A common question we receive is regarding the use of finasteride before, during, or after a hair transplant procedure. Finasteride is a common drug that is used to treat or prevent hair loss. While it is a prescription-only medication that must be ordered by a doctor and is only given on a case-by-case basis, it often recommended to individuals who are experiencing progressing hair loss and are interested in getting a hair transplant procedure.
The reason finasteride is often recommended to hair transplant patients is because it can help prevent continued/future hair loss. This helps maintain the health of the current hairs on your head and prolongs the time you’ll have those hairs. Why worry about the health of your native hairs when you’re looking into transplanting new hairs anyways? If you don’t care for the surrounding native hairs, you will likely need another transplant to cover those areas much sooner than you thought – costing you more money over time.
While side effects of the drug are relatively rare, they are a concern for many individuals who are considering taking the medication, rightfully so. As with any medication that has side effects, both the doctor and the patient must decide together if the possible benefits of taking the drug outweigh the risk of the side effects.
If you decide that you don’t want to take finasteride, this doesn’t mean that you’re no longer a candidate for hair transplantation. What it does mean, is that your hair loss may continue to progress as you age, and you may need another hair transplant in the future to cover the new areas of hair loss.
Whatever you decide, make sure to thoroughly do your research and ask your physician any questions you might have.
Tag Archives: hair transplant surgery
Hair transplant surgery as an investment
Here at Modena, we consider hair transplant surgery a personal investment. And it’s not just because we love what we do.
Hair transplant surgeries involve extracting hair follicles from a ‘donor area,’ (usually the back of the head) and transplanting them into the areas effected by hair loss, also known as the ‘recipient area.’
These transplanted follicles have a very unique trait: they’re permanent. Yep, you heard that right. These transplanted grafts are not subject to the same hair loss the previous recipient zone was. This is because the hair follicles are native to the healthy ‘donor area’ that is not effected by the hair loss.
One thing we’re always sure to explain to our patients is that there is no cure for hair loss. If you’ve been experiencing hair loss thus far in your life, your more than likely to continue experiencing it throughout your life.
This means that while your hair transplant results are permanent, you may see continued hair loss in the native surrounding hairs. For these individuals, multiple hair transplants may be necessary over time to maintain the desired look of the hair.
While we can’t count on our native hair to stick around, we can count on our transplanted hair to. We love to give our patient’s one less thing to worry about. When considering a hair transplant surgery, you don’t have to worry about throwing your money down the drain. Your hair transplant surgery will be an investment that will keep the youthful, healthy appearance of your hair throughout your life.
If you would like to make a personal investment in your hair, give us a call today. We specialize in multiple methods of hair transplant procedures and hair restoration methods.
*Please note that all individual hair transplant results vary case by case. Results are not guaranteed. Schedule a consultation with a hair restoration surgeon to get an idea of your potential results.
What is the Norwood Scale?
If you’ve been researching hair transplants you’ve likely heard of the Norwood scale.
The Norwood scale is a tool that was developed to help diagnose the progression of hair loss. It was developed in the 1950’s and has been revised several times since.
The scale has approximately 8-12 stages depending on the version of the scale used. While there are many different variants of hair loss (much more than 12), the Norwood scale illustrates the most common ones.
Over time, as hair loss progresses, an individual may move to a different number on the scale. Similarly, a hair transplant changes the individual’s number on the scale as well.
Knowing your number on the scale allows you to keep track of your hair loss over time. This is particularly useful for those utilizing medical management. Medical management helps to maintain your current hair and prevent continued and future hair loss.
This tool not only helps you diagnose the progression of your hair loss but also helps in communicating with physicians and surgeons. Having an agreed upon scale allows everyone to be on the same page. This is particularly important when having a hair transplant surgery.
How to determine your level on the Norwood Scale
The 8 level Norwood scale follows the hair loss progression below:
Type I. Minimal hair loss.
Type II. Insignificant hair loss at temples.
Type III. The first stage that requires treatment.
Type III Vertex. Receding hairline and thinning hair on vertex.
Type IV. Bigger pattern on the vertex and hairline.
Type V. Patterns at both sites are bigger but a thin division line is still present.
Type VI. The bridge is gone but several strands of short fine hair may remain.
Type VII. The most severe form of hair loss. Little hair on the front or top of the head.
To determine your exact degree of baldness utilizing the scale, you should meet with a certified hair restoration surgeon. They will analyze your hair and give you a level and quote during a consultation.
If you’d like to determine your Norwood level, give us a call for a consultation today.
How to prepare for your hair transplant consult
So you’ve decided you want to find out more information about hair transplant surgery. Consultations are the best way to find out more about hair restoration procedures. Most importantly, consults are how you obtain hair transplant price and grafts quotes.
Make sure you get the most out of your consult by preparing for it.
First, do your research.
Make sure that you’ve researched your potential hair transplant surgeon. Are they qualified and experienced? Are they certified by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons? These questions will help you ensure that you’re placing your hair in the right hands.
Additionally, your surgeon should have plenty of before and after photos as well as reviews. These will help give you an idea of their skill ability and what outcomes may be possible for you.
Second, don’t be afraid to ask questions.
There are many methods and techniques in the field of hair restoration. Will your surgeon be doing the procedure by hand or machine? Will the doctor be present throughout the procedure or will a technician be doing the work? What size punch tools will be used? What is his/her success rate for graft survival in hair transplant surgeries? These questions will shine light on the doctor’s process and inform you what to expect.
Third, consider the cost-benefit analysis.
Cheaper is not always better. While a lower price for hair transplant surgery sounds ideal, you often get what you pay for. Most cases of botched hair transplant surgeries come as a result of cutting costs (via traveling abroad for surgery or choosing someone with inferior credentials). While you may save money in the short-term, you’ll end up spending more long-term to fix the botched surgery.
If you’re ready for a hair transplant consult, give us a call today!
Is a hair transplant surgery the right choice for you?
Hair loss effects over 80% of men and 50% of women over the course of their lifetime. This extremely common condition leaves many searching for a solution.
While medical management offers great methods to restore hair, such as PRP therapy, laser therapy, prescription medication, specialized shampoos, and even over the counter medications, these recourses are only effective for the right candidates.
If you’ve been experiencing hair loss for some time, have progressed hair loss, or didn’t have any luck with medical management, you may be wondering what your next option is.
Hair transplant surgery is an ideal option for those with progressed hair loss. This medical procedure involves taking hair follicles from other areas of your scalp or body and transplanting them into the areas of hair loss.
Modern hair transplant surgery is much different than plugs, wigs, or hair pieces that have been methods used by balding people in the past. Hair transplant surgery is your own natural hair that grows in on its own where it’s needed.
Due to the natural, organic nature of hair transplant surgery, patients are able to regain their youth and hair without it ever looking like they were bald or sought a medical recourse.
In order to determine if you are an ideal candidate for hair transplant surgery, you should meet with a qualified and experienced hair transplant surgeon. After a scalp and hair loss evaluation, you and your doctor can determine the right amount of grafts needed to meet your hair goals.
If you’d like to learn more about hair transplant surgery, and figure out if it’s the right option for you, give us a call today.
