Understanding Hair Loss

A recent article from CNN reported that a new study found “fresh potential for restoring hair.” The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, revealed a new technique of hair restoration “using a person’s own cells.”

Hair transplant surgery normally involves moving hairs from the back to the front. However, this can be difficult for women who don’t have enough hair in the back, and for men with early-stage baldness because of receding hairlines. The new technique could usher in a new era in hair transplant wherein new hair could be grown out of a person’s own cells. Currently, no human tests have been conducted but the scientists were successful in the generation of human hair follicles on the backs of mice.

This milestone in hair restoration is good news for the millions of men, women and even children who suffer through hair loss or alopecia.

According to the American Hair Loss Association website, common male pattern baldness affects more than 95 percent of American men. This process can start as early as the age of 21, and can fully manifest, through thinning hair, by age 50. Among women, hair loss statistics are not as high but the figures are still significant. Up to 40 percent of American women suffer hair loss, and unfortunately, hair loss tends to be more emotionally devastating for women because this situation is considered “normal” among men but not women.

Who is a Good Candidate for Hair Transplant Surgery?

Depending on the cause of hair loss, there are various non-surgical ways to manage hair loss including oral and topical treatments. However, if these forms of treatment still do not work, the last resort would be to undergo a hair restoration procedure.

Here is a checklist, courtesy of the American Hair Loss Association, to help you decide whether hair transplant surgery is for you.

• Are you a man who has been losing hair due to male pattern baldness for more than five years now, and who has progressed to a Norwood class 3 or above?

• Are you aware and comfortable about the fact that your hair loss might still continue even if you take prescription medications?

• Are you a man whose balding has stabilized and is interested in adding more hair to improve your appearance?

• Are you a man or a woman who lost hair due to trauma or burns?

• Are you a man or a woman who lost hair as an effect of other cosmetic procedures (such as a face lift)?

If you answered “yes” to these questions, consult your medical professional about the next steps for undergoing surgical hair restoration.