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Hair Treatment MethodsAlthough most consider hair
transplantation to be the best solution
to overcome baldness, there are certainly
some complimentary treatments. Additionally,
we've all heard of the ineffective
or disastrous treatments in some form
or another. We felt it necessary to address
the more prominent of the good and the
bad.
 MICRO
FOLLICULAR EXTRACTION, also called follicular
Unit extraction A donor area which could be the back of the head, the chest or other area is chosen from which the hair will be taken. Local anesthetics are used to numb this area then Individual follicles are removed. The doctor removes the follicles one-by-one and can even show the patient an individual hair follicle which is encased in a small cylindrical shape. The doctor uses small .7 to 1 mm slits as recipient sites, all aligned side to side up to 60 grafts or 120 hair per square cm, to allow for almost full density with one pass. The effect is natural and virtually undetectable. Top STRIP EXCISION Strip excision is an older method of hair restoration than follicular Unit extraction (FUE), however, when done properly it produces the same results in the recipient site. Small strips of hair are removed from a donor site such as the back of the head and then are dissected under the microscope into follicular units before being transplanted to the recipient site (where new hairs are desired). The recipient site is identical with both strip and FUE, producing very natural results. The only difference with the strip method is that the donor site can have some scarring. Top LOTIONS AND CHEMICALS Using lotions or chemicals dates back centuries. Early folk medicines included having your head licked by a cow. Today there are many hair growth lotions available- some actually showing limited promise. The following two treatments have shown some success in treating bald areas of the crown of the head. Important Strategy: It would be wise to consider concentrating MOST of your transplant sessions towards the front of the crown and the forehead. This would serve to frame the face correctly. A person could then embark upon a regular Minoxidil or Finasteride (or ideally both) treatment plan for the crown. This strategy would maximize the use of a limited donor supply. Top MINOXIDIL To date, only lotions containing Minoxidil or Finasteride actually grow any new hair; and even then, only in some cases. The "new hair" Minoxidil grows is usually only light fuzz on the crown of the head. And when the treatment is discontinued, the fuzz disappears, in addition to any hairs that were supposed to die during treatment. Finasteride, however, in some cases does grow thick, strong, long-growing hair on the crown. Many hair transplant doctors believe that Minoxidil, when used as a supplementary treatment for someone who has had hair transplantation, has a good added effect of increasing the rate of hair growth. Dr. Jones recognizes and applauds the use of such companion products. But if you were to use Minoxidil by itself, a person should bear in mind that statistically, 90% of Minoxidil users discontinue self-treatment after less than one year- still remaining bald. It again comes down to the issue of personal resolve. Dr. Ronald Trancik, Ph.D., Senior Director Of Clinical Research at Pharmacia & Upjohn, presented data from several 5% Minoxidil Topical Solution studies at the A.A.D. (American Association of Dermatology) Convention in March, 1998. Minoxidil concentrations in the blood were shown to peak at 4-8 hours for Minoxidil 2%, and at 4-12 hours for Minoxidil 5%. In a 120 week study of 5% Minoxidil, continued growth was shown at the end of the study. Although the exact area on the scalp on which this study was done was not indicated, these are probably the results on the crown area (where Minoxidil has the best effect) and not on the front. Top FINASTERIDE Recently, the biggest news to affect men suffering from baldness came from Merck & Co.'s announcement of the drug Propecia. Dr. Jones considers the use of Finasteride a viable compliment in the treatment of baldness. In fact, he often recommends the use of both Finasteride and Minoxidil for treating of baldness in the crown area. We've included what appears to be the most succinct article to date on Finasteride: FDA ADVISERS SAY BALDNESS PILL WORKS FOR SOME MEN Friday, November 14, 1997 By LAURAN NEERGAARD The Associated Press BETHESDA, MD.- The balding man's dream of a pill to grow hair took a step towards reality Thursday, as government scientists declared Merck & Co.'s Propecia a viable way for some men to fight shinny pates. But the experts expressed concerns over whether taking the pill that affects hormones could have long-term side effects. The Food And Drug Administration still must give the final verdict. The FDA's scientific advisers said Propecia seems to treat bald spots on top of men's heads, but may not promise as much help for a receding hairline. "I've been very impressed" by studies on Propecia, said panelist, Dr. James Kilpatrick Jr. of the Medical College of Virginia. Propecia is not a miracle pill-- nobody grew a full head of hair and not everyone was helped. But before-and-after photographs showed Propecia helping bald spots shrink, some by very small amounts, but a few by enough that just a quarter-sized spot of scalp still showed. The nation's 40 million balding men who want to grow hair today have one option: slathering non-prescription Rogaine on their scalps. It helps about 25% of users grow varying amounts of hair, but stop using it and the hair falls out, so thousands of men spend $15 to $30 every month hoping for help. Merck wants to sell Propecia by prescription only-- and, unlike Rogaine, to men only. Women should not use Propecia because it could cause birth defects, Merck warned. Although Merck has begun testing in post-menopausal women who don't have that concern, no one knows if their different hormones will allow Propecia to work. But for men, one Merck study where dermatologists analyzed before and after photographs concluded 30% of Propecia patients grew slight amounts of hair in a year and an additional 18% grew moderate to heavy amounts. When Merck actually counted hairs, Propecia patients averaged 106 more new hairs within a one-inch circle on the top of the head than did placebo patients. For receding hairlines, the improvement was a more moderate 60 hairs. Propecia didn't help every man, but Merck argued that many who didn't grow new hair at least stopped losing what they had left. The FDA's advisers weren't sure that was proved, but Merck did note that when men stopped taking Propecia, their new hair fell out. But Michael Weintraub, FDA dermatologic drug chief, said his main concern is whether it's safe for young men to take a pill that affects hormones for years merely to fight hair loss. Merck studied balding men ages 18 to 40. Propecia blocks an enzyme that converts testosterone into the related hormone dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, that shrinks hair follicles. Merck argues the any serious side effects already would have emerged in the millions of older men who take doses five times higher-- under the brand name Proscar-- to shrink enlarged prostrates. Merck says the 1-milligram Propecia dose is safe for the merely hair-impaired. The main side effects, experienced by 2 % of men, are decreased libido and impotence. But FDA officials wondered whether long-term use would affect male fertility, because of some evidence that users' ejaculate fluid was diminished. In addition, some advisers worried that Propecia might hide early signs of prostate cancer. Ultimately, the FDA panel said Propecia works for male pattern baldness, the most common type. But they added a wrinkle: Merck made patients use the same shampoo to ensure hair care didn't alter the studies, and consequently the panel insisted that Propecia be labeled as effective when used with this Neutrogena T-Gel. Merck scientists argued they have extra safety assurance from studies of men born with a rare disease that depletes their DHT for life. Not only do these men never go bald, they also don't get enlarged prostrates or prostrate cancer, suggesting a possible protective effect. In a two-year study on the effect of Propecia on the frontal areas, Dr. Keith Kaufman of Merck Pharmaceuticals gave the following report on patients who had used the pill. Top ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS: SURGERIES SCALP REDUCTION Scalp reduction is a form of cosmetic surgery. It is a procedure in which an area of bald skin is excised (removed) usually from the top and back of the scalp. The resulting gap is then stitched closed. Rarely used as an individual treatment to reduce baldness, it is, however, used as an aid to hair transplanting, since scalp reduction also reduces the size of the area requiring transplantation. Scalp reduction requires that the client have certain physical qualities, such as enough hair and elastic skin, as well as the psychological motivation because of the increased number of surgical sessions usually involved. This procedure is recommended only after consultation determines its merit. Top FLAPS Moving a flap of hair bearing skin from the side of the head to across the top of the forehead is occasionally done in the United States, South America, and elsewhere. It is considered major surgery, and more pain and complications are associated with it. Some of the complications can be permanently disfiguring. In the opinion of Dr. Jones, the results of flap surgery do not look as natural as a good hair transplant and represent inefficient use of a limited donor area. Flaps do, however, have the advantage of giving immediate hair coverage. Top SCALP LIFTS AND TISSUE EXPANSION Considered extensive major surgery, they are primarily performed by a handful of highly trained surgeons around the world. These operations are, again, more major and are associated with more complications and pain than other forms of scalp surgery. At this time of the construction of the web site, Dr. Jones does not recommend them. Top OTHER OPTIONS There are several options available to learn more about how Dr. Jones can assist you. You may call for an appointment at 1-866-669-6676. Outside North America call: 905-464-6999. To contact us by e-mail, please write Dr Jones at info@drrobertjones.com Please include your name, address and a phone number where you can be contacted. Top |
Dr. Jones is
available to perform hair transplants using
either the strip method or the follicular unit
extraction method.
Call 1-866-669-6676 or email info@drrobertjones.com
for information about hair loss solutions, a
consultation, or an appointment.
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