Concerning hair replacement, Genetic predisposition is the general cause of both men and women losing hair. However, there are many other factors that can cause hair loss such as: under-active thyroid, hormonal imbalance, stress, nutritional deficiencies, etc. Although we have not found a preventative form to address the main cause (genetics) there are different options available to keep all the hair follicles you were born with. Thus research is being done for cloning hair and maybe in the future there will be an answer for people experiencing hair loss.
Recommendations to prevent or solve the problem of hair loss…
The Natural Way (preventative)
Take good care of your hair. This includes everything from choosing a good cleaning method, avoiding bleaching or heating, using wide brushes and always avoid pulling hair back tightly. Another important and more difficult request… manage your stress level and focus on life’s happy moments. Maintain a healthy diet, especially concerning certain vitamins or supplements such as: B12, iron, Saw Palmetto, C and D, etc.
Using prescription drugs (preventative)
Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (topical minoxidill) are currently the only available drugs with FDA-approval. In most cases these are the most effective form of prevention.
Propecia is a tablet that should be taken daily especially when patients present with signs of consistent hair loss during daily showers at a young age (ages 20 to 30). This drug has to be used indefinitely in order to prevent genetic predisposition for male or female pattern baldness. A patient trying to have children should not be on this drug and levels of PSA (prostate specific antigen) may decrease. Please consult your physician about the use of this product and potential side effects.
Rogaine consists of a topical solution which is applied directly onto the scalp in areas that need hair growth. Rogaine or Minoxidil’s mechanism of action is to increase vascularity at the scalp and subsequently improve the oxygenation of hair follicles. It is less effective than the oral Finasteride because it doesn’t stop the genetic predisposition of conversion of testosterone to DHT (dihydrotestosterone).
There is one more drug I would like to mention that many of my patients have had great results with. Nizoral 2% shampoo is a prescription drug which can also be used topically to reduce the inflammation of the hair follicles caused by DHT. Though research has shown a greater effectiveness while using Propecia than any other drug.
Surgery
Unfortunately, many patients I see have already lost much of their hair. No drug or supplement that can bring back follicles. The only option for these patients is surgery. Permanent hair loss can be treated using hair surgery techniques such as: slit grafting, punch grafting or micro-grafting as well as scalp reduction.
- Hair Transplant Surgery- Slit Grafting, Punch Grafting or Micro-grafting
This is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure performed by a hair restoration surgeon. Hair grafts are carefully selected from areas without the genetic predisposition (back of the head) and placed artistically on balding areas. Local anesthetic is used and most patients play with their cell phone, nap, or watch a movie during the procedure. All of these procedures share similarities but differ on the hair follicle harvesting technique. There are two harvesting techniques available: FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) and FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation). One procedure is all that is necessary for most patients. However, results may depend on the amount of hair follicles needed to gain the desired fullness and density. A healing period after every session is recommended which is generally 5 days. Permanent hair growth results can be expected in approximately 4-6 months.
- Scalp Reduction Surgery
During such a procedure, the bald patches of skin are removed from the patient’s scalp. Then the remaining skin which still has hair is stretched, filling in the bald region of the scalp. This technique can eliminate the balding region. Usually this strategy is used to cover bald patches at the back or on top of the patient’s head. Scalp reduction it’s not usually used for increasing hairline or frontal area where most cases of male or female pattern baldness occur.
Estetigraft (hair replacement west palm beach) is part of the Estetica Institute (Plastic Surgery) family. We are a hair restoration center dedicated to performing only one hair procedure per day and guaranteeing a natural permanent result for all of our patients. For more information please call us to schedule a free consultation at 561-776-9555 or estetigraft.com.
