Hair Loss Solutions Available
Many types of treatments are available to restore hair; they generally fall into the following categories:
. Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) uses focused light energy to stimulate the body's own ability to heal itself. A proven alternative for men and women experiencing hair loss, thinning hair or bad scalp conditions, laser treatment therapy is an excellent option to stimulate re-growth and bathe and restore the scalp and its micro-circulatory system. The painless treatments are delivered via a hood that is lowered over your head. Each weekly session under the laser therapy unit lasts approximately 30 minutes. While individual results vary, a reduction in excessive hair loss can be experienced in as little as 6 - 9 treatments. Patients who respond well have thicker hair growth in previously thinning or balding areas. Once you've achieved the desired results, a monthly maintenance program of booster treatments is recommended. This will help you retain the benefits of the LLLT program for years to come.
. Natural Treatments such as amino acids, Vitamin B6 and Zinc are among several supplements nutritionists think may help prevent hair loss. While these remedies are usually harmless, research has not proved them to be effective. Amino acid is essential for proper hair growth, but it probably does little to help re-grow hair. Zinc, when combined with Vitamin B6, has been shown to inhibit the conversion of testosterone to DHT, and some studies show that specific types of B6 alone will inhibit DHT. But the source of B6 is important; some B6 sources increase DHT. A deficiency of B6 will increase DHT creation as well.
. Medicinal Treatments such as Propecia or Rogaine are not 100% effective and any results are slow to appear. In addition, some of these medications have severe side effects such as rashes, headaches, itching, swelling, etc. These treatments must be used over your lifetime; if use is stopped, any hair regrowth will shortly disappear.
. Hair Systems are defined as any external hair-bearing device added to existing hair or scalp to give one the appearance of a fuller head of hair. This includes options like hair weaves, hair extensions, hair pieces, toupees, non-surgical hair replacements, partial hair prostheses and hair wefts. They may consist of human hair, synthetic fiber or a combination, usually dyed to match your own natural hair.
While some technologies are promising, the disadvantages are obvious - you would need to worry about maintenance (usually every 4 - 6 weeks), cleaning, fading, comfort, and the lack of freedom (not being able to wear it safely while swimming or in the wind). Additionally, hair systems usually have a use life expectancy of less that one year and can be costly to replace.
. Surgical Treatment, or Hair Transplantation, is the only proven method to replace the hair you've lost with your own natural growing hair. While hair transplantation usually requires a period of time before the desired result is reached, it is generally permanent and looks natural. This procedure involves surgically removing hair from the thick areas of the sides and back and transplanting them into the thinning bald areas of the top and front, giving the appearance of a full head of hair. The donor strip, has been surgically removed and is now ready to be dissected using a stereoscopic microscope into smaller segments called "micro-grafts". Each graft contains 1, 2, 3, or 4 follicles (hairs). Once the grafts have been cut and sorted by size, small incisions are made in the scalp using a 1mm to 1.25mm cutting device. The surgical team then places one graft of the appropriate size in each incision. Once all the grafts are placed in the scalp, the patient is cleaned up and on his or her way. The entire procedure will take from 4 to 8 hours depending on the complexity of the layout and the overall number of grafts needed. Grafts usually take any where from 2-6 months to appear and up to a full year to experience the entire result. One of the most important considerations is finding a competent hair transplantation surgeon. Only an experienced professional who has mastered the art of hair restoration can provide a quality procedure to last a lifetime. The future development of new techniques like follicular cloning, which could be here in 5 to 10 years, may allow more men and women to experience a fuller head of hair. It is under active development by doctors and medical researchers, and encouraging signs of success are already beginning to appear. Cloning will allow for a less invasive procedure and a new source of donor material for those seeking hair restoration services.
