Most New Year’s resolutions are focused on self-improvement. From losing weight and exercising more to learning a new skill and finally breaking bad habits for good, the typical resolution is geared towards becoming a better version of yourself.
But why not make this year different and aim for a fuller head of hair instead?
Getting back the hair of your youth may be the one thing you need to feel more confident in the coming year. While there’s no magic pill or trick that can make your scalp grow more hair, there are plenty of minimally invasive and surgical solutions that offer effective, natural-looking results.
At Ridenour Plastic Surgery, we use a blend of science and art when treating male and female hair loss. Below, we talk about some of the best hair restoration options you may want to consider in the New Year. We also explain why hair loss happens and who should consider hair restoration.
Usual Causes of Hair Loss
Hair loss, medically known as alopecia, is a prevalent disorder affecting up to 50% of men and 15% of women. The scalp is the area usually affected, although alopecia can also affect the eyebrows, eyelashes, beard and body hair.
Alopecia is generally classified as scarring and non-scarring. The first type is the result of inflammation that damages the hair follicles, causing permanent hair loss. Most alopecias, however, are non-scarring, and the most common type is androgenetic alopecia.
Better known as male or female pattern baldness, androgenetic alopecia is a hereditary problem that usually affects men but is also seen in women. It occurs due to an abnormal response to the sex hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which causes hair follicles to gradually shrink in size and stop producing hairs. The condition causes progressive loss of scalp hair and follows a characteristic pattern.
Less common forms of alopecia are alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, traumatic alopecia and anagen effluvium, to name a few. These forms of hair loss can be the result of everything from infections and stress to an abnormal immune response and traction.
Why Consider Hair Restoration for Your New Year’s Resolution?
If you’ve been experiencing hair loss for quite some time, you’ve probably tried countless at-home remedies to slow down or reverse it. Because the beginning of the New Year is when we usually start to do things differently, this may be an ideal time to consider professional hair restoration therapies.
Despite being common, hair thinning or loss can be distressing. This problem is known to affect a person’s self-esteem and lead to feelings of self-consciousness, embarrassment, frustration and even jealousy. And while many people find ways to cope with hair loss, not everyone is content to let nature run its course. In that case, giving hair restoration a try can help you feel more confident and boost your well-being.
Another reason to consider hair restoration is that it works. The success rates with hair restoration therapies offered at Ridenour Plastic surgery are high, with up to 80% of the hair fully growing back. The success rate depends on the type of procedure, provider expertise and your body’s reaction to the treatment.
Top Hair Restoration Treatments in 2023
Hair restoration has come a long way. From “hair plugs” that were effective but created unnatural results to hair unit transplants that left linear scars that were hard to conceal, many surgical methods had their benefits but also plenty of setbacks. The same holds true for nonsurgical options, with older remedies often coming with a long list of side effects.
The options now include regenerative medicine and transplants. Both can help men and women dealing with different types of hair loss regain their confidence.
Natural Growth Factor Hair Restoration
This hair restoration therapy is a form of regenerative medicine that harnesses the power of your own blood to accelerate healing and growth. It is performed using a substance containing the liquid portion of blood (plasma) and platelets, which are blood cells that play a big role in healing.
When used in hair restoration, the naturally-derived growth factor serum is injected into your scalp. What is particularly noteworthy about this treatment is its high success rate, with a large review concluding that only 17% of the studies showed it to be ineffective. All in all, we have found this treatment to be effective in treating alopecia without major side effects.
Nanofat Hair Restoration
Another regenerative medicine therapy used in hair restoration is nanofat grafting.
The “nanofat” used for this treatment is an emulsion made from your body’s own fat but with all the adipocytes (fat cells) removed. What is left is an emulsion exceptionally rich in stem cells, specifically adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC), and growth factors.
For this treatment, your provider removes a small amount of fat from your body. This fat is then purified and filtered. The solution is immediately injected into the scalp or other area affected by hair loss. This treatment takes about three to six months to take effect, but the results last for years.
Exosome Therapy
One of the latest topical treatments used to restore hair uses tiny particles released from cells called exosomes. Exosomes are an important source of biologically active growth factors, and they seem to play a big role in healing and growth. They contain three times the growth factors of adult stem cells. They also contain signaling cytokines and proteins that may help promote hair growth.
The exosomes used in this form of therapy are donor-derived, which reduces treatment time and leads to faster recovery. The exosomes are injected into the skin, with new hairs emerging two to three months after treatment.
Follicular Unit Grafting
The above remedies are ideal in the early stages of androgenetic alopecia or with other forms of alopecia. If you’ve already lost a significant amount of hair, surgery may provide more satisfactory results.
Follicular unit grafting has now largely replaced hair plugs and follicular unit transplant (FUT) because it produces natural-looking results with no visible scarring. The procedure involves removing individual follicles, usually in the back of the head, which leave barely visible puncture marks. After a few months, some of the transplanted follicles fall out but most continue to grow, producing thicker and longer hair.
Want to Learn More About Hair Restoration?
While hair loss is natural and often hereditary, you are not powerless against it. To learn more about hair restoration techniques and to schedule your consultation, contact board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Brock Ridenour and his team in St. Louis, Missouri, at 314-501-7763 today.
