Hair Loss Treatment

Options for Treatment for Androgenetic Alopecia

Individuals who experience Androgenetic Alopecia have several alternatives to manage this condition. Our practice uses grafts (follicular unit extraction) in combination with medical treatments. Our methods are safe, produce maximum aesthetic results and are of reasonable cost. Another option is to do nothing and accept the baldness. The major advantage to this approach is avoiding the time commitment, inconvenience, and expense of pursuing all other treatment alternatives. However, if you do not want to accept the baldness, you can choose among the following hair loss treatments:

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 artificial
Minoxidil Rogaine 2% & 5 %	Applied twice daily to scalp Slows hair loss Available in two strengths	Established safety Over the counter Lowest Cost May be combined with Propecia	Used daily and indefinitely Re-growth rare and usually vellus hair only Effective in early balding stages.
Minoxidil & Retin-A	Applied two or more times daily to scalp	Increased effectiveness not proved	Often causes red irritated scalp Much more expensive
Finasteride PROPECIA	Once daily Prescription pill Blocks Type 1 5-Alpha Reductase	No messy application The most effective in controlling further loss and in promoting re-growth Side effects uncommon and reversible	More expensive Used daily and indefinitely Potential effects on breast, genitals, pregnancy Primarily effective in early stages of balding and for the top and back of the head
Dutesteride Avodart	Once daily presription pill Blocks bothe Types 1 & 2 5-Alpha Reductase	May be more effective than Propecia	Not FDA approved for hair loss Much greater potential for side effects, some may not be reversible
Avacor, Folligurard, etc, etc	Non-pharmaceutical preparations purported to "halt, reverse, cure hair loss	Sold as natural, safe, and effective treatments	Results generally disappointing; weak scientific validation, often very little benefit related to somewhat high costs
Standard punch grafts	Transplant containing 5 to 20 hairs	Most specialists believe there aren’t any. A small minority believe they create the highest density of all transplants because bald scalp is removed	Classic “tooth brush/plug” appearance with risk of increased scarring and cobble stoning Wastes donor follicles Difficult to do in thinning hair
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
Follicular Unit Grafts	Grafts 1 to 4 hairs in tact follicular units placed into receptor sites made with very fine micro-scalpel	Uniform distribution and density Best scalp healing Good in thinning areas Partial restorations look natural. Can be creative in hairline design	None known
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)	Removing single follicular unit grafts one at a time	No sutures Wear donor hair very short Quicker healing	Fewer grafts per treatment More treatments More expensive
Scalp reduction	Several methods of surgically removing bald scalp	Decreases size of area to be transplanted Marked discomfort, safest of all procedures. Controversial as a means to achieve highest density	Stretches back 1 to 2 additional procedures Leaves scar to hide Thins donor area hair, reduces number of potential grafts
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