SINGAPORE (Nov 5): It is not uncommon to chance upon giant billboards, TV and radio commercials and sponsored events with hair treatment clinics promising a lustrous head of hair, with their “fastest results guaranteed” and “multiple award-winning” treatments.
As of August 2018, the hair care industry in Singapore is estimated to be worth US$198.2 million ($274 million), with the figures rising in recent years. Hair loss is, after all, fast becoming an urban plague with no signs of slowing down. Two-thirds of men in Singapore experience some form of hair loss before they hit the age of 40, with this bleak statistic starting to manifest among women as well.
“We have been observing an increase in patients with hair-loss concerns and while this condition is usually genetic, modern day stresses and diets have also exacerbated the incidence of hair loss (alopecia),” says Dr Tan Ying Chien, consultant plastic surgeon at SW1.
“The new generation of treatments basically cuts through the market clutter and delivers medically sound therapies that produce visible results within one or two sessions.”
Believe in science, not hype
With no lack of competitively priced hair treatment options around, navigating through the market clutter to find one that backs up the hype can be very challenging. Doctors and respected authorities in the field are always looking for the holy grail of hair loss cures — and this time, they might have just struck gold.
One of Singapore’s biggest aesthetics establishments, SW1 Clinic, recently launched three of the industry’s most modern treatment methods under The Hair Clinic — a dedicated platform where everyone experiencing follicular woes can convene and remediate.
“The SW1 Hair Clinic is specifically catered for busy individuals going through all stages of hair loss, and who are looking for real results. Our zero-to-minimum downtime treatments cover the spectrum of hair and scalp concerns, taking into account the patient profile, safety and results,” adds Dr Chua Han Boon, medical consultant at SW1.
Tan: We have been observing an increase in patients with hair-loss concerns and while this condition is usually genetic, modern day stresses and diets have also exacerbated the incidence of hair loss (alopecia).
Changing treatment paradigms with under-an-hour procedures
Revage 670 Laser — A refreshing change from all the topical, tonic-based treatments out there, the FDA-approved treatment called Revage 670 Laser has been highlighted for having “a high quality of evidence”, according to the Department of Dermatology from the Miami Miller School of Medicine. It is one of the latest breakthroughs in non-surgical hair restoration utilising Rotational PhotoTherapy (RPT) to rejuvenate thinning hair on both men and women.
This low-level laser is a pain-free 30-minute therapy which makes use of laser diodes that rotate around the affected scalp, stimulating blood fl ow to the hair follicles and inciting their growth. It is also proven to encourage tissue regeneration, resulting in thicker hair shafts.
Revitascalp — A recent study has also identified Minoxidil as one of the key components in the war against hair loss. A total of 143 subjects suffering from alopecia were instructed to apply Minoxidil foam on the affected areas of their scalp over a period of 12 months, and results proved to be statistically superior over the other tested drug by a long shot.
As researchers have discovered, a mix of Biotin and Minoxidil can be used for even greater effects. SW1 Clinic has married these two effective ingredients together along with other select nutrients to birth a winning formula called Revitascalp. In this “hair-apeutic” procedure to stimulate scalp circulation and follicular growth, high-tech equipment is used in conjunction with the mixture of ingredients, allowing the nutrients to penetrate deeper into the hair follicles as compared with topical and other conventional methods.
Kera-Clone — A group of precursor cells called the dermal papilla are responsible for determining an individual’s follicular destiny. Their presence, or lack thereof, determines the growth and density of hair on the scalp. Researchers from the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute in California have capitalised on this fact and developed an unprecedented technique to generate new hair by using these cells as an unlimited source of hair-generating follicles, which are transported onto problem regions of the scalp. “We developed a protocol to drive pluripotent cells and dermal papilla into areas of the scalp and confi rmed their ability to induce hair growth,” says Dr Alexey Tersikh, who led the study.
As an alternative to traditional hair transplants, the new technique eliminates the need to painstakingly transplant follicles, one by one, from one part of the head to another. It has since been adopted by doctors at SW1 Clinic and rechristened “Kera-Clone”: a 30-minute lunchtime procedure favoured by all urban warriors leading hectic lifestyles. In short, Kera-Clone is a next-generation “hair transplant” without the extensive grafting of the scalp. It has no harmful effects and utilises one’s own cells to regenerate the scalp, stimulating the production and restoration of fuller hair growth over time.
One of Singapore’s biggest aesthetics establishments, SW1 Clinic, recently launched three of the industry’s most modern treatment methods under The Hair Clinic.
SW1 Clinic is located at 290 Orchard Road, #13-01, Paragon, Singapore 238859. For enquiries, please call 6817 8888.
This article appeared in Issue 855 (Nov 5) of The Edge Singapore.
