Functional Medicine, a New Milestone on a Familiar Road (Korean Academy of Aesthetic Functional Medicine)

These days, academic conferences are also seeing many new attempts.

Instead of the familiar topics centered on dermatology or plastic surgery, I heard that a conference hall bearing the name “functional medicine” was being held at Walkerhill, and I attended with curiosity about what new content might be presented.

But once I got there, I realized the word “new” was not attached for nothing.

On June 22, 2025, I attended the Korean Academy of Aesthetic Functional Medicine.

It had the significance of being the first conference, but each presentation was also deep and fresh.

It brought to mind many possibilities that could be sufficiently expanded into the field of hair loss treatment, which I have always been interested in.

In particular, the question, “What horizon could a functional medicine approach truly open up in hair loss treatment?” stayed in my mind all day.

The Advanced Regenerative Medicine Act, interpreted from a practitioner’s perspective

The first session of this conference was organized around actual application cases of the legal system for advanced regenerative medicine and biopharmaceuticals.

By calmly unpacking a somewhat abstract topic such as law and systems from a practitioner’s point of view, attendees were able to gain a practical sense of what could be attempted within the boundaries of the law.

In particular, the point that advanced regenerative medicine treatment is divided into “low-risk” and “high-risk” categories, and that the application procedures and targets differ accordingly, was very useful information from a practitioner’s standpoint.

This legal framework is not simply a restriction, but a foundation for safe and orderly innovation, showing that there is a legitimate path for clinical attempts based on functional medicine.

Reinterpreting stem cells: finding answers from within, not from outside

One of the most impressive presentations was Professor Change Hye’s lecture, “The Blueprint for Stem Cell Therapy.”

What stood out in particular was that the discussion did not stop at exogenous (externally administered) stem cells, but also organized the concept of endogenous (intrinsically activated) stem cells.

Research findings showing that PDLLA stimulates endogenous stem cells and turns the aging cellular environment toward regeneration opened up many possibilities for a hair-loss specialist like me.

It especially provided a new clue for the question of how stem cells within the hair follicle can be preserved and activated.

A philosophy beyond technology: radiofrequency, clinical cases, and the attitude of care

In the cases applying radiofrequency technology, it was emphasized that the precision of parameter settings has a major effect on treatment outcomes.

It was a presentation that reaffirmed how important a customized approach based on purpose is, beyond simply using a device.

The clinical insights into how detailed factors such as energy intensity, frequency, and treatment time affect tissue regeneration and inflammatory responses were also very impressive.

The presentations showing how functional medicine and aesthetic medicine are being combined in actual clinical practice were also interesting.

For example, treatment cases that considered diet, sleep management, stress control, and hormone balance together in order to reduce chronic inflammation and improve resilience reminded us of the importance of addressing the cause rather than simply approaching symptoms.

This made it clear that a functional medicine approach can play an important role in long-term skin health and improved resilience.

The point that a considered approach goes beyond the scope of simple cosmetic treatment and leads to long-term skin health and improved resilience offered major implications for overall clinical practice.

In addition, a presentation using BBL (BroadBand Light) technology was also noteworthy.

Unlike conventional laser devices, it was explained that it can treat pigment disorders and vascular disorders simultaneously using multispectral wavelengths, and real case introductions showing that it can induce collagen production in tissue and improve the overall tone and texture of the skin made me rethink the role of noninvasive devices in functional medicine approaches.

Functional medicine and hair loss treatment, the possibilities that blossom between them

The question that kept coming to mind throughout the conference was this.

“How can these technologies be applied to hair loss treatment?” It felt too valuable to use only as a simple adjunct, and I began to hope that a new treatment paradigm could emerge in which hair transplantation, drug treatment, and functional medicine approaches are naturally integrated.

Closing thoughts: a time that shakes up one’s philosophy of care

As I left the conference hall, the clearest thought in my mind was this.

This was a place that went beyond simply “learning new technologies” and made me think about “how I can expand my philosophy of care.”

It was a day when, on the familiar road of hair loss treatment, I once again faced the milestone of “newness.”