Hair Restoration: Separating Fact from Fiction - Is it Right for You?

Google the words 'hair loss treatment' and you will be inundated by products and procedures that claim to be the miracle cure for balding. Some work better than others, but their effectiveness largely depends on the individual and the original cause of hair loss.

DHT and Hair

• Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a steroid-like molecule that binds to hair follicles, and prevents absorption of the testosterone needed for hair growth. This chemical becomes more prevalent with age, and must be overcome or subverted to restore hair.

Cleaning and Flushing

• Most experts (including those at the Food and Drug Administration) have concluded that products which claim to cleanse, condition or oxygenate hair follicles have little or no effect on growth in most cases.

Medical Treatments

• DHT blockers, such as Propecia and Rogaine, are well documented to help reduce or eliminate balding if used preemptively, but cannot bring dead follicles back to life.

Transplants

• Hair transplantation is the only conclusive way to reverse balding. This treatment usually involves surgically moving hair follicles from the back and side of the head to the top of the head.

Repair

• Today's hair transplantation technology is light-years beyond what was available 20 years ago, and modern surgeons can often repair damage done by those first attempts.