Hair loss treatment isn’t just about the hair itself; it starts at the scalp, so it’s essential to understand what is happening under the surface. A scalp and hair analysis will help to reveal the cause of your hair loss, identify any underlying health issues, and point you toward suitable treatment options.
A scalp analysis can take several forms, including a hair pluck test, bronchogram, fungal culture, or scalp biopsy. A trigram uses a dermoscopy device to examine your scalp and hair follicles under magnification. This allows you to see the condition of your hair follicles and assess any changes in their size, shape, or color over time. It provides information about the quality of your hair and helps us determine if any nutrients are depleted.
In a hair pluck test, several hairs, such as clubbed or telogen effluvium, are pulled from the scalp and examined for signs of hair loss. Another type of test, known as a fungal culture, involves taking a small sample of your skin or hair and sending it to a laboratory for examination. A fungus, such as a tinea capitis or ringworm that may be the root of your hair loss can be found by utilizing this test.
Scalp biopsies are usually only used when there is a significant change in the appearance of your scalp or hair. A scalp biopsy can determine the cause of this change, such as a hereditary condition or the presence of dihydrotestosterone in your scalp follicles. A biopsy can also diagnose male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia), characterized by receding hair lines and thinning areas on the scalp. In addition, aside from having this hair transplantation treatment, many offer the latest entrant into the subscription hair loss medication field, such as Bosley.
An editorial stylist and trichologist founded Root Cause Scalp Analysis to highlight the overlooked yet incredibly vital scalp. After years of working behind the styling chair, she realized that it wasn’t just your hairstyle that was important – how you cared for your scalp made a difference. Using her scalp and hair analysis results, she has since helped transform countless hair heads through a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to scalp care.
Hair Transplantation
Hair transplantation is a surgical procedure to replace lost hair follicles with healthy follicles. It is the best treatment for men with genetic or male pattern baldness and women with thinning hair and receding hairlines. It can also be an excellent option for those who have experienced hair loss due to trauma, burns, or rarer conditions. The transplanted hair is permanent, unlike alternatives such as wigs and hair weaves that conceal thinning and balding. However, it requires regular maintenance and upkeep.
The procedure involves removing the hair-bearing scalp from the back of your head, called the donor area, and then replacing it in bald or thinning areas. This technique is very effective and provides a fuller, more natural-looking head of hair. Surgical hair replacement can also restore a youthful appearance, boosting confidence and self-esteem.
During the process, your surgeon will use various techniques to harvest and implant healthy follicles. These include punch grafts that are removed with small holes in your scalp; follicular unit extraction (FUE), where the surgeon removes a strip of hair from the scalp and then microscopically separates it into tiny follicular groupings of one or two finer hairs; and follicular unit transplantation (FUT), where a large strip of hair is taken from the back of your head and inserted into bald or thinning areas.
FUE and FUT procedures have several advantages over other methods, including less pain and a faster recovery. Using local anesthesia, most people do not experience any discomfort during the treatment, and it only takes about 8 hours to complete the process. Compared to other procedures, these treatments leave no visible scars and do not require any stitches.
As with any surgery, complications are possible. These may include bleeding, poor hair growth, and infection. However, these are infrequent and usually improve over time.
You may also experience an unexpected thinning of the transplanted hair a few weeks after surgery. This is called anagen effluvium and typically recovers within a few months. If you are concerned about this side effect, ask your doctor if it is safe to continue the treatment.
Surgery
Hair transplantation is a surgical procedure in which strands of hair-bearing skin are removed from the back of the head, usually six to ten inches long, and then stitched into bald or thinning areas. It is an excellent option for people not responding to medical treatment. Typically, surgery is recommended only after you’ve undergone medical management and your response to this has been assessed. After this procedure, you may experience pain and swelling, which can be controlled with the prescribed medication. It would help if you used ointment given to you to keep the area moist. This will help improve the success of the grafts.