Things to Know About Hair Restoration in CT:
Hair restoration in CT can be accomplished two different ways: though medications or through surgical hair transplantation. Both methods are very different and produce different results, so patients looking to restore their hair restoration in Connecticut must be familiar with both.
Medications
There are two medications available for hair loss: finasteride (Propecia) and minoxidil (Rogaine). These medications are a more affordable approach for hair restoration in CT, but they typically produce less impressive results compared to hair transplant surgery. The medications are really designed to slow the progressive hair loss process. While they can be effective in this manner, they are not really design to restore or regrow hair. Because of this, many patients try medications before moving to surgical hair restoration or use medications in conjunction with hair transplant surgery – with surgery being used to actually restore lost hair in the bald and thinning regions and medications being used to help stabilize the rest of the hair that has yet to thin and shed.
Hair Transplant
Hair transplantation is a surgical procedure where strong, permanent follicles are removed from the “donor area” on the sides and back of the scalp, and re-implanted into the “recipient” area in the top and front of the scalp where the hair has thinned. These donor follicles are essentially immune to the process that causes baldness, so they will never thin in the future. Hair transplant surgery tends to be very effective. It creates dramatic transformations and most patients are very pleased with the results. It is also an easy option in the “long-term” because the transplants themselves require no maintenance – whereas medications require daily application.
Medicine vs Surgery?
There are “pros and cons” to both hair restoration via medications versus via surgery. Medications are relatively inexpensive (both are now generic) and easy to take – one pill per day for finasteride or 1-2 topical applications per day for minoxidil. They have also been tested and proven safe by the US FDA. However, the efficacy is somewhat mixed. Finasteride is really best at slowing the hair loss, but it does not “stop” it nor does it really regrow or restore hair. Minoxidil is more effective at slightly thickening up the appearance of very fine, miniaturized hair. It does not grow or restore hair either. Both medications also carry the risk for potential side effects, and these must be reviewed thoroughly by patients and discussed with the prescribing physician. Surgery is very effective. The gold standard Follicular Unit Transplant procedure boasts a 95-98% regrowth rate and hair transplantation in general enjoys a long history of success. It is also arguably the only method available for really restoring – in this case replacing – lost hair. It does not, however, treat the progressive hair loss itself. So the hair may continue to thin behind the transplants and more surgery might be desired up the road. It is also a surgical procedure so there is always some level of risk. However, it’s a very safe procedure with a long track record. Those considering hair restoration in CT should research both options and discuss with a hair restoration physician. To get started, please visit Feller & Bloxham Medical at web.
