Hereditary hair loss is also known as androgenic alopecia. From one or both of your parents. Or their siblings. Generally, any family members who have experienced hair loss. The male pattern baldness (MPB) gene is genetic. As a result, MPB is progressive. There are many ways to treat this hair loss condition. Depending on the pattern or stage. Multiple-therapy to treat Male Pattern Baldness is often best. This article explores multiple-therapy to treat male pattern baldness.
Male Pattern Baldness
Male pattern hair baldness is due to the effects of dihydrotestosterone – DHT. (DHT) effects the hair follicles. DHT causes increased hair shedding. Gradual miniaturisation. The thinning of the hair shaft. As a result, eventual hair loss. During your assessment this needs to be addressed. The hair loss stage. According to the Norwood scale. Male pattern baldness is categorised in stages. From mild hairline or crown thinning. To advanced hair loss patterns. Across the top of the scalp. Ultimately leaving only a band of hair. Around the back and sides of the head.
The pattern can be slow and unpredictable. Starting in the early twenties for some men. Often continuing for 30 to forty years. As a result, a consultation must agree on expectations. What are the objectives? In terms of maintaining hair growth. Reducing hair shedding and or increasing hair coverage. As well as hair density.
Multiple-Therapy Approach
Often the best option to consider is a multiple-therapy approach. To treat male pattern baldness or many hair loss conditions. This may consist of surgical hair restoration and medication or therapy. Possibly an aesthetic option such as Scalp Micro Pigmentation.
It´s essential to understand all options. For instance, surgical hair replacement without adjunctive medical therapy. May not be adequate to achieve the best result. For example, hair loss is often not stable until a later age. The final hair growth pattern can be hard to predict. Especially at a younger age. Adopting a multi-therapy approach has many benefits. For instance, tackling on-going hair loss. At the same time, restoring areas of hair loss. A fuller, stronger and potentially stable head of hair growth is achieved.
Chasing hair loss
Another advantage of a multiple-therapy to treat male pattern baldness. When treating male pattern baldness and hair restoration is planning. Is the long-term approach to hair restoration. For example, surgically treating minor hair loss. Such a hairline and temple recession. Without using a treatment has risks attached. A hair transplant takes at least one year to mature. Within this time hair loss can progress further. As a result, gaps may appear. Or areas of low hair density. If hair loss continues. Without the use of a treatment. More patches will appear. As a result, the area of hair loss increase. These small patches will continue to grow. Overall resulting in many more hairs required in a small area. Chasing hair loss is counterproductive. As well as time-consuming and unnecessary. That is if a multi-therapy approach is adopted in the first place.
How can you stop hair loss?
There are only three FDA approved therapies for the treatment of hair loss. A surgical hair transplant will not stop hair loss. As a result, if hair loss is active it would make sense to make this the priority. A good start is to find a hair loss specialist you trust. Have a hair check. This can diagnose your hair loss cause and present hair loss pattern. Help with advice on future hair loss, and the current hair loss treatments. As well as start to build a plan for your hair restoration.
The results from any hair loss treatment are only as permanent for as long as the hair loss treatment is used. With the developments in treatment available today there is still no cure. Although hair loss therapies such as Minoxidil, Finasteride and Laser Therapy can help to stabilise hair loss. In some cases thicken and strengthen the existing hair. They only manage to sustain improved hair growth by constant use. With any treatment, it can take a month or longer to show signs of improvement. In some instances, this is preceded by an increase in hair shedding. This is temporary and quite common. Over time the treatment can be reduced in dosage. Many find they can manage the benefits while reducing the usage if done slowly.
Surgical hair restoration
For the right candidate, surgical hair restoration or a hair transplant procedure can be a good option. If the plan is to restore areas of hair loss caused by male pattern baldness. The advantage to a hair transplant is it’s permanent. As your native hair is used from around the sides and back of the head, this hair retains its original genetic properties and does not suffer from the male pattern baldness gene. So even when moved the hair will continue to grow quite naturally.
A hair transplant is a minor surgical procedure. Regardless which technique is used the quality and healing around the donor area will rely on two factors – the quality and skill of the Doctor and the natural skin healing properties. There are two recognised techniques today, that only fundamentally differ in the method the hair is extracted.
The FUT technique has been the longer established method of removing the grafts in one strip. The FUE technique is newer with each follicular unit removed one by one. Body Hair has become a credible technique in recent years. Using the FUE technique to first extract the hair. Either technique requires planning. Taking into consideration medical and aesthetic factors. For example, age and hairline placement. Potential for future hair loss and the individual´s natural hair characteristics.
A newer non-surgical option
With hair characteristics being important to a hair transplant. Not everyone is a good surgical hair restoration candidate. A credible solution to this problem can be the SMP non-surgical technique. Scalp micro pigmentation places pinpoint medical grade pigments into the skin. This is to mimic the look of shaved or hair stubble. The pigment is built up over a number of sessions to blend with the surrounding native hair. SMP is not permanent and the inks will fade over time. With some techniques the ink can fade close to a year after. With others, the ink can be sustained for 2-3 years before needing more sessions.
The first step to your hair restoration
Combining medical therapies or treatments with surgery can enhance the quality of your hair restoration result. To stop the progression of future hair loss and to enhance the quality of the remaining hair. Then repair areas of lost hair. Rebuild thinning or lost hairlines. Improved hair coverage and hair density.
After medical evaluation and consultation with a new patient, a qualified hair restoration surgeon will determine the treatment plan most suitable for you. It must be safe, realistic and accomplish appropriate hair restoration objectives. This is why Hair Restoration Europe stress the Multi-Therapy Approach: surgical procedures and adjunctive medical therapy and/or technology. Hair restoration surgeons who are in the forefront of their profession can maximise results, patient care and comfort.
