HRP was founded by Aesthetic Physician Dr Jonathan Hopkirk.

Dr Hopkirk lost his hair in his late twenties and journeyed through that struggle alone. After trying nearly every treatment option available and being at the brink of getting a hair transplant, he was desperate to find a better and less extreme way of regaining his hair that didn’t come with all the side effects and downtime.

He teamed up with fellow hair loss sufferers and respected subject matter experts Associate Professor of Dermatology Dr Michael Freeman, Dr Nik Davies and people expert Paul Swain to establish an effective and uniquely adaptable, non-invasive solution for hair restoration. From here, the Hair Restoration Protocol (HRP) was born and is now helping people across numerous doctor and nurse-led locations in Australia.

The HRP utilises the benefits of over 100 different ingredients in a customised serum in conjunction with the hair-stimulating properties of micro-needling.

There are two phases of the HRP process: the initial six-week ‘Regain Phase’, which is essentially a boot camp for your hair, and then the subsequent ‘Retain Phase’, which continues to improve on the initial results achieved and halt the loss.

HRP is split into two phases: 

The initial ‘Regain Phase’ followed by the ongoing ‘Retain Phase’s

Regain Phase: First 2 Months

The first step is to have an online telehealth consultation with Dr Jonathan Hopkirk. Dr Hopkirk will take you through a hair loss history to establish the best treatment approach and ingredients, ensuring the underlying cause of hair loss is addressed. Once the consultation has taken place, Dr Hopkirk will send confirmation to the clinic, and they will book you in directly on the clinic platform over the phone.

The first phase of the treatment program then requires you to complete 6 x 30-minute treatments with our nurse in the clinic, each one week apart.

In this treatment, your hair will benefit from hand-selected, evidence-backed ingredients in combination with microneedling. This part of the process is designed to halt the loss, recruit dormant hair follicles back into the hair growth cycle so they can grow again, reduce inflammation of the scalp, and thicken the diameter of the hair fibres themselves.

Retain Phase: Ongoing

After the 6-week treatment course, you continue to build further results by utilising a customised prescription-based hair serum uniquely designed for you by the Levels Of You doctors.

The frequency at which you use this serum depends on your hair loss type and the advice set out by the doctor. We will then see you every four months for an HRP booster and assess the maintenance phase’s progress.

The Hair Restoration Protocol (HRP) works by promoting a longer growth phase of the hair cycle, so targeted hairs grow longer and thicker, recruiting dormant follicles back into action whilst also reducing the number of hairs falling out. It also stimulates dormant pigment cells sitting at the base of the hair follicle to switch back on, which leads to a richer hair colour.

Results seen across all primary hair factors:

– Reduction in hair loss

– Promotion of new hair growth through the recruitment of dormant follicles

– Thickening of existing hair

– Re-pigmentation of existing hair

– Coverage of ‘bare zones’ where there is more scalp visible through the hair

HRP can have hair restoration benefits for men, women, and other, who suffer from the following forms of hair loss:

Androgenic Alopecia (male or female pattern balding, which is usually genetic),

Telogen Effluvium (also known as shock loss) caused by stress, which can be caused mentally and emotionally or brought on by illness such as COVID-19

Postpartum hair loss (loss of hair after having a baby, which is a form of Telogen Effluvium)

Traction Alopecia, which is caused when there is stress to the follicle caused by pulling on the hair, seen when patients wear their hair up in tight ponytails or strained due to extensions

Menopause-induced hair loss caused by the physiological changes exerted on the body after going through menopause

Ultimately, this treatment is a novel therapy for people with mild-moderate hair loss.

The treatment generally takes approximately 30 minutes. It is important to note that it will always be performed at a pace proportionate to the patient’s comfort levels.

The treatment is very comfortable with minimal pain and no downtime. The treatment itself feels like a light scratch or abrasion as it is only very surface deep into the scalp and does not produce any bleeding or bruising.

For perspective, the microneedling device is only set to a depth of 0.6mm, whereas PRP is often 2-4mm deep with individual 27g needle injections.

Because the treatment is so superficial, there is no downtime post-treatment. The treatment area will likely be slightly red, settling within minutes – hours; however, no bruising is expected.

Some patients can see results as early as two months into the treatment course as existing hair on the scalp thickens and hair loss slows. However, most patients require a full three to six months after starting the treatment protocol to appreciate noticeable results.

The results continue to improve with the home maintenance protocol, which is paramount in ensuring the best possible results are achieved. Reviews and a top-up booster HRP treatment are recommended at 4-month intervals.

For hair loss programs of any sort, including HRP, it is the consensus that patients must commit to the program diligently, as set out by the guiding professionals, for at least 12 months to see the results.

Any hair loss treatments require ongoing maintenance; however, we have designed the maintenance program to be very simple to improve compliance. For best results, the Levels Of You home restoration program should be followed in conjunction with a clinical booster treatment every four months in the clinic.

Every patient begins their journey at different stages of hair loss, and our commitment is to support each individual in reaching new levels of growth

The initial consultation will be hosted via telehealth with one of the Levels Of You doctors so you can enjoy the benefits of remote consulting from the comfort of your preferred private location/home. The HRP procedure is then carried out by a registered nurse with ongoing reviews by one of the Levels Of You doctors

Mild irritation/discomfort at the time of treatment

Possible flaking of the scalp (low risk and transient)

The above usually resolves spontaneously within hours or days.

Uncommon side effects:

This is a low-risk, non-invasive treatment and to date, there have been no serious adverse events due to the rigorous compliance measures that are put in place to ensure patients are only treated with ingredients that suit their medical background and personal preferences.

Risk of hypersensitivity to the serum (research suggests that there is less than a 2% risk of this occurring)

Infection or folliculitis, which is where the skin or hair follicle can become infected (if any signs of infection present from things like ingrown hairs, treatment will be rescheduled or altered for safety)

Temporary shedding is rare with HRP but can occur with any hair restoration treatments or ingredients. This is a temporary shedding that occurs as the Telogen hairs that are already due to shed naturally all get encouraged to shed at a very similar time, which enables new, healthier hair to take their place prematurely. This often precedes a positive phase of new growth. This is a transient phenomenon, and it is imperative that you notify the clinic and don’t cease any part of the treatment program before discussing with one of the clinic or Levels Of You professionals.

Poor response can occur due to various individual factors, as is the case with any medical cosmetic procedure; however, a lack of compliance with the set HRP program is a big contributor to not achieving desired outcomes. It is imperative that you commit to the HRP™ as advised by the Levels Of You doctor. With any hair loss treatment, it is expected that the best results can take 12 months to reveal themselves.

Additional side effects:

The compounded prescription serum is unique to the individual, and the ingredients utilised all have different risk profiles, which are addressed by the Levels Of You doctors with you directly and the dispensing chemist.

If any side effects are experienced, please notify us immediately so the Levels Of You doctors can be notified and assist you promptly.

In the (unlikely) event of you suffering an adverse event or complication, Dr Hopkirk is alerted so a prompt assessment and resolution can be achieved.