IHHT as a biohack to improve regeneration

IHHT (interval hypoxia-hyperoxia therapy) is a method in which the patient alternately breathes in oxygen-poor (hypoxia) and oxygen-rich air (hyperoxia) through a mask.

Goal in the biohacking context: stimulate mitochondria, improve cell energy and optimize autonomic regulation

How does IHHT work?

• Hypoxia → mild “stress stimulus” (hormesis)
• Activation of hypoxia signaling pathways (e.g. HIF-1α)
• Promotion of mitochondrial adaptation processes
• Improvement of oxygen utilization
• Increase in HRV (heart rate variability)

PRP & PRF – Regenerative autologous blood therapy

Modern methods of biological regeneration

PRP (platelet-rich plasma) and PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) are methods of autologous (the body’s own) regenerative medicine. Highly concentrated platelets (thrombocytes) rich in growth factors are obtained from the patient’s own blood.

These procedures are used in orthopaedics, sports medicine, dentistry and aesthetic medicine.

What is PRP (platelet-rich plasma)?

With PRP, blood is taken from the patient and centrifuged. The platelet-rich plasma is isolated and then injected into the affected tissue.

Effect of PRP:

• Release of growth factors (PDGF, TGF-β, VEGF, etc.)
• Stimulation of cell regeneration
• Promotion of blood circulation
• Support for healing processes

PRF is a further development of PRP. Differences to PRP:

• No additives or anticoagulants
• Slower release of growth factors
• Fibrin matrix as a natural scaffold

PRF is frequently used in dentistry and tissue surgery.

Typical areas of application

Aesthetic medicine:

• Skin rejuvenation (“Vampire Lift”)
• Hair growth in androgenetic alopecia
• Scar treatment

Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine

• Osteoarthritis (e.g. knee)
• Tendon irritation
• Tennis elbow
• Achilles tendon problems

Dentistry & Oral Surgery:

• Bone regeneration
• Implantology
• Periodontal therapy

Advantages of PRP/PRF therapy:

• Use of endogenous substances
• Low allergy risk
• Minimally invasive
• Can be performed on an outpatient basis
• Short downtime

Mesotherapy is a minimally invasive medical-aesthetic treatment in which small amounts of active ingredients are injected directly into the middle layer of the skin (dermis) using very fine needles.

How does it work?

The micro-injections allow the active ingredients to reach exactly where they are supposed to work. Among other things, the following are used

• Hyaluronic acid
• Vitamins (e.g. A, C, E)
• Minerals
• Amino acids
• Antioxidants

The aim is to regenerate and hydrate the skin from within and to stimulate collagen formation.

Areas of application

Mesotherapy is used for

• Skin rejuvenation (fine wrinkles, tired skin)
• Dry or sallow skin
• Hair loss (stimulation of the hair roots)
• Cellulite
• Localized fat deposits
• dark circles

Treatment procedure

• Duration: approx. 20-40 minutes
• Light anesthetic cream possible
• Several sessions recommended (usually 3-6)
• Hardly any downtime

Advantages & risks

Advantages:

• Gentle and non-surgical
• Natural-looking results
• Short recovery time

Possible side effects:

• Redness
• Small bruises
• Slight swelling
• Very rare infections

Botox is the brand name for botulinum toxina purified protein that temporarily relaxes muscles. It is used to relax muscles and smooth wrinkles.

How does Botox work?

Botulinum toxin blocks the signal transmission between nerve and muscle:

• The muscle relaxes
• The overlying skin becomes smoother
• Expression lines are reduced

Particularly effective for so-called dynamic wrinkles (caused by muscle movement).

Common treatment areas:

• Forehead wrinkles
• Frown lines (between the eyebrows)
• Crow’s feet (lateral eye wrinkles)
• Teeth grinding (bruxism)
• Excessive sweating (armpits, hands)
• Migraine (medical application)

Procedure & effect:

• Duration: approx. 10-20 minutes
• Hardly any pain
• Onset of action: after 3-7 days
• Full effect: after approx. 14 days
• Shelf life: 3-6 months

The effect then slowly diminishes.

Advantages:

• Non-surgical
• Fast treatment
• No downtime
• Natural result with the right dosage

Possible side effects:

• Slight redness or swelling
• Small hematomas
• Temporary muscle weakness
• Rare: drooping eyelid

Filler (dermal filler)

Fillers are injectable substances that build volume, fill wrinkles and sculpt facial contours. Hyaluronic acid, an endogenous substance that binds water and provides fullness, is most commonly used.

How do fillers work?

• They fill up volume losses
• Smoothes static wrinkles (also visible without facial expressions)
• Shapes and define contours
• Provides intensive moisture

The effect is immediately visible.

Common treatment areas:

• Lips (volume & contour)
• Nasolabial fold
• Cheek augmentation
• Chin & Jawline
• Tear trough (dark circles)
• Nose (non-surgical correction)

Expiry & shelf life:

• Duration: 20-45 minutes
• Local anesthesia possible
• Slight swelling 1-3 days
• Shelf life: usually 6-18 months (depending on product & region)

Advantages

• Immediate result
• Naturally sculptable
• Degradable (no permanent material with hyaluron)

Risks:

• Swelling, hematomas
• Asymmetry
• Nodule formation
• Very rare: Vascular occlusion (medical emergency!)

 

What are biostimulators?

Biostimulants are aesthetic injections that encourage your skin to produce collagen itself – in other words, to renew itself from the inside out.

👉 Instead of “filling up” something, they stimulate the body to build up its own structure.

How do they work?

After the injection:

• fibroblasts (skin cells) are activated
• these produce collagen & elastin
• the skin becomes more elastic over time:
  • firmer
  • thicker
  • smoother

👉 Result: natural anti-ageing instead of artificial effect

The 4 most important biostimulators

1. sculptra (PLLA) – long-term build-up

• strongly stimulates collagen
• Builds up volume slowly over months
• often lasts up to 2 years+

👉 Effect:

• very natural
• “Face looks fuller & younger again”

👉 Ideal for:

• sunken cheeks
• Volume loss

2. radiesse (CaHA) – immediate + collagen

• direct volume + lifting
• simultaneous collagen build-up
• Shelf life: ~12-18 months

👉 Effect:

• Defined Jawline
• firmer contours

👉 Ideal for:

• Pine line
• Cheeks
• Immediately visible results

3. profhilo – skin booster

• based on hyaluron
• Improves moisture & skin quality
• Hardly any volume

👉 Effect:

• Glow
• smoother skin

👉 Ideal for:

• fine lines
• pale skin

4. polynucleotides (PN) – regeneration

• have an anti-inflammatory & repairing effect
• promote cell healing

👉 Effect:

• better skin structure
• fewer scars / dark circles

👉 Ideal for:

• sensitive skin
• Acne / skin damage

The most important difference (simply explained)

👉 All stimulate collagen, but:

• Different depths
• to varying degrees
• Different speeds

Speed vs. result

• Immediately: Radiesse
• Slow but strong: Sculptra
• Fast, but subtle: Profhilo
• Gentle & regenerative: polynucleotides

What is really important

• Biostimulators do not work like fillers
• The result is due to the body’s own collagen formation
• you often need several sessions

👉 There is no “best” – only the right one:

• natural anti-ageing → Sculptra
• Contour & Lifting → Radiesse
• Glow & moisture → Profhilo
• Repair skin → Polynucleotides

Difference to classic fillers

Conclusion

Biostimulants are the most modern form of anti-ageing because they:

➡️ do not conceal
➡️ but really improve the skin

The carboxytherapy is a medical-aesthetic treatment in which medical carbon dioxide (CO₂) is injected under the skin with a fine needle.

How does carboxytherapy work?

Through the CO₂ injection:

• the blood circulation expands
• increases the oxygen supply in the tissue
• collagen production is stimulated
• fat metabolism can be stimulated locally

The body reacts to the CO₂ by transporting more oxygen to the treated area – this improves skin quality and tissue structure.

Areas of application:

• Dark circles
• Cellulite
• Stretch marks
• Localized fat deposits
• Skin slackening
• Scars
• Hair loss (rarely used)

Procedure & sessions:

• Duration: 15-30 minutes
• Slight feeling of pressure or warmth
• Usually 4-10 sessions recommended
• Hardly any downtime

Advantages:

• Non-surgical
• Short treatment time
• Natural stimulation of the body

Possible side effects:

• Slight swelling
• Feeling of tension
• Small bruises
• Short-term crackling under the skin (due to gas)

Durability

The results develop gradually and last for several months, depending on the indication. Refreshments are possible.

Fat-away injection (injection lipolysis)

The fat-away injection is a minimally invasive treatment to reduce small, unwanted fat deposits. In medical terms it is called injection lipolysis.

How does it work?

• An active substance (usually deoxycholic acid or phosphatidylcholine) is injected directly into the fatty tissue:
• the fat cells are destroyed
• the body breaks them down over weeks
• the fat disappears permanently in this area

Well-known preparations include Belkyra (for double chin).

Suitable areas:

• Double chin
• Small belly fat zone
• Love Handles
• Upper arms
• Inner thigh
• Bra rollers

⚠️ Not suitable if you are very overweight – it does not replace weight loss.

Procedure & results:

• Duration: 20-30 minutes
• 2-4 sessions usually necessary
• Significant swelling (especially on the chin) for several days
• Results visible after 4-8 weeks

Does it hurt?

• Burning or feeling of pressure during treatment
• Significant swelling afterwards (normal and expected)

⚠️ Risks:

• Swelling & bruising
• Numbness
• Knot formation
• Very rare: Nerve irritation (e.g. on the chin)

Advantages:

• No surgery
• Permanent destruction of the treated fat cells
• Relatively short treatment time

Acupuncture is a valuable addition to the conventional medical repertoire, especially for chronic complaints. Important indications include orthopaedic conditions, gastrointestinal complaints, bladder disorders, asthma, allergies, sleep disorders, burn-out syndrome and psychosomatic illnesses.

Laser acupuncture is a modern form of acupuncture in which acupuncture points are stimulated with a soft laser (low-level laser) – completely without needles.

How does it work?

Instead of needles, a weak, painless laser beam is directed at specific acupuncture points.

The laser should:

• stimulate cell activity
• improve blood circulation
• Reduce inflammation
• Activate self-healing processes

The method combines the principles of traditional Chinese medicine with modern laser technology.

Areas of application:

• Pain (back, neck, joints)
• Migraine
• Allergies
• Quit smoking
• Weight reduction (supportive)
• Sleep disorders
• Stress

Particularly suitable for:

• Children
• People who are sensitive to pain
• People with a fear of needles

Procedure:

• Duration: 10-30 minutes
• Painless
• Several sessions usually necessary
• No downtime

Cupping is a traditional form of therapy in which negative pressure is created on the skin – usually using glass or plastic glasses. This stimulates the blood circulation and the tissue.

The method is used in traditional European naturopathy as well as in traditional Chinese medicine.

How does it work?

• A glass is placed on the skin and a vacuum is created:
• The skin is sucked in
• Blood circulation increases
• Metabolism in the tissue is activated

Round, reddish-bluish marks often appear – these are harmless and disappear after a few days.

Forms of cupping

1️⃣ Dry cupping
→ Only negative pressure, no injury to the skin

2️⃣ Bloody cupping (e.g. hijama)
→ Small skin scratches to remove “blood and waste products”

3️⃣ Cupping massage
→ The glasses are moved over oiled skin

Areas of application:

• Back & neck pain
• Muscle tension
• Headache
• Colds (supportive)
• Circulatory disorders

Possible side effects:

• Bruise-like spots
• Pressure pain

Neural therapy is an alternative medical treatment method in which a local anesthetic (usually procaine or lidocaine) is injected into specific areas of skin, scars or pain points.

The aim is to regulate interference fields and influence the autonomic nervous system.

How does it work?

The injection creates small skin wheals (“wheal therapy”).

It is assumed that:

• Disturbed nerve impulses are regulated
• the vegetative nervous system is “reorganized”
• chronic pain cycles are interrupted

Areas of application:

• Back pain
• Joint pain
• Migraine
• Scar pain
• Chronic inflammation
• Functional complaints

The concept of “interference fields”

A central concept is that, for example:

• old scars
• inflamed tonsils
• Dental foci

can trigger symptoms far away from the actual site of pain. This concept is scientifically controversial.

Procedure:

• Duration: 10-20 minutes
• Several sessions possible
• Partly immediate, partly delayed effect

Possible side effects:

• Burning at the puncture site
• Circulatory reactions
• Allergic reaction (rare)