Hair Restoration in National Harbor, MD

Hair Loss Condition Diagnosis

In order for us to create an optimal hair restoration plan in Maryland and DC, it is important to diagnose the cause and the stage of your hair loss. Diagnosing your hair loss condition may involve a detailed medical history, blood tests, a scalp biopsy and a hair shaft analysis.

Treatment for Hair Loss

Common Hair Loss Treatments

• Medical treatment with minoxidil and finasteride
• Supplements such as Nutrafol
• PRP for the scalp
• Hair transplant surgery
• Forehead reduction or hairline advancement surgery

Hair loss, or alopecia, can occur as a result of aging, genetic predisposition, medications, or underlying medical conditions. It can affect men and women of all ages. Individuals may lose hair in patterned baldness, patchy spots, or thinned hair. Hair loss is a frequent cause of frustration, embarrassment, and even severe emotional distress for individuals who suffer from it in Maryland and DC, so treatment of the condition may become a psychological, if not a medical, necessity.

Fortunately, while many people are forced to deal with hair loss, and for some, it may be a permanent condition, there are treatments available to restore areas of hair loss, prevent future hair loss, and promote hair growth.

Treatment for hair loss is usually based on the cause of the condition. When hair loss results from a fungal infection, it may be treated with anti-fungal medication. Hair loss resulting from an underlying systemic disease can be addressed by treating the underlying cause. Hair loss that results from traumatic stress is usually temporary.

Medications

There are two FDA approved medications used to treat hair loss. These are minoxidil (Rogaine) and finasteride (Propecia). These are useful in slowing down and preventing future hair loss.

Topical medications for hair loss, such as Rogaine, help to prevent hair loss by stimulating hair follicles to grow new hair or to enlarge existing hairs. Such medications must be taken continuously to be effective.

For men with male-pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia, hormone-based medications, such as Propecia, may be prescribed.

When hair loss is a result of autoimmune disease, corticosteroids may be administered to suppress the immune system and prevent it from attacking the hair follicles. Corticosteroids prescribed for hair loss may be administered topically, orally, or by injection.

Hair Transplantation

The most effective treatment option for hair loss is surgical hair transplantation. These procedures have been performed successfully for many years with minimal downtime for patients and negligible damage to surrounding hair follicles.

Follicular unit transplantation and extraction represent a significant improvement over the “hair plugs” historically used. Small follicular units have many advantages over the larger skin grafts used decades ago. They heal more quickly, involve less discomfort, and provide more aesthetically pleasing results. Follicular unit transplantation is a surgical procedure in which hair is transplanted from one area of the scalp to the targeted area of hair loss. Hair is transplanted as individual hair follicle units, with each unit consisting of one to four individual hairs.

The surgical procedure is performed under local anesthesia. For some patients, only one session is required. In other cases, the procedure may have to be repeated. Some soreness and numbness are to be expected after the procedure. Normal hair care can usually be resumed within 1-2 weeks. New hair growth after a hair transplant starts to grow at 3-4 months after the surgery. It continues to grow, but this hair is thin and weak. It can take 8-14 months for the hair to take full form and to see the final results.

What are the different techniques for hair transplantation?

• Donor strip harvest:
  • This involves the removal of a strip of scalp from the donor area (usually the back of the head).
  • The strip is dissected into individual follicular units containing 1 to 4 hairs each.
  • The grafts are then transplanted into the recipient area.
  • The donor site is closed with a layered closure technique to minimize tension and heal in a subtle, concealable scar.
• Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE):
  • Involves the extraction of individual follicular units directly from the donor area using a small, circular punch tool.
  • Each graft is extracted one at a time, leaving tiny, dot-like, discreet scars scattered across the donor site that can be easily hidden by hair.
  • The extracted grafts are then implanted into the recipient area.

In what areas can Follicular Unit Transplantation be performed?

FUT can be performed in many areas of the body. Commonly, follicular unit transplantation is performed as:

• Temporal peak, hairline, and vertex restoration
• Beard and facial hair transplant to improve beard and/or mustache fullness
• Eyebrow replacement

What is the right age to have a hair transplant?

Typically, the best candidates are in their late twenties or early thirties. When you’re in your early 20s, it’s hard to predict the extent of future hair loss because your hair loss pattern isn’t stabilized until your 30s. Additionally, a hair transplant done too early may look unnatural.

Forehead Reduction and Hairline Surgery

Forehead reduction or hairline lowering is another surgical procedure for treating hair loss and can fix a receding a hairline and improve facial symmetry in patients with a larger forehead. This surgery lowers the point where hair growth starts and creates the illusion of a smaller forehead. The scar is well hidden in the hair and hair can grow through the scar making it inconspicuous.

Call today to schedule your consultation for hair restoration in Maryland and DC.