Dr. Mark DiStefano has been elected to the Board of Directors for the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery & International Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS/IBHRS).

Hair Loss Remedy

Hair loss is emotionally trying for many people. It can affect them not only in social situations, but also in the business environment. For example, baldness, which is equated with aging, can make getting a job more difficult.

Because hair loss can have a dramatic effect on a person's self-esteem, it makes people especially vulnerable to false claims. Anyone seeking a hair loss remedy should thoroughly research and understand the options available to them. There are a few types of methods to address hair loss problems:

  • Medical approach, using drugs or topical lotions
  • Surgical approach, using hair transplantation
  • Hair replacement approach, using hairpieces

Each hair loss remedy has benefits and drawbacks.

Medical Approach

The medical approach involves either taking medication orally, thus affecting hair loss and growth systemically or applying a topical remedy to the area of hair loss. The medical approach is especially subject to charlatans. Snake oil salesmen have been selling their wares for centuries. If you are going to take the medical approach to hair loss, it is important to use drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

To date, two drugs have been approved to treat hair loss medically.

  • Finasteride is sold as Propecia and Proscar — This is an oral preparation. It works by inhibiting the production of an enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT inhibition stops the progression of hair loss.
  • Minoxidil is sold as Rogaine, Avacor, Minitop — This is a topical application. It has been clinically proven to reduce hair loss and it does not affect the male hormones. Users need to continue applying Minoxidil to have the continued effect.

Surgical Approach

Although this is the most expensive method for treating hair loss, it can produce the most satisfactory results. A number of surgical techniques are used to treat hair loss.

  • IGT is the Individual Graft Technique. It is barely invasive and involves moving one individual hair graft at a time. Dr. Mark Stefano has developed special mini-instruments to accomplish the delicate procedure.
  • FUT is Follicular Unit Transplantation. It involves transplanting hairs in their individual follicular units. These consist of one, two, three, or four hairs in a follicle.
  • FUE is Follicular Unit Extraction, an updated approach compared to FUT. Using this technique, the surgeon cuts a strip of follicular units from a donor area on the head, then divides them into individual groups of hairs.
  • Total crown renewal or the Frechet triple flap approach. Dr. Stefano is the only hair transplant surgeon in the United States using this procedure, which he learned from Dr. Frechet in France. While this method is more complicated than follicular unit grafting, the results on the crown of the head are much better, leading to hair as thick as on the sides.

Hairpiece Approach

Even though the finished look of this approach can be very natural and is less expensive than surgical procedures, this method has its drawbacks. The base for the hair replacement product can be less durable, hot and uncomfortable to wear and may look artificial. Those that are semi-permanently attached must be removed and replaced about once every month and a half by a technician or stylist.

To learn about your options, please contact DiStefano Hair Restoration Center for a consultation today.