Hair might seem like a simple thing, but it can play a huge role in appearance and acceptance, especially in Western culture. Whether you feel like people notice your thinning or balding hair, what really matters most is how you feel about yourself.

People often feel like the only solutions for hair loss are expensive and have little chance of effectiveness. But thanks to recent developments and more natural hair loss treatments, many have found solutions to their hair loss problems.

If you think a hair loss treatment could help you, consider these six factors:

1. Hair loss isn’t the same for everyone

It’s important to remember that when it comes to hair loss and its treatments, there’s a whole lot of misinformation out there. In fact, here are some common myths about hair loss that are either false or only partially correct:

• You can prevent hair loss on your own
• Wearing tight hats causes hair loss
• You can predict hair loss by looking at your mother’s father or mother’s side
• There’s no real cure for baldness
• Hair transplants are costly and ineffective

As for women, several factors can cause hair loss, including but not limited to pregnancy, thyroid conditions, stress, menopause and more. Because hair loss is not the same for everyone, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment. For this reason, your best chance is to consult a medical professional.

2. Hair transplants have come a long way

The 1970s and 1980s offered few solutions in the way of curing and treating hair loss or baldness. Hair plugs, as they are called, were an early form of hair transplant that were very obvious and often failed to create a more natural look. Luckily, huge advances in hair transplant technology have come about to help countless men and women achieve natural-looking solutions for hair loss.

One way hair loss treatments have improved is that hair restoration specialists can now pattern the natural hairline almost perfectly. New methods allow for finer imitation of the original hair by arranging hairs according to thickness. The FUE or NeoGraft method is a new way of transferring existing donor hairs without leaving a scar.

NeoGraft and other forms of hair transplant are often used together or separately depending on the patient, but both are effective at restoring hair to the scalp.

3. Oral medication offers help

Topical and oral medications definitely can play a role in preventing hair loss from worsening. Finasteride is one oral medication that can help to prevent further hair loss, along with topical medications like Minoxidil or Rogaine, which, when taken consistently, can help regrow thicker hair over time. Propecia is also an oral medication that prevents the male hormone DHT that is linked to hair loss. Many of these medications are used by medical professionals in tandem with other hair restoring techniques.

4. PRP hair therapy uses your body’s natural response

One of the latest advancements in hair restoration techniques comes in the form of Platelet-Rich Plasma hair therapy, or PRP injections. Plasma is obtained from a patient's blood and then injected into the scalp. This noninvasive treatment stimulates a person's blood growth factors to regenerate shrinking follicles and promote growth. Although PRP takes several treatments, it requires minimal downtime and is very low risk. Most doctors find PRP injections to be the perfect solution for men or women with thinning hair or early-stage hair loss.

5. Marketing gimmicks overpromise and under deliver

Although there’s no one miracle product or treatment to give every person a full head of perfect hair, it is possible to achieve real results. However, be wary of marketing gimmicks that take advantage of those in desperation. More than half of men over age 50 and 40 percent of women over age 40 experience some form of hair loss.

This is one reason why so many people are interested in hair loss solutions. However, most products cannot correct existing hair loss. Once follicles have gone completely dormant, there’s no way to bring that hair back other than transplanting new hair follicles. Avoid products and gimmicks that promise to bring back a full head of hair when complete baldness has already occurred.

6. Consulting with a professional is the first step

If you’ve experienced minor to major hair loss and want help, consider this: You won’t find real results without consulting a licensed medical professional. No matter what age you are or what stage of hair loss you’ve experienced, you’ll never really know what options are available to you without a consultation.

Dr. Scott Thompson of Utah Facial Plastics has been offering hair restoration for years, and he is ready to help you. Contact him to set up a consultation at (801) 776-2220 today.

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