On an average day, the typical person can lose up to 100 strands of hair. That amount of hair loss is natural and normal and shouldn’t be a cause for concern. But for about half of the population, men and women both, the amount of hair lost is considerably higher. Hair loss can occur for a variety of reasons, from stress and hormone changes, to genetics and even medication use.
The good news is that you can do something about hair loss. Working with a board certified plastic surgeon can help you determine which treatment option will work best for you.
Over-the-Counter Treatments
Minoxidil, also sold under the brand name Rogaine, is one of the more popular over-the-counter treatments for hair loss. You can pick up minoxidil without seeing a doctor. It’s available in two strengths, 2 percent and 5 percent. Both men and women who are losing their hair can benefit from minoxidil.
To use minoxidil, you apply the product directly to your scalp in the areas where you are losing hair. The medicine works by encouraging the growth of hair. It also helps existing hairs grow in thicker and fuller. The big caveat with minoxidil is that you need to keep using it to continue to see results. Once you stop treatment, the hair growth will diminish. It can also take some time when using the product before you see actual results.
Prescription Medication
Men who are losing their hair have the option of trying a prescription medicine, Finasteride (sold under the brand name Propecia). The medicine helps to slow down the progression of male pattern baldness. It works by blocking the hormone responsible for shrinking hair follicles. Finasteride is an oral medicine; you take one pill a day.
There are a few things to keep in mind if you’re considering finasteride for hair loss. One is that it does have the potential for side effects, including a number of sexual side effects. Another thing to keep in mind is that you need to keep on taking it to continue to see results and to continue to benefit from it.
Women shouldn’t take finasteride. It’s also very important that a woman who’s pregnant avoid any contact with finasteride tablets, as the contact can cause harm to the fetus.
PRP Therapy
Platelet rich plasma is the key ingredient in PRP therapy for hair loss. During PRP therapy, your surgeon will take a small sample of your blood. The blood is then processed to separate the platelets from the red blood cells. The platelets are then put into fine needled syringes and injected into the scalp.
PRP can be an effective treatment for hair loss because the platelet rich plasma can help improve blood flow to areas of the scalp and speed up the process of tissue regeneration. It can help stimulate hair follicles that have become dormant. Often, PRP is used along with other hair loss treatments, such as hair restoration surgery.
Hair Restoration Surgery
Depending on how advanced your hair loss is and the cause of it, hair restoration surgery might be the best option for you. During hair restoration, a surgeon transplants hairs from one area of the scalp, such as the sides or back, to the area that is experiencing hair loss. Because the hair on the sides or back of the scalp usually isn’t susceptible to male pattern baldness, the transplanted hair remains permanently attached to the scalp.
Hair restoration isn’t just for the scalp. While plenty of people seek out laser hair removal to get rid of hair on certain areas of the body, a good number also consider hair restoration surgery to restore hair lost on certain areas. For example, people who want fuller eyebrows or more chest hair might have hair restoration surgery on those areas.
About Dr. Ran Rubinstein
Dr. Ran Y. Rubinstein, a board certified plastic surgeon, offers his patients non-surgical treatments and traditional plastic surgery at his practice in Manhattan. He can guide you through the process of choosing the treatment that best meets your needs and fulfills your goals. Dr. Rubinstein offers patients a variety of procedures, from fillers to rhinoplasty, at Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists, PC in Newburgh, New York. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Rubinstein, call 845-863-1772 today.
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