Hair Loss Treatment New York, New Jersey, Boston

ALTERNATIVE

DESCRIPTION

ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

Hairpiece

• Various types of attachments to hair and scalp to cover bald area

• Quick Solution
• Greatest density
• Non surgical

• High maintenance and cost
• Destructive to underlying hair and often appears artificia

Minoxidil (Rogaine)

• Topical solution applied once or twice daily to scalp

• FDA approved
  
• Over the counter
• Low Cost
• Can be effective in slowing hair loss progression
  

• Used daily and indefinitely
• Re-growth rare and usually vellus hair only
• Most effective in early balding stages
• Application may be messy

Finasteride (Propecia,Finpecia)

• Daily prescription pill that blocks 5 Alpha Reductase (DHT)
  

• No messy application
• Most effective in stabilizing hair loss and regrowing hair
• Effective for all balding patterns
  

• More expensive
• Used daily and indefinitely
• Potential effects on breasts, genitals, pregnancy
  

Low level laser

• Light therapy applied to the scalp
  

• May increase the thickness of hair shafts
  

• Requires ongoing applications
• Does not stop or reverse hair loss
• Does not improve post hair transplant healing or growth
  

Laser Grafting

• Graft receptor sites are made with laser
  
• Donor site is harvested conventionally

• Claims of better healing and more natural appearance although not in fact demonstrated
  

• Scars to scalp
•  Poor yield and stunted hair produces low density
• Possible scarring under the skin
  

Micropigmentation

• Specialized tattoo technique that simulates hair look
  

• Non-surgical
  
• Overcomes inadequate donor supply
  
• Best for shaved head look
  

• Does not grow hair
• Does not turn gray
• Limited color range
  

FUT (True & Dorin Strip Procedure)

• Superficial layer of donor-bearing skin removed
  
• 1-4 hair follicular unit skin grafts microscopically prepared
  
• Receptor sites created with tiny customized micro-scalpels
  
  

• Allows for optimal amount of grafts to be done in one session
• Grafts cost less than with FUE
  
• Uniform distribution and density
  
• Best scalp healing
  
• Good in thinning areas
  
• Partial restorations look natural
  
• Allows creative hairline design
  

• Moderate discomfort in the donor area in post-operative period 

• Sutures must be removed after 10 days

• Thin linear donor scar will show if head is shaved

FUE (True & Dorin Extraction Procedure)

• Rapid proprietary motorized system for extracting intact follicular unit grafts one by one
• 1-4 hair follicular unit skin grafts microscopically prepared
• Receptor sites created with tiny customized micro-scalpels
  

• No sutures
• Minimal discomfort
  
• Tiny non-linear pinpoint scars
  
• Uniform distribution and density
  
• Best scalp healing
  
• Good in thinning areas
  
• Partial restorations look natural
  
• Allows creative hairline design
  

• Less grafts can be done per treatment
  
• More treatments may be needed
  
• Yield may be less than with FUT
  
• More expensive
  
  

ARTAS

• Computer assisted robotic follicular extraction system

• Faster than non-motorized systems
• Replaces direct extraction by the doctor
• Highly accurate
  

• Slower than True and Dorin FUE
  
• Graft bases have denuded follicles
  
• Donor must be shaved for procedure
  
• Scalp donor only
  

NeoGraft

• Automated device that uses suction to assist in follicular extraction and placement

• Same as FUE
  
• Speeds up extraction process over non-motorized system
  

• Being used by unlicensed technicians in non-hair restoration practices
• Not effective for graft placement
• Risk of graft dehydration
  

Punch Grafts

• Transplanting non-follicular unit skin grafts containing 5 to 20 hairs

• Most specialists believe there aren't any
• A small minority believe they create the highest density of all hair transplants because bald scalp is removed

• Classic "tooth brush/plug" appearance with risk of increased scarring and cobblestoning
  
• Wastes donor follicles
  
• Difficult to do with thinning hair
  

Scalp Extension

• Two step surgical procedure using an implanted extension device

• Removal of large area in one month
• Device does not show

• Risk of infection and stretching back
• More discomfort, more expensive

Scalp Expansion

• Silicone balloon inserted under scalp and expanded with saline injections over several weeks

• Very large areas of scalp can be removed

• Risk of infection
• Deforms appearance
• More discomfort, more expensive

Scalp Lift

• Extensive surgical procedure with entire scalp moved

• Elimination of most baldness in a single procedure, but must create hairline with 2-4 transplant procedures

• General anesthesia
• Prolonged discomfort
• Permanent scalp numbness
• Risk of hair follicles dying

Transposition Flaps

• Various methods of rotating a section of scalp from the side to the top of the head

• Achieves greatest density of frontal zone
• Quicker result

• Hair facing backwards, scar on edge of hairline mist be hidden with the use of transplantation
• Risk of hair follicles dying
• Does not cover crown