Hair Restoration

We clean it, nourish it and style it -- and we definitely mourn its loss!

There are many different reasons for hair loss and despite common misconception; it’s not just men who suffer– many women experience thinning hair at some stage in their lives.

What are the main causes?

Hair, like our bodies, changes with age and two of the most prominent changes that occur to hair as we age are:

• Hair colour
• Hair loss

However, the aging process is not usually the sole explanation for thinning hair; it can result from all sorts of conditions ranging from stress to chemotherapy. Nevertheless, it has to be said that genetics can, in many cases, be held accountable for hair shedding.

Hair properties are based on our genetics; everybody’s hair grows at different rates and we all have different hair types and thicknesses. This means that, although the average age for men to notice thinning is around 30, depending on an individual's heredity, hair loss can occur at any age.

The hair system is known the pilosebaceous system which consists of four main parts:

1. Follicle - the unit that produces the hair fiber
2. Papilla - the organ that feeds hair growth
3. Sebaceous Gland - the associated oil gland
4. Hair fiber - shaft or structure which is hardened (keratinized)

Collectively, all the four structures have an important role to play in the hair growth and hair loss. Hair is made up of a protein called keratin which is produced in hair follicles and grows at a rate of around 6 inches a year. The average adult head has about 100,000 to 150,000 hairs and loses up to 100 of them a day; so if you find a few stray hairs on your hairbrush, don't be alarmed.

To further explain hair loss, an understanding of the hair growth cycle is usually quite helpful. Human hair grows in a continuous cyclic pattern of growth - this cycle is made up of three stages:

• Anagen -- active hair growth. Lasts between two to six years.
• Catagen -- transitional. Lasts two to three weeks.
• Telogen -- resting phase. At the end of the resting phase (two to three months) the hair is shed and a new hair replaces it and the growing cycle starts again.

A variety of factors can cause temporary or permanent hair loss (alopecia) due to the affect they have on the hair growth cycle. These factors may include:

• Stress: hair loss or thinning can occur due to major life stress or significant illness. It can cause handfuls of hair to fall out when combing or washing, it usually causes overall thinning rather than bald patches. This is known as Telogen effluvium.
• Hormonal imbalances: these can cause women’s hair to thin and is largely a result of child birth or the contraceptive pill. In most cases these imbalances can be fixed by changing medication and hair should, given time, return to normal after child birth.
• Medication: chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss but in most cases, this is temporary and hair should return to normal over time. Other medications which can cause hair loss are blood thinners, acne treatments, blood pressure tablets and birth control pills.
• Trichotillomania: can also cause hair thinning or loss, this is a psychological disorder where people, usually children, pull their own hair out. It usually passes with age.
• Alopecia areata: this type of hair loss can affect the whole body
  • If all hair is lost on the head, it is usually untreatable.
  • If it is small patches or has started with a receding hairline in men (male pattern baldness), it can be treated with medication or hair transplant surgery.
  • Traction alopecia. Hair loss typically occurs when hair is pulled tightly. Certain hairstyles which pull on the hair and are worn regularly can result in this kind of hair loss, for example, braids or cornrows, or the use of tight rollers.
  • Age/ Involutional Alopecia: hair growth slows down with age and can stop completely. Involutional Alopecia is the natural condition of gradual thinning of hair due to age. It is caused when an increased number of hairs go in to the Telogen (resting) phase, while the remaining hairs become shorter and fewer. This, of course, varies from person to person.

  Hair restoration treatments available:

  Hair transplants

  This is a safe, minor surgical procedure that involves removing donor hair from the back or sides of the scalp (donor area) and placing them into the bald or thinning areas of the scalp (recipient area).

  A hair transplant uses your own growing hair for natural looking results that will last. Once placed, it requires only normal washing, grooming, cutting etc. No special maintenance is needed, as it's your own natural hair.

  The transplant procedure is a minor day case surgical procedure. The process only treats the surface layers of the skin: the epidermis and dermis and is carried out under a local anaesthetic.

  Hair Drug Therapy

  Propecia

  How does it work?

  Propecia is for use by men only and should not be used by women or children. This medication prevents the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body.

  Propecia is used for the treatment of male pattern hair loss on the vertex (top of the head) and the anterior (forward) mid-scalp area.

  The minimum prescription for Propecia is three months and prices start at £200.

  Dosage?

  Propecia tablets are to be taken once daily and used continuously for 3-6 months before results are evident.

  Are there any side effects?

  Propecia is very well tolerated in men; however a small proportion of patients do suffer some side effects. These can include headaches, allergic reaction, impotency and decrease in libido. These are however, often temporary and resolve when medication is stopped. Official figures show that only 2% of men experience any side effects.

  Dutasteride

  Dutasteride, or otherwise known as Avodart is a 0.5mg soft capsule that is actually licesed for use in benign prostate hyperplasia. It does however indirectly help with male pattern baldness. This drug treatment is only suitable for men.

  How does it work?

  Dutasteride works in the same way Propecia as it works to reduce the level of DHT in the scalp which can shorten the hair growth cycle and allows hairs to revert back to a normal growth cycle.

  Dosage

  Dutasteride capusules are taken once daily. Continual usage for 3-6 months is crucial before results start to show.

  Are there any side effects?

  Dutasteride is very well tolerated in men; however a small proportion of patients do suffer some side effects. These can include headaches, allergic reaction, impotency and decrease in libido. These are however, often temporary and resolve when medication is stopped. Official figures show that only 2% of men experience any side effects.

  Minoxidil

  Minoxidil and Minoxidil + Progesterone

  There are two types of Minoxidil, one for men and one for women. Minoxodil is a liquid based treatment which is massaged into the scalp and therefore different to the other oral drugs. Minoxidil can be used by females on its own and Minoxidil + Progestrone is used by men.

  How does it work?

  Minoxidil is a clear liquid scalp medication that should be applied directly onto the scalp and not massaged into your hair. The actual method of how it works still remains a mystery in the medical world, there are however theories that Minoxidil diates the blood vessels around the hair follicles, which in turn increases the nutrient supply and this is what encourage hair growth.

  How often do I take it?

  Experts recommend that patients apply 1ml twice daily (apply once in the morning and once in the evening). To apply create a parting in the hair with a comb, apply gentle pressure on the syringe so the solution slowly pours into the scalp. Gently massage into the scalp making sure the entire parting is covered. Then create another parting an inch further over the sclap and repeat the process until you have covered the whole affected area.

  Are there any side effects?

  There are minimal side effects with Minoxidil, all of which are very well torelated in men and women. They can include headaches, rashes and mild facial hair growth

  Laser hair comb

  Some may wish to try other treatments instead of opting for surgical procedures and there are some great alternatives on offer which can be very effective.

  Who is it for?

  The laser comb is a product for men who are experiencing thinning hair, development of a bald spot, or hair that has become unmanageable or unhealthy, brittle, and sparse. Within the first 5 to 10 weeks, you should notice early general improvements or "activation" of your hair. These improvements should include a shinier and thicker appearance. Over the next few months, your hair should look fuller, stronger and denser.

  What is it?

  A Laser Comb is an electric hair comb that uses laser light therapy to stimulate healthy hair growth. The Laser comb can be used at home to help treat pattern baldness and improve the appearance of thinning hair in both men and women.

  How Does It Work?

  The laser is a powerful tool that can target specific conditions and deliver highly controlled light therapy to affected areas of the body.

  The Laser Comb works by emitting a low-level laser light that stimulates the cells in your scalp and hair follicles.

  To find out whether any of these hair restoration treatments could be suitable for you and your individual needs, just ask us a question via the portal on the homepage and one of our surgeons will respond to you within 60 minutes.