Over 40 million men in the U.S. deal with hair loss. At Carolina Age Management Institute, Dr. Stephen Giordano specializes in male pattern baldness treatment in men living in Charlotte and Huntersville, NC, as well as the surrounding areas, with hair restoration and hair transplantation to help stop hair loss and begin re-growing hair.
As the most common type of hair loss in men, male pattern baldness is typically a genetic condition that affects the superior portion of the scalp and comes from sensitivity to androgens (the male hormone). Male pattern baldness, also called androgenic alopecia, is the most common type of hair loss in men. More than 50 percent of all men over the age of 50 will be affected by male pattern baldness to some extent.
This can be genetics or having a family history of baldness. Research has found that this is associated with male sex hormones called androgens. The androgens have many functions, including regulating hair growth.
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.
Inheriting usually has no side effects. However, sometimes baldness has more serious causes, such as certain cancers, medications, thyroid conditions, and anabolic steroids. See a doctor if hair loss occurs after taking new medications or when it’s accompanied by other health complaints.
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.
This can begin in your teenage years, but it mostly occurs in adult men, with the likelihood increasing with age. Genetics plays a big role. Men who have close relatives with male pattern baldness are at a higher risk. This is particularly true when their relatives are on the maternal side of the family.
There are several effective male pattern baldness treatment options. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. The most frequently performed male baldness cure and treatments include hair transplantation, topicals and prescriptions.
With hair transplantation, the results are permanent, and is consider the best treatment for male pattern baldness because it offers very little risk in terms of infection from more invasive procedures and the anesthesia used in these procedures.
Topicals and prescriptions are temporary and must be used for the remainder of their lives. Minoxidil (Rogaine®) is a topical solution available over-the-counter and is effective only for certain areas of the scalp. The prescription oral medication, Propecia® (finasteride), is effective in the initial stages of hair loss and must be continued to maintain the results. It is important to note that Propecia® is only available to men as it can have negative effects on the female reproductive system.
Male Pattern Bald Treatment First Step
A hair transplant is the most invasive and expensive treatment. Hair transplants work by removing hair from areas of the scalp that have active hair growth and transplanting them to thinning or balding areas of your scalp. Multiple treatments are often necessary, and the procedure carries the risk of scarring and infection. The advantages of a hair transplant are that it looks more natural and it’s permanent.
Male pattern baldness is classified under the Norwood Male Pattern Baldness Classification System. This system is used during the diagnosis and recognizes seven categories along with subcategories. Physicians use this primarily during the diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia.
The scale under 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 which are usually symmetrical.
Type III – Classified as “baldness” with deep recessions at temples.
Type III Vertex – Includes recession at the temples and 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 temples, the 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.
Fair & Transparent Pricing
The cost of the best treatment for male pattern baldness varies depending on the treatment chosen, the extent of the hair loss and the number of treatments needed. During a consultation with Dr. Giordano, he discusses the cost as well as payment options including financing through CareCredit®.
Prior to receiving male pattern baldness treatment, Dr. Stephen Giordano meets with each patient to talk about hair loss. This appointment involves reviewing your medical history as well as other family members with hair loss issues, your overall medical health, and the best treatment male pattern baldness options.
If you live in Charlotte and Huntersville, NC, and the surrounding communities, and want to know more about male pattern baldness and how to treat it, Dr. Stephen Giordano offers hair restoration at Carolina Age Management Institute. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.