Hair Restoration

Male Pattern Baldness, also called androgenic alopecia, is the most common type of hair loss for men. It is a genetic condition that affects the superior portion of the scalp and results from sensitivity to androgens (the male hormone). More than 50% of all men over the age of 50 will be affected by Male Pattern Baldness to some extent.

Each hair on our head has a growth cycle. With male pattern baldness, this growth cycle begins to weaken, and the hair follicle shrinks, producing shorter and finer strands of hair. Eventually, the growth cycle for each hair ends, and no new hair grows in its place.

Research has found that genetics play a major role, and it is associated with male sex hormones called androgens. Androgens have many functions, which include regulating hair growth. Male Pattern Baldness can begin in your teenage years, but it mainly occurs in adult men, with the likelihood increasing with age. Men who have close relatives with male pattern baldness are at a higher risk, particularly when these relatives are on the maternal side of the family.

Sometimes, Male Pattern Baldness is the result of more serious causes, such as certain cancers, thyroid conditions, medications, or anabolic steroids. It is important to see a doctor if hair loss occurs after taking new medications or when other health complaints accompany it.

The scale under the Norwood Male Pattern Baldness classification is as follows:

• Type I – Minimal or no recession of the hairline.
• Type II – Definite recessions at each side of the temples are usually symmetrical.
• Type III – Classified as “baldness” with deep recessions at temples.
• Type III Vertex – Includes recession at the temples and the start of a bald spot at the top (vertex) of the head.
• Type IV – Includes significant hair loss at the crown, more severe recession at the temples, a bald spot at the vertex, and a band of thicker hair across the top of the head.
• Type V – Recession in the front of the hair with less division between the temples and a narrower band of hair from the front and temples.
• Type VI – No strip of hair across the crown with front temporal and vertex regions joined together since the amount of hair loss is greater.
• Type VII – Consists of a narrow band of hair on the sides and back of the scalp that is not dense, with sparser hair in a semi-circle over the ears.

Doctors use the pattern of hair loss to diagnose baldness and provide male baldness cure. They may perform a medical history and exam to rule out certain health conditions as the cause, such as fungal conditions of the scalp or nutritional disorders.

Hair loss affects about 20 million women annually, but before a plan can be created for you, Dr. Giordano will examine the underlying cause. Two common reasons for hair loss as a side effect are medications and underlying health conditions, including hormonal imbalances or thyroid conditions.

This is the primary reason that extensive evaluations of a woman’s medical history, current health, medications, and even tests are imperative to attempt to ascertain the cause of hair loss. During your discussion, it is important to be open and honest with Dr. Giordano, as it will help determine if this treatment is needed or if the solution involves changing medications or dietary alterations.

While what you consume can help hurt or heal your thinning hair, the most common cause of hair loss in women is androgenic alopecia or Female Pattern Baldness. For many women, hair will start thinning out at the top of the head and the crown when this occurs, with the center part widening. This is a common first sign of Female Pattern Baldness and a signal that a hair restoration treatment may be needed.

Once a condition has been identified, it is possible to stop further loss, reverse the loss, and begin hair regrowth.

Our Huntersville and Greensboro hair restoration patients have seen the following benefits from their treatments:

• Fuller and better-looking hair
• Natural-looking results
• A permanent solution to hair loss
• Requires minimal downtime
• Versatility
• Improved confidence

Men and women who suffer from androgenetic alopecia, hair thinning, or hair loss are excellent candidates for hair restoration treatments. Some of the other characteristics that make a good candidate include the following:

• Are in good health
• Have stable hair loss
• Have adequate areas for donor hair
• Are committed to the treatment
• Maintain realistic goals and expectations

Unfortunately, you may not be a good candidate for hair restoration if you have any underlying medical conditions, have diffuse unpatterned alopecia (DUPA), or have low hair density. If you have any concerns or questions about your candidacy, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Giordano so he can make a proper assessment.

Everyone has their own unique needs when it comes to restoring their hair, so below, we have provided some information on what you can expect from each treatment. 

FUE Hair Transplant

With NeoGraft® FUE Hair Transplant, the NeoGraft device will remove several hundred hair follicles from a dense area of your hair, which are then removed from the device. This part of the procedure is repeated until Dr. Giordano has enough follicles for the transplantation. At that point, they are placed in a petri dish with a holding solution, sometimes using PRP components. Dr. Giordano is then able to place the follicles into an exact spot with a needle tip on the NeoGraft device using air pressure.

PRP Hair Restoration

PRP hair restoration usually requires three treatments spaced four to six weeks apart and a maintenance period of four to six months.

The first step involves drawing blood from the patient’s arm and inserting it into a centrifuge, a machine that spins extremely fast to separate the blood into platelets of poor plasma, platelet-rich plasma, and red blood cells. The process takes about ten minutes of distillation. Finally, a syringe is used to inject platelet-rich plasma into the affected area of the scalp.

PRP hair restoration has successfully increased the speed and strength of both the healing process and hair follicles, particularly for those in the early stages of hair loss. It is also preferred by candidates who want to avoid hair surgery or lack enough quality donors for a hair transplant. Patients who are eligible for surgery and those who have also experienced the effectiveness of the platelet-rich plasma treatment procedure.

LED Red Light Therapy for Hair Loss

This treatment uses light energy to increase blood circulation and oxygen to hair follicles. When this happens, hair follicle growth slows down or stops shedding entirely, encouraging regrowth and stimulation from dormant to growing phases. Most patients require about two to four treatments each week, each lasting about 30 minutes. The total number of treatments varies with each patient.

Prescriptions Medical for Hair Loss (including Topicals)

Physicians recommend two main therapies for treating hair loss: minoxidil and Propecia® (Finasteride). These are the two FDA-approved drugs for this purpose.

Minoxidil, more commonly known as Rogaine®, is a topical treatment placed directly on the scalp. It is a hair growth stimulator that has been proven to slow and even stop hereditary hair loss. It works best on hair loss at the crown of the head as opposed to that around the temples and hairline. Minoxidil works on both men and women.

Propecia® (finasteride) is an FDA-approved drug for treating male pattern baldness. It is an oral medication available only with a prescription. It prevents testosterone from turning into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone responsible for male pattern baldness, and allows hair follicles to regrow hair. 

Propecia® requires the user to take the medication daily for at least a year to determine its effectiveness. This oral treatment is only available to men as it can negatively affect women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It has also been shown to have no effect on hair loss and regrowth in post-menopausal women.

Recovery time for any of our hair restoration treatments is typically quick and minimally painful, but each treatment has its own recovery timeline. Here is what you can generally expect from each one. 

FUE Hair Transplant

 Patients typically rest for a day or two following the NeoGraft FUE Hair Transplant as local anesthesia is used. Additionally, they are required to avoid strenuous activities for up to two weeks. Patients may not wash their hair for at least 24 hours following the procedure but may lightly wet it using a cup of water instead of standing under a showerhead. All headdressings must be left on for at least 24 hours following the procedure.

Patients who undergo hair restoration with the ARTAS® Robotic system will require very little downtime. Most patients will experience some minor discomfort for a day or two, but side effects should subside on their own in about 48 hours, leaving you ready to resume most of your normal activities. We recommend taking ten days before you resume exercising.

PRP Hair Restoration

Recovery with PRP is easy. For the first few days, any pain is easily managed with ibuprofen or acetaminophen, with side effects resolving on their own within 48 hours. We recommend avoiding any strenuous activity for several days following the procedure, but normal activity can be resumed following the treatment. If sedatives are used during the treatment, you should allow 24 hours of rest prior to normal routines.

LED Red Light Therapy for Hair Loss

 LED therapy requires no recovery or healing time. Patients return to their normal activities immediately following their treatments. The initial results begin underneath the scalp, with noticeable results (slowing hair loss) beginning within the first to three weeks. Regrowth may begin within about six weeks.

Prescriptions Medical for Hair Loss (including Topicals)

There is no real recovery time with prescription medication. Dr. Giordano will inform you how to properly use the medication and will have you return every month or so to monitor your progress. If you have any questions or concerns about your results, please feel free to call our office at any time.