Hair Loss and Hair Restoration Options Overview

Hair loss affects both men and women every day. Some form of androgenic alopecia (commonly known as male pattern baldness) affects 2 out of every 3 men, while other conditions, often caused by genetic factors, can affect up to 50% of all women. Overall, studies indicate that by age 50, more than one half of all people will experience some degree of hair loss.

There are, however, multiple methods of hair replacement available both surgical and non-surgical options. In short, now more than ever, hair loss can be controlled.

Surgical hair replacement or medical hair restoration procedures for both men and women are considered elective procedures, and are not generally covered by medical insurance. Because of advances in treatment in recent years however, more hair restoration procedures are available than ever before.

Surgical Hair Restoration History

For a large majority of males, hair transplant surgery has become the top medical hair restoration solution, and an increasing number of women are also turning to hair transplantation to combat thinning hair. The procedure has existed in some form since the 1970s, and technological advances continue to be made today.

Over the last thirty years, doctors have continued to refine and improve surgical hair restoration, but the basic principles of surgical hair replacement still apply:

• The fastest and most effective method of hair replacement is surgical hair restoration.
• It has been proven that hair lost from the top and front of the head can be replaced by hairs taken from the back of the head.
• The best way to control hair loss through hair transplant surgery is to make gradual changes. Most hair transplant recipients will have more than one surgical visit, depending on the amount of hair replacement desired.
• Healthy hairs transplanted from the back of the head to balding areas can conceivably take root and grow for a persons entire life.

Hair Transplant Surgery Is Not Just for Men

Although hair transplant surgery is most prevalent among men, surgical transplants have been available for women since the early 1990s. The procedure used for women is the same as that used on men. Because women tend to have more varied hairstyles than men, it is important for all the potential donor areas to be used when crafting a new look selecting from as many different donor areas as possible, based on how the woman plans to style her hair after surgery.

Non-Surgical Hair Restoration Laser Hair Restoration or Hair Loss Laser Treatment

For those people interested in exploring non-surgical hair replacement options, laser hair restoration is also among the leading methods of hair loss treatment. This type of hair restoration increases cell metabolism and allows hair follicles to regenerate meaning the laser hair loss treatments repair damaged hair cells through laser light therapy and stimulate hair growth.

Laser hair loss treatment, like hair transplants, has proven to be a safe and effective way to re-grow hair in balding areas of the scalp. This non-surgical hair growth treatment uses both soft and low light level lasers on several hundred different places on the scalp.

Laser hair restoration normally includes a few simple steps:

• Consultation and analysis The subjects hair loss history, specific hair restoration goals and other hair growth treatment options are evaluated.
• Finding the right combination of treatments The key to successful laser hair replacement is finding other hair restoration methods to complement it. Doctors experiment with a combination of hair transplants, laser hair treatments and hair growth drugs, depending on each persons needs.
• Actual laser hair treatment Using lasers, doctors have determined that light therapy not only minimizes hair loss, it also stimulates re-growth all without surgery.

Other Hair Restoration Options

In addition to hair transplants and laser hair growth treatments, additional hair restoration resources are available. Prescription medications and scalp injections have been found to generate small percentages of hair growth. However, to reiterate, the method of hair replacement that experts say produces the most noticeable and longest-lasting results is some form of hair transplant surgery.