NON-SURGICAL FAQs
You have choices, and we’ll guide you through them
Not everyone is a candidate for hair transplant surgery, nor does every patient we see feel that surgery is the best option for him or her. We never force patients toward surgery and pride ourselves is taking the time to listen to each patient’s concerns, present options, and help each patient make a decision that is in their best interest. Sometimes, a non-surgical approach is better, which brings with it a host of different questions.
What non-surgical treatments do you offer for hair loss?
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP): PRP therapy involves extracting a small amount of your blood, processing it to concentrate the platelets, and injecting the platelet-rich plasma into the scalp. This treatment aims to stimulate hair growth and improve hair thickness and quality.
- Topical Medication: Various topical solutions and serums enriched with vitamins, minerals, and natural ingredients are available for hair loss treatment. These topicals are applied directly to the scalp to nourish the hair follicles, improve hair health, and potentially stimulate hair growth.
- Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT): LLLT utilizes low-energy laser devices or combs to irradiate the scalp. It is believed to promote hair growth by stimulating the hair follicles, increasing blood circulation, and enhancing nutrient delivery to the scalp.
How do non-surgical tools and therapies compare to hair restoration surgery in terms of effectiveness?
Surgical and non-surgical treatments for hair loss can be equally as effective in what they’re each meant to do, but they can’t be compared to each other, because they serve different purposes. Non-surgical, preventative therapies, such as PRP injections and LLLT devices, work by helping you maintain your existing hair. Hair restoration surgery, on the other hand, involves relocating hair follicles from the “permanent zone” at the back and sides of the scalp to areas of need.
Surgical treatments generally offer a more substantial and noticeable improvement in hair density and coverage compared to non-surgical hair loss prevention treatments, but hair restoration surgery does nothing to stop the ongoing progression of hair loss in your natural hair. At the Anderson Center for Hair, a comprehensive plan consisting of ongoing prevention and hair restoration surgery is what drives the best results and the happiest patients.
Can non-surgical treatments regrow hair I’ve already lost?
The primary goal of non-surgical hair loss treatment options is to slow down or pause the progression of hair loss and promoting hair growth to some extent. Their effectiveness lies in maintaining existing hair and potentially regrowing some hair in areas of thinning.
When it comes down to it, regrowth shouldn’t be the primary goal with prevention tools. If we counted all the hairs on your head on January 1st and then again on December 31st and you had the same number of hairs, we would count that as a win! And that’s because we’ve paused the progression of your hair loss and prevented you from losing more hair. Any additional density is icing on the cake.
Why do I need multiple types of hair loss prevention?
Hair loss is a progressive condition that requires ongoing care and intervention – just like dental decay. Imagine your teeth. They’re constantly exposed to factors that can cause cavities, like sugary foods and bacteria. Some people may be lucky enough to brush their teeth just once a day and never develop a cavity. Others brush twice a day, floss, and use mouthwash, yet still find themselves with cavities. This doesn’t mean these measures aren’t working; rather, it means that everyone’s dental health is different, and our susceptibility to decay varies.
Hair loss operates in much the same way. Like teeth, our hair is subject to various factors that can lead to thinning or loss, including genetics, hormonal changes, and environmental factors. Some people might never experience hair loss even without any preventive measures, while others may find themselves needing to use multiple methods, like taking using a Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) device or getting Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) treatments, to maintain their hair.
Just as you’ll never stop brushing your teeth to prevent dental decay, you shouldn’t stop your hair loss prevention routine. These methods are tools to help manage and slow down the process of hair loss. Using multiple methods of hair loss prevention increases your chances of maintaining a healthy head of hair for longer.
Every individual is different, and what works best for you may not be the same as what works for someone else, so it’s important to find a combination of methods that suit your needs and stick with them indefinitely.
Do I need hair loss prevention tools and therapies if I have hair restoration surgery?
Dr. Anderson always says, “The good thing about a good hair restoration is that it’s permanent. The bad thing about a bad hair restoration is that it’s permanent.” That’s because hair transplantation involves surgically relocating hair follicles from the “permanent zone” at the back or sides of the scalp to areas where you need more. The transplanted hairs are not susceptible to the factors that cause hair loss and will grow thick and full forever, never thinning. (It’s like if you relocate an oak tree into a pine forest. It doesn’t know it’s been moved, and it continues growing as an oak tree.) But all the natural hairs in the areas of balding or thinning will continue to thin. That’s why, if anything, it’s even MORE important to keep up with hair loss prevention after surgery. You want to keep as much as your natural hair as possible to make sure your hair surgery always looks great.
How do I know which non-surgical treatments are right for me?
Our team at the Anderson Center for Hair would be happy to discuss your hair loss, examine your scalp, take baseline photographs, and discuss potential treatment options at one of our offices.
To schedule a consultation with one of our hair restoration surgeons, call us or complete our online form. Our staff will get back to you as soon as possible to confirm your appointment.