Evidence-based drugs, transplant and add-on options
Quick answer
Male pattern hair loss is driven by DHT progressively miniaturising follicles. The best-evidenced treatments are minoxidil and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. Exosomes and stem cell factors are adjuncts that may improve density in some patients but do not stop the hormonal mechanism.
Timing is the crux. Miniaturised but living follicles can respond; scalp that has been smooth and shiny for years usually has nothing left to stimulate. Starting early produces a very different outcome from starting late.
Injecting exosomes or cell-derived factors into the scalp aims to boost perfusion and extend the anagen growth phase. Judge results with standardised photography and trichoscopic density counts, not impressions.
Anyone planning a transplant should know medication is still needed afterwards: grafting moves DHT-resistant hairs to the front but does not stop the surrounding native hair from thinning.
No — they do not block DHT, the underlying cause.
It depends on the clinic protocol, but reassessment every 3-6 months should be part of it.
Last updated: 2026-08-28 · This content is for information only and is not medical advice. Consult a qualified doctor before making treatment decisions.
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