Hair loss is not a condition that’s gender specific. It has the ability to affect both men and women. In fact, a quarter of the women population in the United States is suffering from hair loss. While balding and hair loss may seem acceptable with men, for women the case is totally opposite. Hair loss and balding in women can affect a person’s entire life in a negative manner. It can lead to reduced self-esteem and confidence, interfering with work and social life.
To alleviate this condition, the sole permanent solution is hair transplantation and it can be performed on women too. Hair transplantation surgery is now used not only to plant hairs on the head but also in areas like the eyebrows and sideburns.
Once you visit a hair care specialist, he or she will first perform an examination on you to determine whether you suffer from any reversible medical conditions which cause hair loss. If found such conditions will be treated and the hair loss problem will be eliminated. However, if the surgeon finds out that your condition is non-reversible, then he or she will direct you to consider other medical options like hair transplantation, finasteride, minoxidil, and low level light therapy.
In the initial stages of the treatment, surgeons normally try out conservative treatments which use oral, topical and light therapy. If a change is not seen, hair transplantation surgery is recommended.
Similar to men, women are also ideal candidates for hair transplantation surgery. This sole permanent solution for hair loss involves a procedure which starts with the extraction of hair from the back of the head of the patient. Individual hair grafts from this extraction are then transplanted into the areas where hair is missing. In contrast to men, women who undergo this procedure need fewer amounts of grafts for successful results. Attractions of hair transplantation comes from the fact that it is an in-office procedure spanning a few hours, causing very little pain and discomfort.
Minoxidil is another hair loss medication used by surgeons today. This is an FDA-approved topical hair loss medication which can stimulate and make hair grow. Although results start to appear after a few months, it has been found out by researches that twice daily intake of this medication for around four months has resulted in 62% decrease in hair loss. Hence, if the patient is compliant enough and motivated, the results from minoxidil are highly possible.
Finasteride is an FDA-approved orally taken pill. This medication is given to act on the chemical (dihydrotestosterone) which is responsible for causing hair loss. Similar to minoxidil, the results from this medication are seen after about six months. One of the major drawbacks of this pill is that it can cause various sexual side effects.
Lastly, low light therapy can be used to treat baldness as well. Similar to finasteride and minoxidil, this treatment option takes around six months to provide tangible and visible results.
