Secretome Hair Treatment
Secretome hair treatment therapy is a personalized, non-surgical treatment made from molecules produced by cells collected from your own hair follicles.
Toronto Hair Transplant Surgeons are internationally known for our pioneering work in hair transplantation.
Secretome Hair Treatment
Secretome hair treatment therapy is a personalized, non-surgical treatment made from molecules produced by cells collected from your own hair follicles.
The finished product contains cell-signalling molecules such as growth factors, exosomes, peptides, cytokines and proteins. It is applied to the scalp as part of a medically guided hair-restoration plan designed to support follicle health, improve scalp conditions, and encourage stronger, thicker hair over time.
Secretome serum does not contain living stem cells, does not create new hair follicles and does not replace hair transplant surgery when follicles have already been permanently lost.
Your own biology. A personalized treatment plan guided by an experienced hair-restoration team.
On This Page:
What is Secretome?
The term secretome describes the collection of molecules that cells naturally release to communicate with the surrounding tissue.
These molecules can include:
- Growth factors
- Exosomes
- Peptides
- Cytokines
- Proteins
- Other cell-signalling molecules
For the personalized Secretome treatment offered through THTS, cells obtained from a limited collection of your own hair follicles are cultured and processed by Acorn Biolabs.
The molecules released by those cultured cells are then used to create your personalized, cell-free Secretome product.
Personalized
Made from molecules produced by cells collected from your own hair follicles.
Cell-Free
The finished product contains cell-secreted molecules rather than living stem cells.
Non-Surgical
Secretome is used as part of an in-clinic scalp-treatment plan and does not involve transplanting hair follicles.
Our Results
Toronto Hair Transplant Surgeons are internationally known for our pioneering hair transplantation work.
Our huge archive is here to help you see what we can do for you. Use the link below to view some sample cases.
How Your Personalized Secretome Is Created
1. Hair Follicles Are Collected
A limited number of hairs with the follicular material required for processing are collected at THTS by our highly trained team of nurses and technicians.
- The collection appointment typically takes approximately 15 minutes.
- No special preparation is required, no special aftercare is necessary, and no downtime is expected from the collection process.
2. Your Personalized Secretome Is Produced
The collected follicles are sent to Acorn’s laboratory, where the required cells are isolated and cultured. As your cultured cells grow, they release naturally occurring signalling molecules.
- The result is a product created specifically for you.
- The actual Secretome treatment at THTS takes place approximately 8 weeks after the collection.
4. Your Secretome Is Applied at THTS
Once prepared, your Secretome is returned to THTS for in-clinic treatment.
- The Secretome will be administered using a single-use disposable dermastamp, which creates small channels in the skin to help with absorption.
- Each Secretome treatment appointment will take approximately 30–45 minutes.
- There is no at-home Secretome component within the THTS treatment protocol.
THTS Gallery
Familiarize yourself with our layout before you come in.
Visit the gallery to take a peek at our Oakville based clinic layout and surgical rooms.
Why Are Hair Follicles Used?
Hair follicles provide a convenient source of the patient’s own cells without requiring a significant surgical procedure.
Only a limited number of hairs are collected for laboratory processing.
Unlike harvesting follicles for hair transplant surgery, the Acorn collection process involves plucking the required hairs rather than surgically removing donor grafts.
The collected hairs are expected to grow back from the collection area.
Where Secretome May Fit in a Hair-Loss Treatment Plan
Hair loss does not have one treatment that is appropriate for everyone.
Secretome is one of several non-surgical options that may be considered when the goal is to support existing hair rather than replace follicles that have already been permanently lost.
Depending on the individual patient, Secretome may be considered to:
- Support the quality and appearance of existing thinning hair
- Support the environment around existing follicles
- Complement another non-surgical hair-loss treatment
- Form part of a broader long-term hair-preservation plan
- Support ongoing hair care before or after hair transplant surgery when appropriate
Secretome does not create new follicles in an area where hair has already been permanently lost.
This distinction is important.
Someone with early thinning and significant existing hair has very different treatment needs from someone seeking to rebuild a hairline or restore coverage to a significantly bald area.
The right starting point is understanding the type and pattern of hair loss before selecting a treatment.
Who May Be Considered for Secretome Therapy?
Secretome may be considered for adults experiencing thinning hair who still have existing hair within the area being treated.
Suitability depends on factors such as:
- The pattern and cause of hair loss
- The amount of existing hair
- How the hair loss has progressed
- Previous hair-loss treatments
- Previous hair transplant surgery
- Current medications or treatment plans
- Long-term hair-restoration goals
- What the patient hopes to improve
Secretome may be considered on its own or as one component of a wider treatment plan that includes options such as medication, PRP or low-level laser therapy.
For patients with areas where hair follicles have already been permanently lost, hair transplant surgery may be a more appropriate option.
What Does the THTS Secretome Treatment Plan Involve?
The current THTS Secretome protocol includes six in-clinic treatment sessions, generally spaced approximately four weeks apart.
Your overall journey includes:
Hair-Loss Assessment
- The THTS team reviews your hair loss, treatment history and goals to determine where Secretome may fit within your overall plan.
Follicle Collection
- The required hairs are collected by our nursing and technical team during a 15 minute collection appointment.
Laboratory Preparation
- The follicles are sent to Acorn for cell processing and production of your personalized Secretome.
In-Clinic Treatment
- Approximately 8 weeks after the collection, your personalized product will be ready for application. The Secretome treatment will be administered to your scalp at THTS using our medically guided treatment plan protocol featuring single-use disposable dermastamps. These dermastamps create small channels in the skin to help with Secretome absorption.
Six Treatment Sessions
- The current protocol includes six treatments, generally spaced about four weeks apart.
Progress Review
- Hair changes occur slowly. Your progress can be reviewed over time as part of your broader hair-restoration plan.
Where Secretome Fits Alongside Hair Transplant Surgery
Secretome and hair transplant surgery perform fundamentally different jobs.
A hair transplant redistributes suitable follicles from a donor area to another area of the scalp or face.
Secretome does not move follicles.
It is intended for treatment involving existing hair and should not be presented as a way to create a new hairline or replace follicles in a completely bald area.
For some patients, preserving and supporting existing hair may be the priority.
For others, surgical restoration may be required.
And in some situations, surgical and non-surgical treatments may form different parts of the same long-term hair-restoration strategy.
Results, Evidence and Realistic Expectations
Secretome is an emerging personalized treatment.
Early Acorn data has reported improvements in hair amount and quality in some treated patients. However, individual results vary, and the long-term response to treatment has not been established for every type or stage of hair loss.
THTS does not present Secretome as:
- A cure for hair loss
- A way to create new follicles
- A guaranteed way to regrow hair
- A replacement for hair transplant surgery
- A treatment that will produce the same response in every patient
Hair loss is often progressive.
The appearance and durability of any improvement can depend on the patient’s underlying hair loss, existing follicles, age, treatment history and other treatments being used at the same time.
Our approach is to determine where Secretome may reasonably fit within the patient’s overall hair-restoration plan rather than assuming it is the right treatment for everyone.
Treatment Experience and Downtime
Follicle collection does not require special preparation or special aftercare, and no downtime is expected.
During a Secretome treatment session using single-use disposable dermastamps, temporary scalp redness, sensitivity or pinpoint irritation may occur. These effects are generally associated with the treatment method rather than the personalized Secretome product itself.
Your THTS treatment team will explain what to expect during your appointments.
Cost of Secretome Treatment
Secretome treatment is personalized, so costs depend on the individual treatment plan.
THTS will explain the recommended protocol and associated costs before you decide whether to proceed.
Is Secretome Right for You?
There are now more ways to approach hair loss than ever before.
The important question is not simply which treatment is newest.
It is which treatment makes sense for your type of hair loss, your existing hair, your goals and your long-term plan.
Secretome may be one option.
PRP, medication, low-level laser therapy, hair transplant surgery, monitoring or a combination of approaches may be more appropriate for another patient.
The role of the THTS team is to help you understand those options and make an informed decision.
Partnership Disclosure
Toronto Hair Transplant Surgeons is an Acorn partner clinic. Acorn Biolabs performs the laboratory processing and manufactures each patient’s personalized Secretome product. THTS evaluates patients, performs the required follicle collection and provides the in-clinic treatment according to the THTS treatment protocol.