According to recent estimates, nearly two-thirds of men will experience some degree of hair loss by age 35. By age 50, that number jumps to 85 percent. It’s no wonder so many seek treatment options that provide real, long-lasting results.

And yet with recent advancements in hair restoration, today’s forward looking male has a greater variety of hair restoration options available to him. The trick is, how do you separate the truly effective options from those that do nothing more than empty your wallet.

Today, we break down available options and the pros and cons of each one.

Non-Surgical Treatments

If your hair loss is substantial, topical solutions and supplements will do little to deliver dramatic results. That’s because hair follicles in those areas have become dormant and are no longer producing hair. However, in mild cases – especially those caught in the early stages – some products and medications can slow or reverse the trend.

Medications – Currently, there are two main types of FDA-approved medications to treat male pattern baldness.

• Androgen dependent medications work by blocking the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, which is believed to contribute to pattern baldness in men. Individuals can expect to see increased hair growth after about three months of consistent use.
• Androgen independent medications dilate small blood vessels, a process that has been shown to regrow hair in approximately 40 percent of men after three months of consistent use. Continued use is required for lasting results. Androgen independent medications can also be taken by women, unlike androgen dependent.

Supplements – Many claim that certain hair loss supplements, vitamins, and shampoos can slow the process and even restore lost hair. The truth is, there are no clinical studies proving that such products are guaranteed to work. Individuals genetically pre-disposed to balding, but have yet to see signs of hair loss, may benefit from products formulated to support hair strength and scalp health. However, results can vary greatly and depend on the type of hair loss one suffers from.

Surgical Hair Restoration Options

For those suffering from significant hair loss, surgical hair restoration provides a proven, permanent solution to restore hair while reducing pain, discomfort, and downtime.

• Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) involves removing a strip of skin with hair follicles from a donor site, like the back of the head. Groups of tissue containing hair follicles (or grafts) are then transplanted into individual holes in the recipient site where thinning or balding has occurred.
• Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) involves harvesting hair follicles from a donor site by collecting individual follicles directly from the scalp and inserting them into tiny incisions in the recipient site. While the FUE method does require more surgery time than FUT, it lessens downtime, lowers post-surgical discomfort, and eliminates the linear scar at the donor site that is common with FUT.

That’s a lot to take in, don’t you think? Well, don’t let available treatments and their relative degrees of success inhibit your decision to move forward – not when DiStefano Hair Restoration is on hand to guide you through the process. Contact us today for a free consultation where you’ll get answers to all your questions along with expert medical advice you can depend on.