Medical Hair Restoration Treatment before the Surgical Hair Restoration

By Steve Harris

There are several medical hair loss remedies available for hair loss restoration. Most of the hair transplant surgeons recommend that one should always try medical hair restoration before one decides to undergo hair restoration surgery.

In fact, continued medical treatment well before the surgery often results in a better growth for the hair transplants. Similarly, medical hair treatment after the surgery always provides superior benefits from the hair loss solutions.

But when you are preparing for the hair transplant surgery there are some precautions with medical hair restoration which are to be observed so that you don't have any adverse effect due the hair loss medications.

Medical hair restoration with Rogaine

Minoxidil sold with the brand name Rogaine, is not able to grow hair on completely bald scalp; but is still considered as an affordable hair restoration treatment as it is able to retard hair loss and stabilize it by slowing down the miniaturization process. Medical hair loss treatment with Rogaine is a widely accepted treatment of all the hair loss solutions. that is even recommended by the FDA both as a hair loss treatment for men and a hair loss treatment for woman. Minnoxidil acts by prolonging the growth phase of the hair. But for medical treatment with minoxidil to be fully effective requires prolonged use. It may take a long time, around 6 to 12 months, to predict a noticeable improvement in hair growth. Within 2 to 3 months of discontinuing the medication, the increase in terminal hair density and growth resulting from the use of medicine can suddenly vanish.

Another drawback of Rogaine is that while it is effective in the crown or top of the head, it is much less effective in the frontal area, so overall it is not as effective as a balding solution for men for whom the front of the scalp and the hairline are the important areas for hair loss restoration.

Rogaine, especially is the drug of choice for many female hair loss remedies where the hair loss is often characterized by diffuse thinning. The prolonged use of the drug is sometimes able to bring about the complete reversal of thinning, seen even after stopping the drug, but in men, stopping the medication results in complete reversal of the benefits.

Medical hair restoration (Rogaine) as a combination treatment

Some hair restoration surgeons highly recommend the use of Rogaine before and then immediately after the hair transplant surgery especially when the grafts have been placed in and around existing hair. The idea behind the combining the medical hair restoration and hair restoration surgery is to help prevent the temporary loss of healthy, preexisting hair due to the shock of the hair restoration surgery procedure.

The use of topical minoxidil both before and after hair restoration surgery is often recommended for patients undergoing hair transplant procedures as it has been seen that Minoxidil reduces hair shedding due to transplant trauma and shortens recovery from surgery.

Precaution before the hair transplant surgery

Most of the surgeons do feel that the medical hair restoration treatment with minoxidil should be stopped prior to the surgery to minimize skin irritation and the risk of dilation of the blood vessels, whihc might result in increased bleeding. The treatment of patients with 2% topical minoxidil is generally stopped 4 weeks before surgery.

The effectiveness of application of topical minoxidil prior to hair restoration surgery is also well documented. It was seen that hair loss due to telogen effluvium observed 2-4 weeks after surgery was more pronounced in placebo-treated patients (52%) as compared to minoxidil-treated patients (22 %).

Precaution after the hair transplant surgery

It is not advised to use minoxidil on the transplanted areas immediately after surgery until the incisions have been allowed to heal. Most surgeons prefer to start the use of topical minoxidil at least a week or so after the hair transplant surgery. This allows time for the epithelium to heal and minimizes the potential for theoretical damage to the transplanted grafts from propylene glycol based minoxidil. However, the use of special glycerin based minoxidil solutions can take care this potential problem and can help to get a better growth after the surgery.

Where minoxidil is used before surgery, it is stopped until up to 3 weeks after the surgery, and then again started and continued. It has been observed that around 70% of grafts grew into hair when minoxidil was continued; otherwise most of the hair transplants are usually shed after 2-4 weeks of transplantation. There are several reports available on medical trials that suggest that topical minoxidil is a useful adjunct after hair transplantation.

The reported benefits of regular topical minoxidil administration following hair transplant surgery include:

o An increase in the number of anagen hairs

o Promotion of hair growth in the transplanted grafts and surrounding areas

o Reduction of post-surgical shock and telogen effluvium

Medical hair treatment with Finasteride

Many hair transplant surgeons find Propecia (finasteride) to act as an excellent adjunct to the hair restoration surgery. There are several benefits to this kind of combination therapy. As the Medical hair restoration with Propecia brings about a hair re-growth in the crown area, it has a complementary action; it allows the surgeon to have more donor hair to be available for frontal hair transplant and design the hairline at his own will. Since finasteride has no effect in the frontal area of the scalp, it does not have any interference male hair loss treatment with surgical hair restoration which is generally done in the hair line and frontal area.

If you are experiencing pattern baldness, it makes the best sense to use medical treatment in conjunction with your hair transplantation surgery you are sure to have your hair transplants grow well, but keep in mind that non-transplanted hairs will continue to fall.

Medical hairloss treatment also helps to have surrounding hairs on your head while the transplants grow and so will allow you to have even more hair on your scalp.

The author Steve Harris specializes in various topics like hair loss solutions & hair restoration surgery. He has also authored a book on surgical hair restoration.

Medical Hair Restoration Treatment before the Surgical Hair Restoration

By Steve Harris

There are several medical hair loss remedies available for hair loss restoration. Most of the hair transplant surgeons recommend that one should always try medical hair restoration before one decides to undergo hair restoration surgery.

In fact, continued medical treatment well before the surgery often results in a better growth for the hair transplants. Similarly, medical hair treatment after the surgery always provides superior benefits from the hair loss solutions.

But when you are preparing for the hair transplant surgery there are some precautions with medical hair restoration which are to be observed so that you don't have any adverse effect due the hair loss medications.

Medical hair restoration with Rogaine

Minoxidil sold with the brand name Rogaine, is not able to grow hair on completely bald scalp; but is still considered as an affordable hair restoration treatment as it is able to retard hair loss and stabilize it by slowing down the miniaturization process. Medical hair loss treatment with Rogaine is a widely accepted treatment of all the hair loss solutions. that is even recommended by the FDA both as a hair loss treatment for men and a hair loss treatment for woman. Minnoxidil acts by prolonging the growth phase of the hair. But for medical treatment with minoxidil to be fully effective requires prolonged use. It may take a long time, around 6 to 12 months, to predict a noticeable improvement in hair growth. Within 2 to 3 months of discontinuing the medication, the increase in terminal hair density and growth resulting from the use of medicine can suddenly vanish.

Another drawback of Rogaine is that while it is effective in the crown or top of the head, it is much less effective in the frontal area, so overall it is not as effective as a balding solution for men for whom the front of the scalp and the hairline are the important areas for hair loss restoration.

Rogaine, especially is the drug of choice for many female hair loss remedies where the hair loss is often characterized by diffuse thinning. The prolonged use of the drug is sometimes able to bring about the complete reversal of thinning, seen even after stopping the drug, but in men, stopping the medication results in complete reversal of the benefits.

Medical hair restoration (Rogaine) as a combination treatment

Some hair restoration surgeons highly recommend the use of Rogaine before and then immediately after the hair transplant surgery especially when the grafts have been placed in and around existing hair. The idea behind the combining the medical hair restoration and hair restoration surgery is to help prevent the temporary loss of healthy, preexisting hair due to the shock of the hair restoration surgery procedure.

The use of topical minoxidil both before and after hair restoration surgery is often recommended for patients undergoing hair transplant procedures as it has been seen that Minoxidil reduces hair shedding due to transplant trauma and shortens recovery from surgery.

Precaution before the hair transplant surgery

Most of the surgeons do feel that the medical hair restoration treatment with minoxidil should be stopped prior to the surgery to minimize skin irritation and the risk of dilation of the blood vessels, whihc might result in increased bleeding. The treatment of patients with 2% topical minoxidil is generally stopped 4 weeks before surgery.

The effectiveness of application of topical minoxidil prior to hair restoration surgery is also well documented. It was seen that hair loss due to telogen effluvium observed 2-4 weeks after surgery was more pronounced in placebo-treated patients (52%) as compared to minoxidil-treated patients (22 %).

Precaution after the hair transplant surgery

It is not advised to use minoxidil on the transplanted areas immediately after surgery until the incisions have been allowed to heal. Most surgeons prefer to start the use of topical minoxidil at least a week or so after the hair transplant surgery. This allows time for the epithelium to heal and minimizes the potential for theoretical damage to the transplanted grafts from propylene glycol based minoxidil. However, the use of special glycerin based minoxidil solutions can take care this potential problem and can help to get a better growth after the surgery.

Where minoxidil is used before surgery, it is stopped until up to 3 weeks after the surgery, and then again started and continued. It has been observed that around 70% of grafts grew into hair when minoxidil was continued; otherwise most of the hair transplants are usually shed after 2-4 weeks of transplantation. There are several reports available on medical trials that suggest that topical minoxidil is a useful adjunct after hair transplantation.

The reported benefits of regular topical minoxidil administration following hair transplant surgery include:

o An increase in the number of anagen hairs

o Promotion of hair growth in the transplanted grafts and surrounding areas

o Reduction of post-surgical shock and telogen effluvium

Medical hair treatment with Finasteride

Many hair transplant surgeons find Propecia (finasteride) to act as an excellent adjunct to the hair restoration surgery. There are several benefits to this kind of combination therapy. As the Medical hair restoration with Propecia brings about a hair re-growth in the crown area, it has a complementary action; it allows the surgeon to have more donor hair to be available for frontal hair transplant and design the hairline at his own will. Since finasteride has no effect in the frontal area of the scalp, it does not have any interference male hair loss treatment with surgical hair restoration which is generally done in the hair line and frontal area.

If you are experiencing pattern baldness, it makes the best sense to use medical treatment in conjunction with your hair transplantation surgery you are sure to have your hair transplants grow well, but keep in mind that non-transplanted hairs will continue to fall.

Medical hairloss treatment also helps to have surrounding hairs on your head while the transplants grow and so will allow you to have even more hair on your scalp.

The author Steve Harris specializes in various topics like hair loss solutions & hair restoration surgery. He has also authored a book on surgical hair restoration.

Hair Transplant - The Real Truth!

By Rick Saroukhanian

Many people who are battling hair loss wonder if a Hair Transplant surgery is the answer to their problems and many are even afraid of the word "surgery". Most people have seen others with transplant surgery that look superficial and like a doll's sticking out for the world to see. Typical transplant questions and fears: "extremely painful", "It will look fake", "not my own hair", "transplant hair will not grow and last as I get older", "expensive". These are some the questions that many people have when they hear the term Hair Transplant Surgery. So are these fears true or false? Well, as a past hair loss victim and transplant patient let me shed some light for all who are wondering. On my blog, "Ask The Hair Loss Expert", I go in detail about my hair loss story and eventual redemption with before and after pictures, so I will not go into detail about my history here. To be brief, I started losing hair at the age of 22 and it progressed as I grew older. At the age of 35 I had my first hair transplant. I was so satisfied that I had another one at the age of 37, which I truly did not need. Now, I am 39 and I look younger than when I was 30. If you do not believe me, just visit my blog and see for yourself.

Now, let me answer some of the above fears or even questions that most people have regarding an Hair Transplant Surgery:

1. Is it Painful? Pain is a relative term. Each individual has a different tolerance of pain than the next. I have a low tolerance for pain and I can tell you that going to the dentist is more painful than having a hair transplant performed by the right surgeon. The keyword to remember here is "right surgeon". The surgeon has to be an expert in Hair Transplant surgery only. The cutting of the donor area is the most dramatic process during the entire surgery and it is here that some people in the past have felt great pain due to the surgeon's lack of skill. If the surgeon is skilled there is very minimum pain and discomfort. On my surgery day, I watched DVD movies back to back, had sushi for lunch, talked to my wife and the nurses all during the surgery so pain was not an issue for me.

2. Will it look Fake? Again if the surgeon is skilled, the answer to this question would be a strong "no". Before I had my surgery, I had a receding hairline and was going completely bald on top. After surgery and I swear by this statement, not one person ever knew or even asked if I had a hair transplant. It's so funny, when I run into people who I have not seen for a long time, they look at me from head to toe in amazement and their only comment is how younger I look and how I lost all the weight. The funny part is that I actually gained weight after my marriage, yet my transplant looks so natural that no one has a clue.

3. It is my own hair? Yes that transplanted hair is 100% your natural hair taken from your donor area.

4. Will the transplanted hair grow and last? Yes, absolutely. After surgery, I would suggest you take propecia every two to three days which stops future hair loss. I am approaching 40 and from the age of 35 when I had my first transplant I have not worried or seen any evidence of hair loss, especially from the transplanted hair.

5. Is it Expensive? Depends how many grafts you need and more importantly where you get the hair transplant performed. I could tell you honestly that a hair transplant is much more expensive in Los Angeles or New York than in Canada. I personally had my surgery done in Canada and would never even consider doing it here in Los Angeles where I live, not because of the cost but because of the surgeon. Luckily for me the cost of the surgery is considerably less in Canada than here which worked out perfectly.

In summary, it is my opinion that a Hair Transplant is the only permanent cure for hair loss. So, don't let anyone fool you with magic pills, shampoo's or foams and so forth, it is full of crap and baloney. However, there are natural pills and supplements that prevents or slow down hair loss, such as Propecia and Provillus and Profinast. The only real solution where you actually gain a natural set of hair is a Hair Transplant Surgery. For much more information, news and videos feel free to visit my blog.

A Woman's Choices For Hair Restoration - Surgery Or Laser Hair Brush

By Carol P Mason

Hair restoration surgery or hair re-growth by using a laser hair brush? Which method is best for a woman's hair loss condition? Solutions for balding and thinning are usually directed towards men. Although men do make up the majority of hair loss victims, women suffer thinning hair in bigger numbers than previously thought. Women now are tired of hiding the truth, and especially with internet access affording anonymity, they are seeking hair re-growth solutions in droves.

Forty percent of women have visible thinning and some loss by the time they are age forty. This can be devastating for a woman's emotional health as now more than ever so much importance is being placed on keeping our youthful looks, longer. Botox and plastic surgery is mainstream, and it seems everyone colors their hair and goes to the gym. Men can go with the new style of shaving their head, but for a woman, hairstyles are everything...but not too many can carry off a shaved head! Attractiveness starts with a silky, shiny healthy head of hair. The new laser light therapy in a laser hair brush may just be the answer.

Nearly 90% of balding men are candidates for hair restoration surgery. However, women are usually not good candidates for this choice. Most women have thinning that is called "diffuse hair loss". This type of scalp condition involves overall thinning in all areas of the scalp, including the sides and back of the head. These are the same areas that are used in hair restoration surgery as donor sites for transplantation to other areas. In male pattern baldness, just the top and front hair line loses hair. Therefore the sides and back of the head afford good harvesting areas for transplants. In female pattern baldness, however, these areas also have "diffuse hair loss", so there is not really a good place from which to get hair, as then these areas would become even thinner and the transplanted hair would most likely fall out anyway. Laser hair brushes provide a solution to thicken hair all over the head.

Women don't lose their frontal hairline, although it may still thin. Their face is still framed with hair and it is just the volume of healthy hair that they worry about. They need more volume of hair on the top of the head and in the back. Hair transplants don't do much for thinning hair, they just move hair from one spot to another. In the case of scarring, trauma, chemical burns, etc. of course it is a viable option.

The use of a laser hair brush and a system of proper shampoo, conditioner, vitamins and amino acid treatments can actually re-grow hair in dying follicles and thicken hair in follicles where the hair growth is stunted. The low level laser light in these hand held laser devices stimulates the follicles by bringing nutrients and increasing cellular activity. Hair that is growing in shorter and thinner will flourish. Follicles that have stopped producing hair will start their growth cycle again. A pre-cleansing treatment dissolves hair oils (sebum) that clogs follicles, and non-sudsing shampoo removes dirt and oils without leaving a residue on the hair shaft. Non-buildup conditioner smoothes each hair shaft yet leaves no sticky buildup that weighs down the hair. Amino acid nutrients are also an important addition to the process of laser hair re-growth. A shower filter to remove chlorine and heavy metals from shower water also promotes healthy hair by removing these items that clog follicles and damage hair and scalp tissue.

This entire package that comes under the category of low level laser light therapy (LLLT) is available from several reputable manufacturers. Although this technology has been around for many years in Europe and for ten or so in clinics around the United States, it is now available in a hand-held laser device that uses rechargeable batteries. The best laser comb or brush will have at least 17 diode lasers and a full money back guarantee. This laser hair brush can be taken with you anywhere you go for treatments of 15-20 minutes, three times a week. There is no prescription medication to be taken, no surgical procedures to undergo. It appears that this new use for laser technology is the safest and most convenient solution for a woman's thinning hair. If you are experiencing any form of hair loss, you should research a reputable manufacturer, and get started re-growing your thinning hair right now.

Carol is a freelance writer working in the healthcare industry for over 30 years. Her main interests are in promoting health care products that help men and women maintain their natural, youthful looks at any age. Her prime topic is the problem of hair loss, and strongly recommends the natural products available from Nutreve International Hair Therapy Systems.

Options in Hair Restoration For Women

By Seth Carmichael

Dealing with hair loss is a stressful and emotional process for a woman that can take a great toll on her personal and social life. This is why hair restoration for women is becoming just as popular as hair restoration for men. Baldness or thinned hair in men is common and while hair loss in women is not uncommon, it is much less accepted in society's view of females. Hair restoration for women can include anything from hair transplants to the simple removal of the cause for hair loss.

Before any drastic measures can be taken, all treatable causes have to be excluded from the diagnosis. Female hair loss or alopecia can often be caused by recent childbirth, stress, nutrient deficiency or be related to another existing illness. The first step is to make sure that there is no easy road where an outside factor can be removed leading to the hair restoring itself by natural processes. This elimination process often requires a referral to an endocrinologist to evaluate any hormonal imbalances in the body and to assess whether a simple change like switching birth control pills or even taking antiandrogens could solve the problem.

The most popular next step is Rogaine. Rogaine is the most common and accepted method of hair restoration for women. Rogaine is only the brand name for the medical drug minoxidil, which can actually have many other names. Minoxidil is made especially with 2% for females and remains at a high 5% for males. Rogaine and other variations of minoxidil 2% are the only FDA approved medications that are available specifically for women. Other medications are usually geared towards men and, if they do work on women, are not as effective.

Hair transplants are another method of hair restoration for women. This treatment largely depends on the doctor's abilities and whether they can minimize damage to existing hair and efficiently use donor hair. It also usually works better on actual hair loss rather than hair thinning because the hair can be directly transplanted without the old hairs needing work. There is also the factor of how good the donor hairs are and how well they transplant onto the rest of the scalp during this hair restoration for women technique.

With hair transplants especially, it is important to keep a realistic outlook. This means reading between the lines of infomercials and the famous before and after pictures. For some women it may be impossible to completely reverse the effects of alopecia while for others the hair restoration treatments may work like a charm. It is also essential to note that not all products and services that claim to be effective agents in hair restoration for women are medically approved or successful.

The best way to find out the right options for you is to speak to a licensed physician. Although appearances are important, health and safety are much more central to your well-being. A medically trained professional will be able to advise you of all your options and guide you to make an informed choice.

Hair loss in women can be a difficult thing to deal with. If you're experiencing hair loss or have questions, the best thing to do is to keep yourself informed and learn as much as possible at RestorationOfHair.com, where you'll find lots of free resources on dealing with hair loss restoration.

Men's Hair Replacement Systems

By A. Bacon

An old answer to male baldness is making a comeback. This method was very popular for centuries to deal with hair loss in men but it fell out of favor in the middle of the last century. Before that is was common, in fact very common, for men to use this method to give themselves a head of hair that was very different from what nature had given them. Of course I am referencing a male hair piece, or as it is more commonly known, a toupee.

Toupee's were very common up until the advent of the comedy movie. They then became fodder for slapstick comedians and it got to the point where even the name could elicit laughter. How many movies have you seen where some poor man loses his toupee in his soup or it gets blown off in the wind or he is kissing the girl and it falls off. Usually when these things happen the surrounding people start kicking and hitting the hair piece or stomping on it thinking it is some sort of small, wild animal. These visions did not help sales of this item that has aided men well in the fight against hair loss.

The toupee manufacturers knew they had a problem so they changed the name and are making a comeback in the hair restoration arena. The name they chose is the Hair Replacement System. It is not very catchy but it doesn't have the negative connotations of the old name either. Not only was the name changed but the product itself has been completely re-engineered and made much better.

With new base materials and hair implanting techniques these new hair pieces are almost impossible to tell from a natural head of hair. Some models even offer a slicked back look with a naturally looking hair line. These are not the old hair pieces that earned the nicknames rag or mop or dead weasel. The new hair replacement systems offer an absolutely great looking, low cost method to having a full head of hair again.

If you are tired of people making fun of your bald spot then find out about the new Hair Replacement Systems and how great they can make you look for a very low price. These modern hair pieces are once again a great method for men's hair restoration.