Frequently Asked
Questions for
Cell Banking
Are there side effects?
For Acorn’s cell collection, we look to pluck 50 fully in-tact hair follicles. This method is non-invasive and has very few side effects.
During the plucking process, there’s minimal discomfort on the scalp or even painless for some people. The hair will grow back after being plucked since pulling out the hair follicle doesn’t stop hair growth. On average, most people have anywhere from 100,000 to 150,000 hairs on their heads and naturally lose around 100 to 200 hairs per day that naturally grow back.
After the collection, there might also be some tenderness around the area that was plucked.
Because these follicles are sourced from the client, when the time comes time for the client to use their cells for regenerative medicine, there won’t be any risk of rejection or immune complications.
How much does it cost?
Collection appointments are available at our clinic partners where the initial collection and processing fees can vary by clinic, but is around $945+tax at most clinics.
After the collection, processing, analysis and careful freezing, your cells then remain in cryogenic storage for a yearly fee and would be accessible in the future for applicable regenerative treatments.
All-inclusive combination packages are available and provide the best value to get started with Acorn.
All-Inclusive Packages
- Pre-paid Collection + 5 years of storage
- Pre-paid Collection + 10 years of storage
Storage Fees
Individuals
- $190+tax yearly
- $850+tax for 5 years
- $1650 for 10 years
Family*
- $350+tax yearly
- $1550+tax for 5 years
- $3050 for 10 years
- Family plans consist of 2 adults + up to 4 additional family members residing at the same address. Acorn requires proof of residency at the home address and confirm eligibility of the banked individuals.
Is there an optimal age to bank your cells?
Advancements in technology have made it possible to bank and utilize cells from a wide range of ages. Acorn’s lab technology is designed to correct for age and other patient variables. This process enhances the performance of your cells to produce beneficial exosomes and growth factors. We have successfully created a secretome for clients as young as 14 and as old as 87.
Why does Acorn use the Hair Follicle?
The average person has roughly 100,000 hair follicles on their head, and Acorn only requires 50 for a successful collection. This abundant cell source is also harvested non-invasively and contains cells, like keratinocytes, fibroblast and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that have the potential to help rejuvenate skin, regrow hair, repair tissues and even be leveraged in stem cell applications. Learn more in our blog.
Can I do the collection if I am bald or have thinning hair?
Yes, if sufficient active follicles are present. The provider will use their expertise to evaluate you.
How soon after collection are my cells processed?
Within 24–48 hours of collection.
Can children bank their cells, or is there a minimum age requirement?
Yes, children can be collected as of the age of 12, or when the child has reached follicular maturity. Parents/guardians provide consent for minors. Younger cells often carry the most long-term value.
What cells are banked?
We preserve the entire hair follicle, which contains keratinocytes, fibroblasts, hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs), and mesenchymal stem cells.
How do I prepare for a cell collection appointment? Is it painful?
At Acorn, we collect your cells via plucked hair follicles. Hair plucking is the method of extracting individual hair follicles from the scalp. The average adult has roughly 100,000 hair follicles on their head and with Acorn we only collect 50 fully in-tact hair follicles, and the procedure lasts roughly 15-20 minutes. Here are some suggestions to make the experience as seamless as possible:
- Make sure your hair and scalp are clean and dry before beginning the hair plucking process.
- Avoid adding hair gels, pomades and other products that significantly effect the texture of the hair.
- If you shave your head, please grow out to have at least 5mm, or 1/4 inch of hair length of free hair strands
- If you are balding, but still have hair growth on your scalp, you are still eligible for cell collection, please ensure you have at least 5mm or 1/4 inch of hair length.
- If you have braids, locks, or other intertwined hairs, consider opening up a few patches of freely accessible hairs that are not intertwined, it can make the collection process much easier.
How does Acorn cell banking work?
With Acorn, your cells are collected via plucked hair follicles and are safely cryogenically frozen. This stops the cells from aging, giving you a collection of your own younger cells to use in upcoming treatments.
Here’s a breakdown of how it works:
- Booking a collection: You can book a collection directly with one of our partner clinics. Full list available here.
- Follicle Collection appointment: At your clinic appointment, a trained technician plucks 50 in-tact hair follicles. The appointment takes roughly 20 minutes and has minimal discomfort, similar to plucking eyebrow hairs. After the plucking is complete, the collection is prepared and shipped them to Acorn’s lab.
- Setting up your Acorn account: After the collection appointment, you’ll be provided with instructions to set up your Acorn storage account.
- Laboratory processing: Upon arrival at the Acorn lab, the collection is thoroughly examined and a report confirming the viability of your cells is emailed.
- Cryopreservation: Using cryopreservation, we freeze your cells to a temperature of -196°C. This ensures that they stay healthy and viable for your lifetime and are ready for you to access when you need them.
Secretome
How do I start?
Acorn Secretome is offered through a network of licensed providers. To begin, you can locate a clinic near you using our provider map and book a consultation.
You can also connect with an Acorn Concierge to be matched with a clinic, or reach out directly to a provider of your choice. Your provider will guide you through the process and recommend a treatment plan tailored to your goals.
Is secretome right for me?
Acorn Secretome is an advanced regenerative treatment designed to support healthier skin, enhanced recovery, and hair growth. It is a good fit for you if you’re looking to improve skin quality, boost post-procedure results, or address early hair thinning.
Consult with a provider to create a treatment plan tailored to your goals.
Are there side effects?
Side effects are minimal, with rare cases of mild redness or irritation similar to standard skincare products.
Do I need a doctor to prescribe it?
No, but you do need an approved clinic to order and apply.
Is it safe for sensitive skin or post-procedure?
Yes, it is biocompatible since it’s derived from your own cells.
Can secretome be used alongside hair transplants?
Yes, secretome enhances the success of transplants by strengthening existing and transplanted follicles.
How often can it be used?
Usage depends on treatment goals and provider recommendations. There are no concerns or overuse of the product.
Can the topical be used without a procedure?
To see the most benefit from using the secretome topically, it must be used alongside a procedure that distresses the skin to allow for the highest level of absorption and efficacy. Depending on the treatment course provided by a practitioner, this could also include a post-treatment take-home component.
How soon can the topical Secretome be used after collection?
Given that the secretome is personalized to the individual, it requires up to 8 weeks from the time of order to the time of delivery. This includes the culture/expansion phase, lyophilization, quality assurance and secure delivery.
How long before I see results?
Most patients see visible improvement within weeks of their first treatment.
General
Is this covered by insurance or health benefits?
Cell banking and related services are generally not covered by insurance or standard health benefit plans.
Coverage may vary depending on your provider and plan, particularly in specific medical contexts. We recommend checking directly with your insurer for details.
How do I stay updated on new treatments?
You can stay informed by subscribing to Acorn updates.
We share curated insights on emerging treatments, scientific advancements, and new applications in regenerative medicine. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Are there discounts if I prepay multiple years?
Yes. we offer 5 year and 10 year plans.
Can my physician partner with Acorn?
Yes — we welcome physicians and clinics interested in working with Acorn.
If your provider would like to learn more or become a partner, they can visit our Become a Provider page for details on training, requirements, and how to get started.
Why does Acorn use the Hair Follicle?
The average person has roughly 100,000 hair follicles on their head, and Acorn only requires 50 for a successful collection. This abundant cell source is also harvested non-invasively and contains cells, like keratinocytes, fibroblast and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that have the potential to help rejuvenate skin, regrow hair, repair tissues and even be leveraged in stem cell applications. Learn more in our blog.
What type of conditions might benefit from leveraging your own preserved cells?
Acorn focuses on storing cells that are both, your own (autologous) and cryogenically frozen (stopping the effects of aging). This offers some very distinct advantages for regenerative medicine, and provides a great starting material for upcoming cell based treatments.
The types of conditions where your own younger cells could be helpful are in the following areas
- where genetic compatibility is either preferred, important, or required
- where the damage or deficiency is attributed to age, wear and tear or acute injury
- where there’s a need for replenishing, rejuvenating or reforming specific tissues.
These could include:
- The visible signs of aging like wrinkles, skin discoloration, and hair loss.
- Orthopedic conditions such as osteoarthritis and joint injuries.
- Acute sports injuries like tears in cartilage, ligaments, muscle tissues and as well as bone fractures.
- Injuries such as burn wounds, cuts, ulcers, and scars.
- Cardiac conditions such as heart attacks and heart failure.
- Neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injuries.
- Bone and cartilage conditions such as osteoporosis and osteonecrosis.
- Organ damage and disease cause by lifestyle or the effects of age.
While some personal genetics may increase the predisposition to certain diseases, cancers, and conditions, age is often the most important factor. If you are able to preserve cells ahead of the onset of these conditions, you will have a better starting material to work with for regenerative medicine treatments.
Areas where your own cells might not be as effective are specific disorders and diseases associated directly with genetics, or conditions where the patient’s own cells are genetically malfunctioning, like Type 1 diabetes and sickle cell anemia. Any cell treatment using donor cells would have the risk of cell rejection, or more serious side effects like graft vs host disease. Because of this, any treatment using donor cells would require immunosuppressants to guard against these risks, which come with their own side effects and health risks.
Genetic based conditions would ultimately require some gene therapy and the use of technologies like CRISPR to help resolve the underlying issues before autologous regenerative treatments could be helpful.
How can I access my cells once they are frozen?
Acorn clients are set up with an account on our online portal where they can see details of their storage, status of their cells and instructions for contacting Acorn . When the time comes that you need access to your banked cells, clients can contact Acorn to start the retrieval process. If your cells are planned for use in a treatment or therapy, we will need to be in touch with the service provider to ensure they are adequately trained to handle the biological sample and are prepared to properly use your cells under all applicable local healthcare guidelines.
What is the level of security of Acorn’s cell banking facilities?
Your cells are stored at world class facilities with state of the art cryogenic storage containers that have vault-like security, 24-7 monitoring and back-up systems. These facilities are some of the most secure, safe and high-quality bio-repositories in the world. Experienced staff, dual redundant alarm and real-time temperature monitoring systems, video surveillance and high security access restrictions all ensures continuous security. We operate within ISO and cGTP standards for cell processing and storage.