Male pattern baldness affects 60% of men by the age of 35. While
there are hundreds of treatments touted to cure hair loss and regrow
hair, most are not scientifically proven. Currently there are three
treatments approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat male
pattern baldness, more appropriately named androgenic alopecia. The
three treatments are finasteride, minoxidil, and low level laser light
devices. There are advantages and disadvantages to each treatment but
none will regrow hair once it is completely lost. Treatments should be
evaluated as successful if they are successful at slowing or stopping
the progression of hair loss.
Once loss has become permanent, the only options to fill hair are hair replacement systems, often referred to as wigs, or hair transplant surgery. Hair transplant surgery produces natural results but is dependent on the skill of the surgeon performing the transplant.
The first step in determining what treatment option may be best is to determine the cause of your hair loss. Consulting with your primary care physician, dermatologist, or hair transplant specialist is the first step to treatment. In some cases, an underlying medical condition may be causing the hair loss which when treated will result in the hair regrowing. If medical treatment is warranted, it can take 6 months or longer to see return of the hair that had been lost. A note about minoxidil, finasteride, and low level laser light devices though. If treatment is successful, it must be continued indefinitely. If treatment is stopped, hair loss will progress and within about a year will be the same as if treatment was never undertaken. Even in patients who undergo hair transplant, other medical treatments will need to be undertaken to ensure that the native hair is not further lost over time.
Unfortunately there is no way to tell how much hair loss will progress over time. Some patients may experience rapid loss while others may experience loss over a lifetime. Once hair has been lost, it may or may not regrow and the longer that hair is lost before treatment is undertaken, the less likely there will be regrowth. If a hair restoration procedure is undertaken, the hair will grow as natural hair does but will not fall out because of male pattern baldness. If the hair loss is due to another cause such as thyroid dysfunction, even the transplanted hair can fall out. This is why it is important to visit with a physician before a treatment is undertaken.
Once loss has become permanent, the only options to fill hair are hair replacement systems, often referred to as wigs, or hair transplant surgery. Hair transplant surgery produces natural results but is dependent on the skill of the surgeon performing the transplant.
The first step in determining what treatment option may be best is to determine the cause of your hair loss. Consulting with your primary care physician, dermatologist, or hair transplant specialist is the first step to treatment. In some cases, an underlying medical condition may be causing the hair loss which when treated will result in the hair regrowing. If medical treatment is warranted, it can take 6 months or longer to see return of the hair that had been lost. A note about minoxidil, finasteride, and low level laser light devices though. If treatment is successful, it must be continued indefinitely. If treatment is stopped, hair loss will progress and within about a year will be the same as if treatment was never undertaken. Even in patients who undergo hair transplant, other medical treatments will need to be undertaken to ensure that the native hair is not further lost over time.
Unfortunately there is no way to tell how much hair loss will progress over time. Some patients may experience rapid loss while others may experience loss over a lifetime. Once hair has been lost, it may or may not regrow and the longer that hair is lost before treatment is undertaken, the less likely there will be regrowth. If a hair restoration procedure is undertaken, the hair will grow as natural hair does but will not fall out because of male pattern baldness. If the hair loss is due to another cause such as thyroid dysfunction, even the transplanted hair can fall out. This is why it is important to visit with a physician before a treatment is undertaken.
Dr. Verret is a double board certified facial plastic surgeon
in the North Dallas suburb of Plano, Texas. His practice includes
surgical and non-surgical techniques including Botox, Juvederm, facial
fillers, acne scar revision, rhinoplasty (nasal reshaping),
blepharoplasty, facelift, eyelift, brow lift, and hair transplant Dallas. For more information be sure to visit him on the web or call for an appointment at 972.608.0100.
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