Hair Loss TREATMENT

This is a common problem among men as they get older. According to the American Hair Loss Association, by 35, two-third of men experience some degree of hair loss. By the age of 50 in men, this percentage increases to 85%.

Hair Loss

Almost half of men experience this sometime in their life usually thinning at the crown of the head or frontal scalp. This type of hair loss is often referred to as “male-pattern baldness.” The cause is biological and hereditary, and is usually fueled by testosterone. Female’s can also experience pattern baldness, usually at the top of the scalp. Female’s usually experience female-pattern baldness after menopause caused by the shrinkage of hair follicles. There are also a number of disorders that can cause one to lose their hair including alopecia which we treat at WellMedica.

HAIR LOSS

Hair loss can be embarrassing and upsetting, and is much more common than many think. In fact, according to the American Hair Loss Association, by 35, two-thirds of men experience some degree of hair loss, and by the age of 50, about 85% of men have significantly thinner hair. Men are not the only ones that deal with hair loss as we are seeing more and more women patients inquiring about hair loss treatment.

Hair loss has many causes. Depending on the cause at Wellmedica, we will be able to determine whether your hair can regrow on its own, requires treatment to grow, or needs immediate care to prevent permanent hair loss.

CAUSES OF HAIR LOSS

There are various reasons that can result in hair loss. Some common factors

Hereditary hair loss is the most common natural condition that occurs in both men and women as they age.

Can treatment help? Yes, the sooner the better!

Hormonal imbalance commonly due to Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (POS), pregnancy, menopause or birth control pills.

Can treatment help? Yes, treatment may help.

Stressors like illness, sudden weight loss, surgery,childbirth, or loss of loved ones can trigger hair loss.

Can treatment help? Your body can naturally readjust once your stress level stops. Most people notice hair growth regaining within 9- 12 month.

Beauty hair care like chemicals (perm and hair color), physical (pull hair tightly), or thermal (flat ironing) regular usage can result in hair loss.

Can treatment help? By changing how you care for your hair, you might prevent hair loss. Frequent hair follicle damage might result in permanent bald spots.

Medical conditions such as scalp infection, psoriasis, autoimmune disease, pulling hair disorder, thyroid disease, or alopecia.

Can treatment help? Yes, as long as you treat the underlying earlier to prevent further hair loss and possible permanent damage.

Medications such as cancer drugs or side effects from other medications.

Can treatment help? Hair usually starts to regrow within months of finishing your treatments. There are available treatments that can help your hair grow back quickly.

Vitamin deficiencies like iron, biotin, and zinc.

Can treatment help? When your body gets enough of the missing nutrients, hair will regrow.

WHAT IS PLATELET-RICH FIBRIN (PRF) HAIR LOSS TREATMENT?

PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) is an advanced form of PRP (platelet rich plasma) that is used to treat hair loss. It has been used for decades in dentistry and orthopedics. Human blood contains red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. We use a specialized centrifuge that spins blood horizontally to maximize the production of PRF.

PRF contains platelets, white blood cells, fibrin and stem cells. Platelets in our blood contain proteins, or growth factors, that increase collagen production, regenerate tissue, tighten skin, rejuvenate the texture of skin and improve hair regrowth. White blood cells aid in tissue regeneration and fibrin acts as a scaffolding on which the growth factors attach to allow a longer release of their growth factors. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can turn into progenitor or specialized cells. They act as a repair system for the body to replenish adult tissues.

WHAT IS PLATELET-RICH FIBRIN (PRF) BETTER THAN PLATELET-RICH PLASMA (PRP) FOR TREATING HAIR LOSS?

PRF is the next generation or an advanced form of PRP. It is 100% natural and has no additives. Platelet-rich fibrin also contains a greater concentration of growth factors and stem cells, while PRP does not have stem cells or fibrin. This higher concentration of growth factors and stem cells will promote more hair regrowth than PRP alone. The fibrin in PRF acts as a scaffolding to keep the growth factors and stem cells in the area they are injected into. This allows for the release of more growth factors over a longer period of time.

HOW IS PLATELET-RICH FIBRIN (PRF) HAIR TREATMENT PERFORMED?

Many of the patients that we see are great candidates for PRF for hair loss. However, many different medical factors can contribute to hair loss. For example, patients who have cancer or are undergoing chemotherapy or radiation cannot have the treatments. Likewise, people who smoke may not get as good a response to PRF treatments. We recommend scheduling a consultation at WellMedica in order to get a customized treatment plan based on your individual needs.

Depending on the size of the area being treated, 2-4 vials of blood are drawn from your arm. It is then centrifuged in special tubes in a unique way to activate the fibrin and concentrate more growth factors, white blood cells, and stem cells while separating it from the other blood components which are not needed. The PRF is then carefully withdrawn from the vials and injected into the area of hair loss (or the area of the face requiring rejuvenation).

HOW MANY HAIR LOSS TREATMENTS ARE NEEDED?

Results can vary from person to person. For hair loss treatments, usually, 6 consecutive, monthly treatments are needed. This can be followed by quarterly treatments to maintain the results. After a year, the frequency of treatments can be customized to meet individual patient needs.