About Hair Loss and Hair Restoration
Just for You
A visit to our offices will put you on the road to healthier hair. Our goal is to make you feel good about yourself. We are able to accomplish this by treating the whole person, not just your scalp. When you come in for a consultation with Dr. Rosanelli, your questions will be answered, and a
treatment plan will be created specifically for you. In the mean time, if you have a question, please feel free to click on the Ask the Doctor Button and Doctor Rosanelli will personally answer your question or search our frequently asked questions below for additional answers to our patient's questions.
Why Does Hair Loss Happen?
Male pattern hair loss affects 9 out of ten men at some point in their adult lives. It is a genetic condition which is caused by the conversion of the hormone testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT attaches to the receptors on the hair follicles in the scalp and causes them to shrink until they permanently stop producing hair. The sensitivity of the receptors to DHT is genetically pre-determined.
Family history can often give us a clue as to the timing and amount of hair loss one might expect. For many, the hair follicle receptors in the back and side regions of the scalp are less sensitive to DHT. This area is referred to as the donor region.
What is Hair Restoration?
Hair restoration is a revolutionary process by which we are able to surgically remove DHT-resistant follicles from the donor region and the hair follicles, or grafts, are then transplanted to balding and thinning areas of the scalp.
What do I need to know about the Day of Surgery?
The procedure is done in the office under local anesthesia. Our patients sit in a comfortable chair and watch television or a movie of their choice. Most surgeries take place in the morning and are completed by mid afternoon. In most cases, the transplant is undetectable even the day of surgery if the patient has enough thinning hair to help camouflage the grafts. If the patient has significant baldness and no hair to help in covering the surgical area a simple baseball cap will provide complete camouflage.
What should I understand about Micrografting for a Natural and Undetected Result?
Typical hair loss does not occur in random "clumps" but with a gradual thinning and loss over time. Hair restoration should and will proceed in the same natural pattern. Micrografts of 1-4 hairs per graft (also known as follicular units) are dispersed throughout the areas of loss, providing a natural look. Unlike the huge plugs of the past, Dr. Rosanelli’s techniques achieve a highly superior result. Here are a few quotes from Doctor Rosanelli patients:
- "My friends are saying it looks like I’ve got more hair and I tell them it’s their imagination. Nobody has noticed that I had the procedure done, they just know that I have more hair than I did before". -J. Harris
- "I wanted to do it for me, it was like a gift to myself that I wanted to give, and I’m really glad that I did it. I look like I did maybe 10 or 15 years ago and that makes me feel good." -S. Calderara
- "I hated the idea of losing my hair. With Dr. Rosanelli, the amount of hair and coverage I got is outstanding. It looks like it used to-I feel like I’m the guy I used to be!". -B. Vinson
What can I do to treat hair loss?
You've all seen the ads in magazines, you've heard the commercials on the radio and you've seen the infomercials promoting miracle treatments for hair loss. The bottom line is that the vast majority of advertised "treatments" do not work for the prevention and treatment of hair loss. If a hair loss treatment is not approved by the FDA, chances are you are wasting your precious time and money. Remember that successful treatment of hair loss is greatly dependent on early intervention. I t is critical to begin treatment with an effective product as soon as you notice the onset of hair loss.
The following two treatments have been clinically proven to successfully treat hair loss in men to varying degrees.
Finasteride, Proscar/Propecia
Finasteride is the generic name for the brand name drugs Proscar and Propecia Finasteride was originally developed by Merck as a drug to treat enlarged prostate glands (Proscar). During the trials on men with prostate problems an intriguing side effect of hair growth was observed. Since finasteride had already been approved by the FDA to treat enlarged prostates in men, Merck and Company decided to pursue the possibility of developing finasteride as the first pill to treat male pattern baldness.
On December 22, 1997 the FDA approved a 1mg dose of finasteride for the treatment of androgenic alopecia in men (male pattern baldness). Propecia is the first drug in history to effectively treat male pattern baldness in the vast majority of men who use it.
How Propeica/Finasteride Works:
Finasteride's hair-raising success is due to its ability to specifically inhibit Type II 5-alpha-reductace, the enzyme that converts testosterone into a more potent androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Propecia's 1 mg dose of finasteride can effectively lower DHT levels by as much as 60% when taken daily. It is DHT that shrinks or miniaturizes the hair follicle, which eventually leads to baldness .This 60% reduction in DHT has proven to stop the progression of hair loss in 86% of men taking it the drug during clinical trials. 65% of trial participants experienced what was considered a substantial increase of hair growth.
At this point, the only truly effective medically proven way to arrest the hair loss process is to lower DHT levels. The American Hair Loss Association recommends finasteride as the first line of attack for all men interested in treating their male pattern baldness.
Minoxidil (loniten)
Minoxidil (loniten) was the first drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of male pattern baldness. For many years, minoxidill, in pill form, was widely used to treat high blood pressure. Just like finasteride researchers discovered a very interesting side effect of the drug. People taking the medication were growing hair in unexpected places like on their cheeks and the back of their hands, some even grew hair on their foreheads.
Some enterprising researchers had the notion that applying minoxidil topically, directly on the head, might grow hair on balding areas. Well it did to varying digress depending on the extent of the hair loss, but at the time it was revolutionary.
While minoxidil has been clinically proven to slow the progression of hair loss and regrow some hair, most informed experts see it as a relatively marginally effective drug in the fight against hair loss. Since minoxidil has no effect on the hormonal process of hair loss it's positive effects are at best temporary and usually yield somewhat disappointing long-term results.
With the said, The American Hair Loss Association still recommends the drug for those who have not responded favorably to finasteride treatment or for those who would like to add another product to their regime. The AHLA does not recommend minoxidil as the first line of attract for men suffering with male pattern baldness, but does recognize it as an effective treatment for a small percentage of its users.
How to Select a Hair Restoration Surgeon
You've decided that surgical hair restoration may be right for you, now it's time to do some homework to make sure you select a doctor whose results meet your expectations. One word of caution? during your decision-making process you may use the technique that most of us use when making decisions in life? the process of elimination. Whatever you do, do not dismiss a doctor because of distance or price. You may be making a tremendous mistake that you'll pay for the rest of your life.
Important Questions to Consider Before Making a Decision on Your Doctor
- Is the doctor board certified by the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery?
While doctors may be board certified and well-trained in plastic and cosmetic surgery, hair restoration surgery is not part of the training and certifying criteria for these boards. The American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery is the only Board that certifies doctors exclusively for their knowledge and skills related to hair restoration surgery. - Can the doctor provide clinical "before" and "after" case photos for your review?
Be sure the photos offer good clarity and detail, and include "before" views as well as "after" views that allow for critical evaluation of the hairline, midline and crown areas. An "after photo" of a restored hairline is only relevant when compared to a "before photo" taken from the same angle and distance. - Will the doctor provide a list of names and phone numbers of patients who are willing to discuss their personal experiences?
Patient testimonials are invaluable for multiple reasons. They show that the doctor has succeeded in meeting or exceeding the expectations of his patients. Also, when you speak with former patients, you can ask more specific questions about their personal experience with hair restoration surgery.
Hair follicles are extremely small and difficult to see. Dissecting microscopes provide the proper magnification and are thus used for the preparation of the grafts. By using the proper magnification we are able to see each follicular unit. This assures the maximum number of grafts possible from the donor tissue.
Can Women Benefit Too?
As many as two-thirds of all women experience hair loss at some point. Fortunately hair loss in women typically does not result in complete baldness, as is often the case with men. We recognize the special concerns of women at Rosanelli Medical Associates. Dr. Rosanelli has treated numerous women who have experienced hair loss. Treatment options including medication and/or hair restoration surgery have proven to be has proven to be beneficial to many of our female patients.
Does Estrogen Affect Hair Loss?
The role of estrogen in hair growth in humans is not clear. However both oral and topical estrogens can be prescribed by physicians to treat hair loss in women -- although there are no controlled studies to support this use of estrogen.