Female pattern baldness entails hair thinning over the whole head. Male pattern baldness, also known as classic pattern baldness, entails hair loss, thinning and balding in a distinct pattern. It usually starts above both temples, followed by a receding hairline and crown loss. Both types of pattern baldness are linked to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Pattern baldness makes recipients more sensitive to DHT, which miniaturizes follicles. Women and men with genetically weak androgen receptors thus suffer hair loss.

HAIR RESTORATION OPTIONS

Topical solutions, oral medications and surgical hair restoration vary immensely with regard to results and the patients. This includes efficacy with hair restoration, aesthetic results, invasiveness based on method or procedure used and price. While hair cloning and gene therapy research continues in the medical field, both are still in the research and development phase. Surgical hair transplantation, however, is a long-term, more effective solution over topical solutions, oral medications and other surgeries.

Medication:

Hair restoration options for medication include one topical solution and one oral tablet. Rogaine (Minoxidil) is a topical treatment that is FDA approved for both men and women. It’s used on the scalp twice a day and available over-the-counter.

Propecia (Finasteride) is an oral table available only by prescription. However, Propecia is not FDA approved for use in women due to potential birth-related side effects and lack of effectiveness. Rogaine and Propecia may be effective on those with mild to moderate hair loss but each also has its drawbacks for efficacy. They also are short-term treatments since continuous treatment is necessary to avoid hair loss.

Surgery:

Hair restoration surgery is the most effective, long-term option for hair loss treatment. Types of surgery are:

• Temporoparieto-occipital flaps (TPO Flaps)
• Scalp reduction
• Hair transplant

TPO Flaps and Scalp Reduction

Both flap-based and scalp reduction hair restoration surgery options are only used in very rare cases, such as those with severe burns or who were in accidents. They resulted in subpar appearance, excessive complications and scarring. With TPO flaps, sections are taken from hair-bearing areas, rotated and then placed on bald areas. For scalp reduction surgery, the scalp is cut and stretched where there is baldness. The excised area is replaced with hair-bearing skin. Both techniques are more invasive than hair transplants.

Hair Transplants

Surgery hair transplant entails excising individual hair follicles from a donor area (traditionally on the scalp) and transplants them to hair loss area. Punch grafts, micro-grafting and follicular unit transplantation (FUT) are all methods. However, punch grafts and micro-grafting no longer used due to scarring and unattractive results.

HAIR RESTORATION OPTIONS WITH FUE

FUT entails grafting follicular units to replace in areas of hair loss. Two methods of FUT are currently used: follicular unit strip surgery (FUSS), also known as strip surgery, and follicular unit extraction (FUE). Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is the hair transplantation technique that is latest innovation in the industry, in addition to body to hair transplantation (BHT). FUE provides more advantages and less disadvantages than past techniques. This includes a more natural appearance, reduction of visible scars, a less invasive surgery and faster healing time period.