Hair Restoration

Hair restoration is a minor surgical procedure intended to address male pattern baldness. Hair transplantation moves grafts of hair from the back and sides of the head to bald areas of the front of the scalp.

This procedure actually transplants the roots of the hair. Once the grafts have established themselves in the recipient sites of the bald area, the hair follicles produce hair for as long as they would have, had they remained in their original site.

Hair Transplantation

The technique of hair transplantation is not new. It has been used successfully for fifty years, and new refinements continue to help improve results. Transplantation does not increase the number of hairs, but it does redistribute the hair over a bald or thin area.

Although the transplanted hair is never as thick as it was prior to any hair loss, with proper styling a satisfactory result may be obtained.

Tiny grafts of scalp containing 1, 2, or 3 hairs are used in our office. They are called Follicular Unit Grafts. Occasionally slightly larger grafts may be used in certain areas of the scalp.

Why Does Hair Loss Occur?

Male Pattern Baldness (Androgenetic Alopecia) is the cause of 95% of hair loss or hair thinning in males. As young men reach early adulthood they generally produce a higher level of Testosterone. Some Testosterone is naturally converted to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT can be the cause of hair loss, usually on the front and crown of the scalp.

Each male can produce differing percentages of DHT. The hair follicles of each male may also be more or less sensitive to DHT. This is why male pattern hair loss is not the same in all men. In those men with extremely high levels of DHT or in those individuals whose hair follicles are very sensitive to DHT, hair loss may appear.

Fortunately, hair on the side and back of the scalp is more resistant to DHT. These hair follicles may be transplanted to the bald or thinning areas and can grow in spite of the DHT because they are genetically programmed to be resistant.

Baldness can occur in stages and can be progressive through life. As men grow older they can experience additional hair loss as they experience the natural decline in testosterone production. This may seem contradictory, but some Testosterone is required to grow hair, and when some men lose the minimum
requirement of Testosterone, they may experience additional hair loss.

Female Hair Loss

Hair loss may occur in up to 30% of females. When it occurs in females it is usually more diffuse, rather than more localized as with male pattern baldness. When females sustain hormonal hair loss it is usually seen as a generalized thinning.

As previously stated, Testosterone is required to grow hair. This is true even in females. As females go through menopause and the female hormones decline, they also lose Testosterone. Yes, females produce Testosterone; they just don’t begin with as much as males. But, when a female no longer has the minimum requirement of Testosterone, they can lose hair.

What Can We Do About Hair Loss?

It is our opinion that a combination therapy may be best. Some of the options include:

1. Medications: Minoxidil (also known as Rogaine®) and Finasteride (also known
as Propecia®).

2. Low level laser therapy, approved by the FDA.

3. Follicular Unit Hair Transplantation

4. Hairline advancement.

Although all of the above treatments may help treat hair loss, we are not enthusiastic about all of them. Finasteride can help slow hair loss, however, there are reports of the occasional damaging impact on male sexual performance.

Therefore, at the time of this publication, we will not write prescriptions for this product. There is a long record of relative safety using Minoxidil and it seems to help in some patients. Low level laser may be of some help, but it is not a miracle cure.

Hair Transplantation is the most effective treatment we are aware of.