Hair replacement treatments have been around for decades. However, the results weren’t always that great in the past. Men struggling with thinning hair or baldness felt self-conscious and frustrated with limited options. However, as medicine and technology have advanced, hair replacement treatments for men have improved dramatically. Patients now get better, more natural-looking results. Here’s more about the evolution of this popular aesthetic service.
Early Attempts at Hair Replacement for Men
Toupees and full wigs were some of the earliest kinds of hair replacement for men. While these hair pieces may have bald and thinning areas, they often looked very unnatural. Plus, they needed frequent professional maintenance and day-to-day care.
As medical research progressed, surgical procedures such as hair transplantation, became popular. During the 1950s, these techniques involved removing sections of hairless scalp and replacing them with healthy hair follicles harvested from other areas of the head.
The Discovery of Donor Dominance for Successful Hair Restoration
Also during the 1950s, researchers discovered something called donor dominance. This medical term means that hair loss doctors could select areas of the scalp where hair grew thickest and healthiest. When removed and transplanted to thinning or balding areas, the donor tissue continued to grow as well as it always had.
Discovery of donor dominance, along with the realization that male pattern baldness was, in part, inherited, changed hair restoration surgeries going forward. No longer did people believe that baldness came from simple movement of skin and muscles across the scalp.
That said, early surgical methods of hair restoration for men had very real drawbacks. The surgeries were uncomfortable and could leave some obvious scars. Plus, men needed multiple procedures to get close to the cosmetic results they wanted.
New and Improved Hair Replacement Surgeries
Decades later, a revolutionary technique called Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) was developed. With FUE, hair replacement treatments for men (and women, too) really moved forward.
FUE involves removing individual hair follicles from areas of the scalp with thick hair growth. The hair loss doctor then transplants them into bald or thinning areas.
This surgical technique is very precise and creates more natural-looking hair regrowth patterns. This approach also is less invasive compared to the older hair restoration methods. Patients enjoy reduced–and less noticeable–scarring as well as faster recovery.
Non-surgical Solutions for Hair Restoration in Men
In addition to surgical options, there are now non-surgical hair restoration solutions. These include topical treatments, such as minoxidil (Rogaine), which stimulates regrowth in thinning areas. Oral medications, such as finasteride (Propecia), slow down or even stop hair loss in some patients.
Also, regenerative medicine treatments, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, help many men suffering with hair thinning and hair loss. With PRP therapy, the hair restoration physician draws a sample of the patient’s blood. He uses a centrifuge to separate and concentrate the platelets. This concentrated sample is injected into the scalp in targeted areas. Concentrated blood platelets contain growth factors which stimulate hair follicles to grow healthy hair.
Another non-surgical option is low level laser therapy (LLLT). Performed in the hair restoration office or in the home, red light therapy promotes regrowth in thinning areas. Treated hair grows in thicker. It also stays in the scalp longer.
While non-surgical results may not be as dramatic as those from surgery, they still can help men who are in earlier stages of hair loss. These treatments can be used to boost surgical results as part of ongoing hair restoration maintenance.
Remember, not all hair loss is the same. Your needs and goals may be very different from that of another man. So, consult with an experienced hair loss physician before deciding on any type of hair replacement treatment.
Hair replacement has evolved greatly in recent years thanks to innovations in medical research and professional practice. In fact, hair replacement really has become true hair restoration.
Hair Replacement Treatment for Men in Spokane, WA
Whether you choose surgical or non-surgical options, your hair loss doctor in Spokane, Dr. Robert Niedbalski, will work hard to deliver natural-looking and sustainable results. We have a proven track record of satisfied patients–men and women alike. You could be our next one!
Please contact Northwest Hair Restoration today for a consultation about hair replacement treatments for men. Call (253) 572-2949 or request your visit here. We look forward to meeting with you to discuss your options for a renewed head of healthy hair.
