Medically reviewed by Mark Strehlow, MD, Medical Director — September 2026
If you searched for exosome therapy or exosome treatment near Kansas City, this is the page you were looking for, with one correction most clinics skip. Exosomes are real, and the research interest in them is real. But no exosome product is approved by the FDA for any use, and the products we use are not sold as exosomes. This page explains what exosomes are, what we actually use, why we describe it the way we do, and which of our treatments it belongs in.
What exosomes are, in plain language
Your cells constantly release tiny, membrane-wrapped packets called extracellular vesicles. They carry proteins, lipids and fragments of genetic material from one cell to another; it is one of the ways cells communicate. Exosomes are the smallest class of extracellular vesicle. Researchers are studying them in skin, hair and joint applications, among many others, and most of that work is still early. That is the honest state of the science, and it is why we choose our words carefully.
What we actually use
We use two kinds of human tissue products, both derived from umbilical cord tissue donated by healthy, screened mothers in the United States after full-term, scheduled cesarean births. Nothing is taken from a baby or a pregnancy; the cord is tissue that would otherwise be discarded.
Extracellular vesicle (EV) product. Umbilical cord tissue processed to concentrate its extracellular vesicles, including exosomes, along with the proteins and lipids they carry. We use it only in Restorative IV therapy.
Tissue matrix products. Umbilical cord tissue kept close to its natural structure: hyaluronic acid, collagen, elastin and the other components of connective tissue, as an extracellular matrix product and a connective tissue matrix product. We use them in every other regenerative treatment: injected in joints, the scalp and sexual-wellness treatments, and applied topically during microneedling. Most treatments use both products together; several are also offered with the extracellular matrix product alone, at a lower cost.
Both products are minimally manipulated (processed to preserve the tissue, not to change what it is), contain no DMSO or added chemicals, and are tested for sterility lot by lot. They are processed by U.S. tissue banks accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks and registered with the FDA. Registration means the FDA knows the facility exists and can inspect it. It is not approval of the product, and we will never tell you otherwise. Neither product is a stem cell product.
Why we say “extracellular vesicle” and not “exosome”
Three reasons.
- It is what the product is. The tissue banks that make these products describe them as extracellular vesicle and connective tissue products. We are not going to call them something their makers do not.
- It is what the FDA expects. The FDA has said that products marketed as exosomes to treat conditions are unapproved drugs. We do not market these products to treat anything, and we do not want the name to imply that we do.
- You deserve to know exactly what you are getting. A clinic that inflates the name is likely to inflate the results too.
If you have read about “exosome facials” or “exosome hair treatments,” the treatments below are the same category of care. We simply describe them accurately.
Where these products fit
- Microneedling with tissue matrix products: SkinPen microneedling with the tissue matrix products applied topically, for skin texture, tone and the appearance of fine lines and scars. What most people mean by an exosome facial.
- Hair restoration: tissue matrix products injected into thinning areas of the scalp, followed by microneedling. What most people mean by exosomes for hair loss.
- Joint injections: the connective tissue matrix product injected into a joint for cushioning and support of the tissue already there.
- Sexual-wellness injections for men and women: the same products used in place of PRP.
- Restorative IV therapy: a physician-directed infusion of the EV product and/or an ultra-filtered connective tissue product, and the treatment our patients choose most often.
- PRP alternatives: how these products compare to platelet-rich plasma, and why we changed.
What these products can and cannot do
We use them to supplement and support your own tissue. In the skin and scalp, the goal is a change you can see: smoother-looking skin, or fuller-looking hair. In a joint, the goal is cushioning and support. Many of our patients are pleased with what they see; some are not, and we will tell you before you start that results vary and cannot be guaranteed.
What they cannot do: diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. They do not replace evaluation and care from your physician or specialist, and if a joint, skin or hair problem needs a diagnosis, we will say so before we recommend anything.
Safety and sourcing
In 2019 the FDA reported serious infections in patients who received unapproved exosome products in Nebraska from a supplier with no proper testing. That episode is one reason we hold our sourcing to a written standard: accredited, FDA-registered tissue banks; documented donor screening and infectious-disease testing; lot-by-lot sterility testing; cold-chain storage from the lab to our clinic; and a product record for every treatment. We are glad to show you the product documentation at your consultation.
Any injection carries risks: pain, swelling or bruising at the site, and, rarely, infection. Any donated human tissue carries a very small risk of disease transmission that screening reduces but cannot make zero, and a small risk of an immune or allergic reaction. Long-term data on these products are limited. Your provider reviews your history and medications before recommending any of them.
Who provides your care
Treatments are performed at our Leawood clinic under the direction of Mark Strehlow, MD. Your first visit is a consultation, not a treatment: an examination, your goals, and a straight answer about whether one of these treatments is a reasonable choice for you.
Cost
These treatments are cash-pay and are not covered by insurance. Pricing depends on the treatment, the area and the number of sessions, and is given in writing at your consultation. The consultation itself is free.
Next step
Call (913) 727-7700 or contact us to schedule a consultation.
The products we use are umbilical cord–derived extracellular vesicle and connective tissue products supplied by tissue banks that are FDA-registered and AATB-accredited. Registration is not approval. No exosome or extracellular vesicle product is FDA approved for any use, and we do not use these products to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This page is educational and is not medical advice. Individual results vary.