When a person comes into our clinic for a consultation, the first thing I do is to try and find out exactly what they are hoping we can accomplish for them. My goal is to help them be happy with what they see in the mirror.
Current science and technology gives us a variety of treatments and techniques to address the issue of hair loss. When deciding between hair transplant surgery vs treatments, the results and purpose of each have to be considered. We each have our own personal ideal of how our hair should look and that is what helps guide treatment recommendations and decisions.
Proven Treatments
When talking about treatments for hair loss, the first thing that needs to be clarified is this: they work. In this article, we’ll talk about the three treatments that are approved and have the scientific proof that they are effective in the fight against hair loss.
- Laser Light Therapy
- Rogaine
- Propecia
We’ll discuss each of these in detail later on, but for now I want to define what “works” means.
The Purpose of Treatments in Hair Loss Therapy
Many times I’ve read or heard people complain that they tried a treatment and it didn’t work. This completely contradicts what I have personally witnessed over the past several years. Here are the most common comments:
- “I didn’t get any hair back”
- “I tried it for three months, but nothing happened”
- “I used it for a year, but didn’t see a change”
Let’s look at each of these and discuss why they are not built on realistic expectations or accurate knowledge.
Hair loss treatments are not able to cause hair regrowth. Currently, we don’t have the technology to regrow hair once it reaches dormancy. What treatments can do is to improve on the hair that is visible. There is a lot of slick advertising in the hair loss industry that confuses the public. What hair loss treatments can do is to prevent future hair loss, not regrowth or thickening.
It is important to understand that treatments must be followed for a minimum of six months up to a full year before results can be evaluated. It is almost a guarantee that you can halt hair loss or significantly slow the loss of hair if you adhere to your treatment plan.
Cost
There are often questions about the expense of hair loss treatments. Many times, people feel the cost is too great. Like any other cosmetic procedure, costs can be more than with non-cosmetic procedures. Each person should take the time to consider how important the appearance of their hair is to them and if the benefits of treatment are worth the cost.
Because hair loss treatments are designed to help you keep the hair you have, it is advised to begin them as soon as you notice hair loss. Results improve when treatments are started in the earlier stages of hair loss.
