Present hair treatment methods

Cosmetic Procedures for Hair Loss

The most common cause of hair loss in both men and women is genetics. In fact, heredity accounts for 95% of all the cases of alopecia (baldness) in this country. The remaining 5% of the cases can be due to a number of things, including diet, stress, illness, andmedications.

Factors that can cause hair loss include:

· Medications, vitamins, or minerals. Drugs used to treathigh blood pressure, heart problems, depression, orgout; chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancerpatients; unusually high levels of vitamin A or low levels of iron or protein; for women, birth control pills can cause hair loss.

· Illness. Thyroid disease, severe infection, or flu; fungus infections such as ringworm of the scalp.

For women, childbirth may cause temporary hair loss due to the changes that take place in the body. In some cases, adults or children may have a condition known as trichotillomania, in which there is a compulsion to pull out scalp hair, eyebrow hair, or eyelashes.

What Are the Treatment Options for Hair Loss?

Rogaine (topical minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride) are the only drugs approved by the FDA to treat pattern baldness (hair loss resulting from hereditary causes).

Rogaine is a topical solution that is applied by directly rubbing it onto the scalp where hair growth is desired. Only about 10% to 14% of the people who try this lotion experience hair growth. However, Rogaine lotion can help to slow hair loss.

Propecia is the first pill that can treat male pattern hair loss. Like all prescription products, it should be given under a doctor's care. While it is effective, if treatment is discontinued, results may not be maintained.

Permanent hair loss can also be treated by hair replacement procedures, such as hair transplantationmethods (such as micro-grafting, slit grafting, punch grafting), and by scalp reduction. The type of hair loss as well as the patient's circumstances and desires determine which hair replacement procedures are most suitable.

Who Is a Candidate for Hair Replacement?

Candidates for hair replacement procedures include:

Men with male-pattern baldness

Some women with female-pattern (genetic) hair loss

A person who has lost some hair as a result of burns or other scalp injuries

Who Is Not a Candidate for Hair Replacement?

Hair replacement is not recommended for the following people:

Women with a diffuse, or wide-spread, pattern of hair loss

Those who do not have sufficient "donor" sites (hair-bearing portions of the head from which hair-bearingskin is taken)

People who form keloid scars that can result from trauma, surgery, burns, or radiation injury

Common Hair Replacement Procedures

Hair Grafting or Hair Transplant

Hair grafting -- also called a hair transplant -- is an outpatient hair replacement procedure performed in the dermatological surgeon's office. Micro grafts contain only one to two hairs per graft, while slit grafts contain between four and ten, and punch grafts hold 10-15 hairs. Also available are mini-grafts (containing two to four hairs) and strip grafts (long thin grafts containing 30 to 40 hairs). Local anesthetic is injected into the scalp and sedation is available if needed for relaxation and comfort.

What Happens During and After Hair Grafting?

In hair grafting, the dermatological surgeon first removes a portion of the hair-bearing scalp from the back of the head. Then, the surgeon cuts the removed scalp into small segments with varying amounts of hair in each graft, which, when transplanted into the balding area, produce a very subtle thickening and "natural" look.

With each session, 50 or more hair-bearing segments are usually transplanted. "Donor" sites are closed withstitches, which usually are then concealed by the surrounding hair. After the grafting session is complete, the scalp will be cleaned then covered with gauze and, if necessary, a bandage. Stitches will come out approximately 10 days later.

How Long Does Hair Grafting Take?

Several sessions may be needed to achieve satisfactory "fullness." After each session, a healing process of two to four months is usually recommended.

Will There Be Any Discomfort or Side Effects With Hair Grafting?

Most side effects that come with hair grafting usually go away within one to three weeks. Among the most common side effects are:

Swelling

Bruising around the eyes

Crusting on the "donor" and "recipient" sites of the scalp

A lack of feeling or sensation around the "donor" and "recipient" sites of the scalp

Itching at the "donor" site