to treatment. We concluded that SVF is an effective line of treatment for AGA with significant improvement regarding hair density, hair diameter, global photography, and patient satisfaction.