Treatments For Hair loss – what is available and can we cure baldness yet?

TREATMENTS FOR HAIR LOSS – TRANSPLANTS AND PRP

As biological science leaps ahead treatments for hair loss are becoming more and more available. It is important to understand what is out there, what works and why. Until its gone we take our hair for granted, but look closer at a hair follicle it has a strange superpower. It dies falls out and then can regenerate. Hair lives all over the body (except lips palms and soles) everywhere else has follicles which have this mysterious little group of cells at the base called the matrix. The bulge containing follicle stem cells is a little further up. This is the controller and when chemicals signals are right it triggers growth of a whole new hair.

Hair loss is normal and happens constantly follicles go through a life cycle in an unsynchronised way and new hairs come and the old ones fall out. In some cases the number falling out is too great and those regrowing are reduced and the result is hair loss.

Testosterone

Male pattern baldness is a natural part of ageing its called androgenic alopecia. It occurs due to a by product of testosterone called DHT. In women it is less likely to be due to testosterone, but exactly the same thing happens. When we age the same three things happen.

  1. The growing phase of the hair gets shorter
  2. Hair follicles get smaller
  3. The resting stage for follicles gets longer

This effects the hairline at the front and the top of the head more as the follicles here are more sensitive to the hormone. This is the primary reason for baldness.

So we know the causes and more about them now that are the treatments for hair loss. Furthermore can  it be slowed down or stopped by these treatments?

HAIR TRANSPLANT

One way to solve the problem of hair loss is to transplant hair follicles from the sides of the head over to the area of loss. This has evolved over the years. Early transplants gave acceptable results but the hair could still look much thinner and in time looked sparse. Today newer techniques give a much more natural look. Using a follicular unit transplant (FUT) containing a group of follicles transplanted closer together.

A transplant is a lifelong investment and needs to be carefully considered, certain things need to be taken into account prior to having the treatment. The best candidate for hair restoration treatments are those that have had hair loss but it has stabilised. Our practitioners need to understand the pathway of your hair loss to ensure it will be the right treatment for you. Once we have all the information advice is given at a surgical consultation.

PLATELET RICH PLASMA

This is a restoration treatment for hair loss known as biodynamic autologous therapy to give it its full name. It is often used in conjunction with Hair Transplants . It uses blood from your own body to create a solution rich in regenerative cells known as platelet rich plasma.

Its aim is to:

  • Preserve and enhance the hair follicle viability during and after hair transplantation
  • Promote and enhance tissue repair and healing after hair transplantation.
  • Reinvigorate dormant hair follicles and stimulate new hair growth.
  • By using this treatment hair loss can be slowed down and new growth encouraged. This natural method is also used widely in surgical procedures to promote faster healing. The concentrated PRP is then injected into the scalp to directly encourage the growth of new hair.

THE FUTURE

There is as yet no cure for baldness, but by increasing the understanding of its causes it is believed there will perhaps one day be a cure. Lots of new techniques are being explored all over the world. If any of these advances become available we will share the news but as it stands we have the best treatments available to give lasting and effective results.

It is important to discuss your goals and expectations before making a decision. We want you to be fully and properly prepared. Our consultations are held at our Brighton clinic. They are totally confidential, and there is no obligation to proceed. To book a consultation, call 01273 604444, email us or fill in our contact form

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