 When guys start to lose their hair they tend to gravitate in two completely opposite directions. There will be some that will simply decide to shave their head and embrace baldness as the new normal.
There are others that want to retain the hair they have and even reverse the trend if possible.
Lots of websites will claim a high success rate in helping men regrow their hair. They will supply testimonials and show before and after photos. I could find a few of those products to share with you, but instead I’ve chosen to visit The American Hair Loss Association (AHLA). This organization indicates, “By the age of thirty-five two-thirds of American men will experience some degree of appreciable hair loss and by the age of 50 approximately 85% of men have significantly thinning hair.”
There are three primary methods of managing the care of male pattern baldness. AHLA suggests…
Chemical Treatment
While there may be natural remedies there are only two FDA approved treatments to help men stop hair loss and then regrow hair in many instances.
Propecia. Approved in 1997 this drug was originally developed as a means of helping men with enlarged prostate glands. A ‘side effect’ of the drug came in the form of hair growth. It is now used for both purposes, but in different doses.
This drug apparently works because it lowers the body’s amount of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This seems to be the best means currently available to treat hair loss through the use of pharmaceuticals.
Minoxidil. This is a topical product that provides temporary improvement for baldness. Once taken as a drug for hypertension this drug was found to grow hair in very odd places (such as the forehead or back of hands). One applied topically, however, patients were able to see some success in hair regrowth.
Non-Surgical Hair Replacement
This is the term used for what may be more commonly referred to as a hairpiece or toupee. There are varying prices and product types associated with a hairpiece. Maintenance fees alone can range from $80-$300 per month. You will likely need two hairpieces to allow maintenance on one while wearing the other. The most natural systems will be made from real hair that is color matched to your own. There are other synthetic products, but are not generally considered quality.
Surgical Hair Replacement
The good news is many men have found positive results with this procedure. The bad news is not everyone who says they are qualified to do this procedure actually is.
The AHAL suggests…
- The art of hair transplantation is as important as the mechanics of this medical technique.
- It is important to remember that no two heads are alike, and each procedure should be looked at on an individual basis.
- Hair density is the number of hair follicles per squared centimeter of scalp.
- Scalp laxity constitutes the flexibility or looseness of the scalp, the more flexible your scalp, the easier it is to harvest donor follicles.
- Hair grows in several different directions from the scalp.
- Coarse Hair has naturally greater bulk, therefore covering more surface area and can be transplanted using fewer grafts.
- Fine hair obviously has less bulk, consequently providing less coverage on the scalp than coarser hair.
- Curly and wavy hair usually gives superior results more easily.
- Straight hair tends to lie against the scalp, thus providing a less dense appearance than curly or wavy hair.
- The closer the hair color is to the skin color, the better the appearance of coverage.
- It is imperative that the doctor considers the patient's future hair loss pattern and rate of change while designing the hair transplant procedure.
- It is important to remember that a natural hairline will vary from person to person.
- The crown of the head should never be transplanted unless the patient is older with stabilized hair loss.
The following are associations the AHLA view as reputable. This may prove helpful when speaking with a surgeon about surgical hair transplants. You need to know if the surgeon is a part of any of these organizations.
- International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery
- American Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons
- World Hair Society
- The American Hair Loss Council
- The International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons (IAHRS)
There are multiple reasons why men would want to have a full head of hair even when nature isn’t cooperating. Information is important in the pursuit of a positive next step. Always ask lots of questions and consider every claim carefully. Getting a second opinion may be helpful.
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