February 15, 2023

Baldness? Not on Our Watch: A Beginner's Guide to Hair Restoration Services

Hair loss is a problem that men and women alike will have to face as they get older. It can have a dramatic effect on your self-esteem and cause anxiety in social situations. The good news is that there are hair loss treatments available today that slow down the progression of hair loss and even promote regrowth to restore your hair, giving you back a full healthy head of hair. There are noninvasive, nonsurgical, and surgical options so there is something to meet everyone’s needs. The Role of DHT In Hair Loss In order to understand how these treatments work it’s important to know what causes hair loss to begin with. 70% of men and 40% of women will experience some degree of hair loss in their lifetime. It can happen at any stage of life, even as soon as the early 20s, and can be caused by a number of different factors such as genetics, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, illness, scalp infections, and stress. Genetics is the most common cause accounting for the vast majority of hair loss. Certain genetic factors make some people more susceptible to the effects of the hormone dihydrotestosterone or DHT and the levels tend to increase as we age. DHT exposure causes hair follicles to in essence shrink up. They become thinner and shorter with each growth cycle until finally they just stop growing hair altogether. This type of hair loss is known as male and female androgenetic alopecia. The good news is that not all hair follicles are susceptible to DHT. The hair follicles on the sides and back of the head are resistant to this hormone. This is part of the scalp where donor follicles are harvested for transplants. Because they are resistant to DHT they’ll continue to grow despite its presence even in their new home in previously bald spots. Hair transplants are the most successful hair restoration method to treat androgenetic alopecia. Two Types Of Hair Transplants Hair transplants have been around since the 1950s, and there have been great strides in technology and technique since those days. The original hair transplants looked unnatural, much like the plugs of a doll's hair. Today there are two main types of hair transplants- FUT and FUE. The FUT transplant is an older method that involves harvesting a strip of donor follicles from the back of the head that are then separated, sorted, and transplanted to the balding area. This transplant results in natural-looking hair growth in the transplanted area. The one con is that since a strip of follicles is removed there will be a linear scar across the back of the scalp. This scar is thin and easily hidden with longer hair, but may be visible if you like to wear your hair very short. The FUE transplant method removes individual grafts to be transplanted in the balding areas. This means there is no readily visible scarring and your hair can be worn much shorter. Because of the careful precision of this procedure, it does take more time to perform than other transplant methods, but the recovery time is often faster. Hair transplants aren’t the best option for everyone, and might not be the first treatment option you should consider. They are best suited for men and women who have genetic male or female pattern baldness. There are other causes of hair loss that may be better suited to another treatment option. Other Hair Loss Treatment Options Topical products are the conventional first-line treatments used to slow the progression of hair loss and encourage regrowth. Products such as HRI’s Advanced 5% Topical Minoxidil and DHT blocking shampoos go directly to the source to treat hair loss in its early stages. Low-Level Laser Light Therapy (LLHT) uses laser light energy from wearable devices like the HairMax PowerFlex Laser Cap 272 to stop the progression of hair loss in 93% of those treated. It stimulates hair follicles to drive new growth resulting in thicker, stronger, and healthier hair. It even speeds healing following a hair transplant and improves the transplanted hair’s texture and thickness. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses your own platelets and plasma. When it’s injected into your scalp it stimulates stem cells inside the hair follicles to begin new growth. PRP therapy can be a stand-alone treatment or it can be used in conjunction with other treatments such as transplants and LLHT to improve the outcome. Scalp Micropigmentation makes use of tiny needles to deposit pigment into the scalp in a way that mimics your own natural hair follicles. It fills in balding spots with color to give the look of a fuller head of hair. Scalp micropigmentation can also be used post-FUT transplant surgery to help conceal the scar in the donor area. Proper nutrition, getting plenty of sleep, reducing stress, and treating chronic illnesses may help with certain types of hair loss caused by those factors, but when hair loss is not preventable it’s time to see the caring hair loss professionals at the Hair Restoration Institute. We will evaluate the health of your hair and scalp health as well as the cause and degree of your hair loss and then discuss the best treatment options available to restore your hair. Call us at 612-588-HAIR (4247) for your discreet and private complimentary consultation. You can find us at 8030 Old Cedar Ave S Ste 202 in Bloomington, MN.