Autologous micrograft therapy is the mechanical separation, in a sterile kit, of small pieces of skin taken from the person’s own tissue — usually from behind the ear — and the delivery of the resulting cell suspension to the target area in the same session. It is popularly called a “tissue graft”. It requires no laboratory and no cell culture; the process is completed on the same day. The cells it contains are progenitor cells, not stem cells.
I use this method rarely in my clinical practice; this page is informational. The evidence and who it suits are set out below; the general framework of cellular treatments is on the cellular therapies page.
I am a specialist in anaesthesiology and reanimation; sterile technique, local anaesthesia and injection safety are core areas of my training. I assess cellular treatments within this framework.
How is it thought to work?
Skin contains fibroblasts and progenitor cells together with the tissue scaffold (extracellular matrix) they sit in. In the micrograft method, the harvested tissue is mechanically broken into small particles; the suspension contains both living cells and tissue particles. The aim is that this mixture stimulates the repair process when delivered to the target area.
Blood-derived treatments carry platelets and signalling molecules; a micrograft is tissue-derived and contains cells and tissue particles. I do not write this difference as a superiority: what determines which method is suitable is the goal and the evidence available.
The process
- Tissue harvest. Under local anaesthesia, a few small skin samples are taken from behind the ear; stitches are usually not needed.
- Separation. The tissue is mechanically separated inside a sterile, single-use kit; it is not sent to a laboratory.
- Application. The resulting suspension is delivered to the target area using mesotherapy technique.
The total time is 30–45 minutes and the process is completed in a single session. It can be reassessed after about a year if needed. The effect is not immediate; changes are reported within months.
Areas of use
Hair. In hereditary hair thinning it is applied using tissue harvested from the scalp. A placebo-controlled, half-head study reported an increase in hair count and density 1; the number of patients is small and the same publication states that larger controlled studies are needed. Details are on the autologous micrograft hair therapy page.
Skin. Using tissue from the hairless skin behind the ear, it is applied to the face, neck and décolletage; wrinkles, loss of elasticity, surface irregularity and superficial acne scars are assessed under this heading. In the skin, a 40-person open-label randomised study comparing it with a hyaluronic acid-based skin booster reported greater improvement in wrinkle depth and elasticity at 12 months 2. I do not write that it is sufficient on its own for deep pitted scars; there, cultured methods such as autologous fibroblasts and combinations are discussed.
This method is not suitable for someone whose goal is volume or shape; there, fillers are discussed.
How it differs from other cell methods
With autologous cell treatments, the decision depends on time: when weeks of laboratory culture are acceptable, cultured fibroblasts come to the fore; when same-day completion is preferred, micrografts or SVF do. The final choice is made at consultation.
The cultured option is on the autologous fibroblast therapy page, and the same-day option from fat tissue on the SVF page. Options that do not involve cell transplantation are on the exosome and PRP pages.
Being honest about the level of evidence
For the mechanical micrograft method there is a 27-person, half-head, placebo-controlled study in hair 1. In the skin there is a 40-person open-label randomised study comparing it with a hyaluronic acid-based skin booster 2. Both studies come from the same investigator, their samples are small, and the skin study was not blinded. For this reason I give no percentages or durations. Alongside publications reporting improvement there are series without a control group; the level of the evidence is also why I use this method rarely.
The procedure and pain management
Topical anaesthetic cream is standard. Because I am an anaesthesiologist, I treat pain management as a separate part of the procedure.
Tissue harvesting is done under local anaesthesia; what you feel is a brief sting while the anaesthetic is given. Mild tenderness at the site may last a few days. For skin application, cooling is added when needed; what you feel is a brief sting and mild burning.
Aftercare
First 24 hours
- No make-up on the treated area
- No hot showers, sauna, hammam or steam
- Avoid heavy exercise
- No alcohol
- Do not sleep face-down (facial treatments)
- Do not touch the injection points; do not squeeze or massage the bumps
First 48 hours
- Avoid direct and prolonged sun exposure
- No facial massage, skincare treatments or energy-based device treatments
Expected findings Small bumps (papules) at the injection points lasting 12–24 hours are expected and show that the product has settled in the skin. Mild swelling, tenderness or bruising lasting a few days may occur. Around the eyes, bruising is slightly more likely than on the rest of the face.
Additional advice
- The harvest site behind the ear is covered with a small dressing and usually needs no stitches; keep it dry for the first 24 hours; it heals on its own within 3–4 days
- No deep-tissue laser or aggressive peeling to the area for the first 3 months
- If redness increases, or warmth or fever develops, contact the clinic
Safety and anatomy
Because allergic reactions can occur rarely, treatments are carried out under medical supervision.
The tissue and cells are your own; the kit is sterile and single-use. The harvest site is covered with a small dressing; the risk of infection is low but not zero. Temporary redness, small bumps and bruising may occur at the injection points; the expected durations are given in the aftercare section.
Regulatory status: The closed, single-use separation kits are medical devices assessed under CE and TİTCK frameworks. Approval belongs to a product and to a specific indication, not to a technique or to a physician.
Who is not suitable
Treatment is not performed, or is postponed, in the following situations:
- Active infection or inflammation in the treatment area
- Autoimmune disease in an active phase
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Known hypersensitivity to the product components
- Uncontrolled chronic illness
- Untreated bleeding disorder or unregulated anticoagulant use
I do not perform these treatments during active cancer treatment. For a person with a history of cancer, I make the decision together with the treating specialist.
Treatment is also not performed with a known hypersensitivity to the local anaesthetics used for harvesting; with a marked tendency to keloid formation at the harvest site, the decision is made at consultation.
For a person on immunosuppressive treatment, the decision is made at consultation.
Treatment is postponed during an active cold sore (herpes) outbreak in the area, during an active acne flare, and if aggressive peeling or laser was performed on the same area within the past two weeks.
Without being a medical contraindication, I also consider expectation and treatment to be mismatched in these situations:
- People expecting a marked and lasting change from a single session
- People whose actual need is a change in volume or shape — filler is assessed
- People expecting a result from micrografts alone in deep pitted scars
Suitability is determined by consultation in every case.
Pricing
Under the applicable regulations, price information cannot be published on our website. The cost of a treatment depends on the product used, the technique chosen and the extent of the treatment. You can call the clinic for detailed information.
Frequently asked questions
Is autologous micrograft therapy a stem cell treatment?
No. The resulting suspension contains progenitor cells and tissue particles; the name “behind-the-ear stem cells” is used incorrectly for this method.
Is a single session of autologous micrograft therapy enough?
The process is completed in a single session. It can be reassessed after about a year if needed; I do not give a schedule in advance.
Does the harvest site leave a scar?
The samples are taken from behind the ear with very small tips and stitches are usually not needed; the area heals on its own within a few days. In a person with a marked tendency to keloid formation, this area is assessed separately.
Planning your visit
My clinic is in Nişantaşı, Şişli, on the European side of Istanbul, approximately 45 minutes from Istanbul Airport.
For autologous micrograft therapy I suggest planning a stay of two to three days: arrival, consultation and treatment, and departure. Flying is generally appropriate 24 hours after an injectable treatment.
Consultations are conducted in English. Follow-up after you return home is arranged remotely, and I remain reachable for any questions during the period in which the result develops.
Dr. Ömer Fatih Şahin — Specialist in Anaesthesiology and Reanimation Diploma Registration No: 113606
Published: 22 February 2026 · Last updated: 2026-09-21 This content has been medically reviewed by Dr. Ömer Fatih Şahin.
References
- Gentile P, Scioli MG, Cervelli V, Orlandi A, Garcovich S. Autologous micrografts from scalp tissue: trichoscopic and long-term clinical evaluation in male and female androgenetic alopecia. Biomed Res Int. 2020;2020:7397162. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32071919/ — Placebo-controlled, half-head design; 27 people.
- Gentile P. Autologous fibroblast therapy for facial rejuvenation: A randomized open-label controlled study. JPRAS Open. 2026;50:632–644. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42339013/ — Single-author, open-label; 40 people.