Levels Of You

Will VDPHL01 actually reduce oedema?

That’s one of the most important questions still facing this emerging treatment.

One of the proposed advantages of VDPHL01 is that its extended-release design may help avoid the high peak blood concentrations seen with standard oral minoxidil, which some researchers believe may contribute to side effects such as fluid retention and oedema.

The challenge?

VDPHL01 also appears to expose the body to substantially more minoxidil overall than conventional dosing.

So while peak concentrations may be lower, total drug exposure is significantly higher.

That creates an interesting scientific question:

Can you reduce oedema by smoothing out the peaks while simultaneously increasing overall exposure?

Or will oedema rates ultimately remain similar once larger numbers of patients are studied over longer periods?

At the moment, we simply don’t know.

This is one of the key reasons many clinicians are eagerly awaiting peer-reviewed publications and longer-term safety data before drawing firm conclusions about the real-world tolerability of VDPHL01.

The early efficacy results are certainly exciting.

But when it comes to side effects, the devil is often in the details.

Do you think lower peaks or lower total exposure is likely to matter more when it comes to side effects?

👇 Let me know below.

HairLossTreatment HairScience Oedema EvidenceBasedMedicine DrHopkirk FYP foryou

Medical Disclaimer: This is for educational purposes only and not an endorsement of the research ingredient. All medical treatments carry potential risks, side effects, benefits, and limitations. These risks are unique to both the treatment being considered and the individual receiving it, and are discussed in detail during consultation with one of our doctors before any treatment is commenced. Not all treatments are suitable for every patient. Results vary between individuals and depend on multiple factors including the cause of hair loss, medical history, and adherence to treatment. Any pricing or treatment information is general in nature and subject to consultation.

Why Fat Cells Matter in Hair Transplant Success 💡

One of the lesser-discussed factors in long-term hair transplant success is the role of the fat layer surrounding donor follicles. When follicles are harvested properly, they’re often transferred with some of their native adipose (fat) tissue intact, and that may be more important than many realise.

Emerging theory suggests these fat cells help maintain the follicle’s original biological “memory,” including its relative resistance to DHT, which is why transplanted hairs typically continue to behave like donor hair rather than adopting the thinning pattern of the recipient site.

Beyond structural support, fat tissue releases signalling molecules and growth factors that may assist follicle survival, vascularisation, and ongoing hair cycling, all key considerations for natural, durable results.

Bottom line: It’s not just the follicle that matters. The surrounding environment matters too. Surgical technique, graft handling and tissue preservation can all influence the survival and long-term performance of transplanted follicles.

Dr Jonathan Hopkirk
AHPRA Registration: MED0001945611

Medical Disclaimer: This content is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute individual medical advice or advocate or endorse any specific treatment. All medical and surgical treatments carry potential risks, benefits, limitations and side effects, which vary between individuals. Treatment suitability and outcomes depend on factors including diagnosis, medical history, individual anatomy and the treatment or surgical technique used. Always seek personalised advice from an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before making decisions regarding your health or hair-loss treatment.

Most people know that LED and laser hair growth devices can help with hair loss, but very few understand how they actually work.

The answer lies in a process called photobiomodulation, where specific wavelengths of light are absorbed by cells within the hair follicle. This can stimulate cellular energy production, improve follicle function, reduce inflammation, and help support the growth phase of the hair cycle.

In this short, Dr Jonathan Hopkirk explains the physiological mechanism behind LED and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) devices and why they have become increasingly popular as a non-invasive option for people experiencing hair thinning and hair loss.

Dr Jonathan Hopkirk, AHPRA Registration No: MED0001945611.

Medical Disclaimer: This content is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. All medical treatments carry potential risks, benefits, side effects, and limitations. Not all treatments are suitable for every individual. Results vary between patients and depend on factors including diagnosis, genetics, medical history, and treatment adherence. Always seek personalised advice from a qualified healthcare professional before commencing any medical treatment.

Could this be the next evolution of oral minoxidil?

Veradermics has just released new data from their VDPHL01 Study 302, investigating an extended-release version of oral minoxidil designed to provide steadier drug exposure throughout the day.

Some of the headline findings reported at 6 months:

📈 Up to 37.7 new hairs/cm²
📈 Improvement detected as early as Month 2
📈 79–86% of participants reported improved hair coverage
📈 No treatment-related serious adverse events reported

The results are certainly generating excitement, but it’s important to remember that company-reported data should always be interpreted cautiously until peer-reviewed publications become available.

Would you consider trying an extended-release version of oral minoxidil if it proved to be just as effective with fewer side effects?

Dr Jonathan Hopkirk
AHPRA Registration No: MED0001945611

Medical Disclaimer: This content is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. All medical treatments carry potential risks, benefits, side effects, and limitations. Not all treatments are suitable for every individual. Results vary between patients and depend on factors including diagnosis, genetics, medical history, and treatment adherence. Always seek personalised advice from a qualified healthcare professional before commencing any medical treatment.

Most people think laser hair growth technology was designed specifically for hair loss.

It wasn’t.

Back in the 1960s, researcher Endre Mester was investigating whether low-powered lasers could help treat cancer in mice. But instead of curing the implanted tumours, he noticed something completely unexpected…

The mice exposed to the laser grew hair faster than the control group.

That accidental observation would go on to become the foundation of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) and decades of research into light-based hair restoration.

Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs in medicine aren’t discovered by finding what you’re looking for.

They’re discovered by noticing what nobody expected.

Dr Jonathan Hopkirk, AHPRA Registration No: MED0001681727

Medical Disclaimer: This content is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. All medical treatments carry potential risks, benefits, side effects, and limitations. Not all treatments are suitable for every individual. Results vary between patients and depend on factors including diagnosis, genetics, medical history, and treatment adherence. Always seek personalised advice from a qualified healthcare professional before commencing treatment.

Everyone is talking about the new hair loss ingredient VDPHL01… but why?

It’s not necessarily because it’s more powerful than oral minoxidil.

It’s because the drug was designed differently.

Traditional oral minoxidil creates a spike in drug levels after you take it, followed by a gradual decline throughout the day.

VDPHL01 uses an extended-release formulation that aims to deliver minoxidil more steadily over time.

The theory?

📌 More consistent drug exposure

📌 Potentially similar or better hair growth

📌 Potentially fewer side effects by avoiding high peak concentrations

This is why some people are already calling it “Minoxidil 2.0.”

The important caveat: we still need longer-term data and peer-reviewed publications before we know whether these theoretical advantages translate into real-world benefits.
Dr Jonathan Hopkirk
AHPRA Registration: MED0001945611

Medical Disclaimer: All medical treatments carry potential risks, side effects, benefits, and limitations. These risks are unique to both the treatment being considered and the individual receiving it, and are discussed in detail during consultation with one of our doctors before any treatment is commenced. Not all treatments are suitable for every patient. Results vary between individuals and depend on multiple factors including the cause of hair loss, medical history, and adherence to treatment. Any pricing or treatment information is general in nature and subject to consultation.

Most people assume laser hair removal can only do one thing:

Remove hair.

But under certain circumstances, the opposite can happen.

It’s called Paradoxical Hypertrichosis a rare but recognised phenomenon where laser treatment stimulates additional hair growth instead of reducing it.

In this short, I explain how this happened to me personally and why treatment settings matter.

One of the leading theories is that when energy levels are too low to permanently damage the hair follicle, the light may instead provide a stimulatory effect to the follicle and surrounding tissue.

Ironically, this is one of the reasons low-level light therapies are being investigated and used for hair growth in completely different settings.

The same technology can produce very different outcomes depending on wavelength, energy delivery, treatment parameters, and the biological target.

Medicine is rarely as simple as “laser equals hair removal.”

Sometimes the biology has other plans.

Dr Jonathan Hopkirk
AHPRA Registration No: MED0001945611

Medical Disclaimer: This content is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. All medical treatments carry potential risks, benefits, side effects, and limitations. Not all treatments are suitable for every individual. Results vary between patients and depend on factors including diagnosis, genetics, medical history, and treatment adherence. Always seek personalised advice from a qualified healthcare professional before commencing any medical treatment.