Hair loss · Orlando
Hair loss in Orlando: a diagnosis first, then options with their FDA status
Thinning hair has many causes, and the right option depends on which one you have. Kenny Chantasi, DO, starts with your history, your scalp and, when they are useful, your labs. Then he explains each option: what is FDA-approved, what is off-label, and what is still investigational.
Scheduling opens securely in Prospyr · the first visit is an evaluation, not a procedure
In one paragraph
Does PrimeCell offer hair loss care?
Short answer
Yes. PrimeCell evaluates hair loss with a physician visit first: Dr. Kenny Chantasi takes a history, examines the scalp and orders labs when they could change the plan. Options then range from FDA-approved medications to off-label platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and, in selected cases, investigational stem-cell-derived or exosome therapies given only with written informed consent.
Many people arrive having already tried a supplement, a shampoo or a clinic package. We start earlier than that: is this pattern hair loss, shedding after an illness or a stressful event, a thyroid or iron problem, a medication effect, or something that needs a dermatologist? The answer decides what is worth trying, and what is not.
Hair loss care sits within PrimeCell’s physician-led aesthetic practice. The same evaluation-first approach runs through all of it.
Diagnosis first
What kind of hair loss is it?
Different causes look similar in the mirror and respond to very different treatments. These are the patterns a physician evaluation tries to separate.
- 01
Pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia)
The most common cause in men and women. It is hereditary and gradual: a receding hairline or thinning crown in men, a widening part in women. Most of the evidence on this page is about this type.
- 02
Shedding after a trigger (telogen effluvium)
Diffuse shedding that often starts a few months after illness, surgery, childbirth, rapid weight loss, a new medication or major stress. It often settles once the trigger is found and addressed.
- 03
Medical and nutritional causes
Thyroid disease, iron deficiency and some hormonal conditions can cause or worsen thinning. These are why labs are sometimes part of the first visit.
- 04
Patchy or autoimmune hair loss
Round, smooth patches can signal alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition with its own treatments. It is usually managed with, or referred to, a dermatologist.
- 05
Scarring hair loss
Redness, scaling, pain, itching or shiny skin where hair is gone can mean a scarring alopecia, which permanently damages follicles. If PrimeCell suspects it, you are referred to a dermatologist, often for a scalp biopsy, before anything else is done.
Labs, when they are useful
Not everyone needs blood work. When your history or examination points that way, labs may include thyroid function, iron studies including ferritin, a blood count and, where relevant, hormone levels, for example in women with irregular periods or acne, or before discussing medications that act on hormones.1
Why the order matters
Injecting the scalp does not fix low iron or an overactive thyroid, and it can delay the diagnosis of a scarring alopecia. Starting with the cause is the most useful thing a physician can do for thinning hair.
Options, by FDA status
What the options are, and how each is regulated
Most people with pattern hair loss start with an FDA-approved option. PRP and cellular or exosome therapies are considered after that conversation, not in place of it.
- FDA-approved / cleared
Approved (drugs) or cleared (devices) by the FDA for hair loss, within the stated labeling.
- Off-label
An approved drug, or a device-prepared material from your own blood, used in a way the FDA has not specifically reviewed.
- Investigational
Not FDA-approved for hair loss. Evidence in people is early.
| Option | What it is | U.S. status | At PrimeCell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topical minoxidil | A liquid or foam applied to the scalp, sold over the counter for hereditary hair loss in men and women. It can help early hair loss; it takes months to judge.1 | FDA-approved | Recommended where it fits |
| Oral finasteride (1 mg) | A prescription tablet that lowers DHT, the hormone that drives pattern hair loss. Approved for male pattern hair loss in men only, and contraindicated in pregnancy.2 | FDA-approved · men | May be prescribed after evaluation |
| Low-level laser devices | Home combs, caps and helmets that deliver red light to the scalp. Specific devices are FDA-cleared for pattern hair loss in defined groups of patients.3 | FDA-cleared devices | Discussed; not sold here |
| Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) | A concentrate of your own platelets, injected into thinning areas of the scalp in a series. | Off-label | Offered after evaluation |
| Stem-cell-derived and exosome therapies | Products derived from donated tissue or cultured cells, injected or applied to the scalp. | Investigational · not FDA-approved | Selected cases, written informed consent |
| Hair transplant surgery | Surgical moving of follicles from the back of the scalp to thinning areas. | Surgical procedure | Referral |
Other medicines are sometimes prescribed off-label for hair loss, such as low-dose oral minoxidil. Whether any of them suits you depends on your diagnosis, your health history and your other medications, and is discussed at your evaluation.
PRP for pattern hair loss
What the evidence on PRP for hair shows
Short answer
PRP for androgenetic alopecia is an off-label use with mixed but real evidence. A 2020 systematic review and meta-analysis of 30 studies (687 patients) found that PRP increased hair density and thickness, and the authors called for better-designed trials because protocols varied widely.4
PRP is prepared in the office from a small draw of your own blood, using a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets. It is then injected into thinning areas of the scalp. The American Academy of Dermatology describes a typical course as monthly sessions for three months, then maintenance every three to six months.1
What the research does not settle yet: the ideal preparation, dose and schedule, who responds best, and how long any effect lasts after the sessions stop. PRP tends to be discussed for pattern hair loss with follicles still present, often alongside minoxidil or finasteride, not instead of them.
PRP is also used in joint and tendon care. PrimeCell’s regenerative and pain care page explains how PRP is prepared and what its FDA status means.
Investigational options
Stem-cell-derived and exosome hair procedures
These therapies are investigational. No stem cell or exosome product is FDA-approved for hair loss, and the evidence in people comes from early, mostly small studies.
Short answer
PrimeCell offers stem-cell-derived and exosome (extracellular-vesicle) hair procedures in selected cases, after a physician evaluation and written informed consent. These products are not FDA-approved for any hair-loss use, and the FDA has warned the public about unapproved exosome products.5,6
What these terms describe
Stem-cell-derived products used in regenerative clinics generally come from donated birth tissue, such as umbilical cord tissue, and are processed before use. Exosomes are tiny vesicles released by cells. Exosome products are made from cells grown in a laboratory and do not contain living cells.
Both are being studied because of the signals they may send to the hair follicle. That is a research question, not an established therapy.
What written informed consent covers
Before any cellular or exosome therapy, you receive in writing: the type of product and its source, its regulatory status, what is and is not known about it, the risks, the alternatives (including the FDA-approved options above) and the cost. You can decide not to proceed at any point.
These therapies are not a first step. They are considered only after a diagnosis, and usually only when FDA-approved options have been discussed or tried.
Your evaluation
What a hair loss visit looks like
The first visit is an evaluation, not a procedure. “Start with minoxidil and recheck” is a common, reasonable outcome.
History
When the thinning started, its pattern, family history, recent illness or stress, diet and weight changes, medications, and prior treatments.
Scalp examination
The pattern and density of hair loss, the scalp skin, and signs that suggest scarring or an autoimmune cause.
Labs or referral
Blood work when it could change the plan. Dermatology referral when scarring alopecia or another skin condition is suspected.
Plan in writing
Options with their FDA status, expected timeline, risks and a written estimate, then follow-up visits to judge your response.
Realistic timelines
Hair changes are measured in months
Hair grows slowly, so any option needs months before it can be judged. These are typical ranges, not promises.
Minoxidil
Usually six to twelve months of daily use before a change can be judged. Benefits fade if it is stopped.1
Finasteride
In the trials, differences from placebo were seen from about three months in some men; most men are assessed over a year.2
PRP and investigational options
A series over several months, then reassessment. If there is no meaningful change, continuing is not recommended.
Risks & limitations
What can go wrong
Every option has side effects. Your own risks are reviewed with you before any treatment.
| Option | Common | Less common or serious |
|---|---|---|
| Topical minoxidil | Scalp irritation, dryness, temporary shedding in the first weeks | Unwanted facial hair growth; dizziness or a fast heartbeat (stop and seek advice) |
| Finasteride | Usually well tolerated | Sexual side effects; depression and suicidal thoughts have been reported. Must not be handled by women who are or may become pregnant if tablets are crushed or broken.2 |
| PRP | Scalp tenderness, pinpoint bleeding, headache, bruising at the draw site | Infection; no response |
| Stem-cell-derived and exosome products | Scalp tenderness and swelling | Infection, contamination or immune reactions; long-term effects are unknown5 |
Candidacy
Who may be a candidate, and who is not
Often a reasonable fit for evaluation
- Adults with gradual thinning, a widening part or a receding hairline
- Shedding that started after illness, childbirth, weight loss or a medication change
- People who want a diagnosis before paying for a treatment
- Patients willing to follow a plan for months and judge it honestly
Not a candidate, or not yet
- Suspected scarring alopecia, until a dermatologist has evaluated it
- Active scalp infection or an untreated skin condition in the area
- A bleeding disorder, very low platelets or blood thinners that cannot be paused (for PRP)
- Pregnancy, or trying to conceive, for finasteride and elective procedures
- Active cancer, for cellular and exosome therapies
- Areas that have been fully bald for years, where follicles are unlikely to respond
- Anyone looking for a guaranteed result
Cost
Self-pay, with a written estimate
PrimeCell is a self-pay practice and does not bill insurance. Cost depends on what the evaluation finds, whether labs are needed, which option you choose and how many sessions it involves. You receive a written estimate before any procedure.
Read more in thinning hair: which options have evidence, or see payment plans.
Questions
Hair loss FAQ
Does PrimeCell offer hair loss care?
Yes. PrimeCell starts with a physician evaluation of the cause. Options then include FDA-approved medications, off-label PRP and, in selected cases, investigational stem-cell-derived or exosome therapies with written informed consent. Suspected scarring hair loss is referred to a dermatologist.
Is PRP for hair loss FDA-approved?
No. PRP is prepared with FDA-cleared equipment, but using it for hair loss is off-label. Studies show improvement in hair density and thickness for some people with pattern hair loss, and the research still varies widely in methods.
Are exosome or stem cell hair therapies FDA-approved?
No. No stem cell or exosome product is FDA-approved for hair loss, and the FDA has warned the public about unapproved exosome products. PrimeCell offers them only in selected cases, as investigational therapies, after an evaluation and written informed consent.
Do I need blood tests for hair loss?
Not always. Labs such as thyroid function, iron studies including ferritin, and hormone levels are ordered when your history or examination suggests they could explain the hair loss or change the treatment plan.
How long before I know whether an option is working?
Months. Minoxidil usually needs six to twelve months of consistent use, and PRP is judged after a series of sessions. No hair-loss option comes with a guaranteed result.
Is hair loss care covered by insurance?
PrimeCell does not bill insurance. Some labs or prescriptions may be covered by your own plan elsewhere; PRP and investigational therapies generally are not. You receive a written estimate before any procedure.
Find the cause before you pick a treatment.
A hair loss evaluation with Dr. Chantasi covers your history, your scalp, any labs that matter and every option with its FDA status, in writing.
References
- American Academy of Dermatology. Hair loss: diagnosis and treatment. aad.org
- PROPECIA (finasteride) tablets, prescribing information. DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Product classification: laser, comb, hair (product code OAP; 21 CFR 890.5500). accessdata.fda.gov
- Evans AG, Mwangi JM, Pope RW, et al. Platelet-rich plasma as a therapy for androgenic alopecia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Dermatolog Treat. 2022;33(1):498–511 (published online 2020). doi:10.1080/09546634.2020.1770171
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Public safety notification on exosome products. fda.gov
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Consumer alert on regenerative medicine products including stem cells and exosomes. fda.gov
Medically reviewed by Kenny Chantasi, DO, on September 23, 2026. General education only; not medical advice. Candidacy is determined at an individual evaluation. Stem-cell-derived and exosome treatments are investigational and not FDA-approved for hair loss. Results vary and are not guaranteed. PROPECIA® is a registered trademark of its owner.