St. Augustine Hair Restoration

We’ve outlined several options below that can help with hair restoration.

Surgical Procedure

There are two main types of hair transplant procedures available to treat hair loss. These treatments—follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE)—both require surgery and recovery time, but results are expected to last for years to a lifetime. StatPearls notes that patients who undergo FUE surgery feel less pain after the procedure, leading to faster recovery times.

FUT transfers a portion of the patient’s scalp where hair grows to the area of the scalp where it does not, and FUE transfers individual hair follicles to fill in hairless areas. Because these treatments require surgery, some potential side effects include infection, bleeding, soreness, and swelling.

Injections

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy and stem cell therapy are two noninvasive treatment procedures that do not require surgery. Instead, these treatments focus on extracting PRP and/or stem cells from the patient’s body, then injecting them into the treated area to encourage tissue repair and hair regrowth.

According to the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, patients who opt for PRP therapy begin seeing results after four sessions, meaning this treatment may require multiple sessions before patients can start seeing noticeable differences in their scalp. Some side effects from the procedure involve bruising or swelling around the injection site, infection, and minimal scarring.

Microneedling

Microneedling can be paired with PRP therapy, but it does not have to be, depending on the health of the patient’s scalp. This is a skin treatment that produces anti-aging effects in that it encourages collagen growth.

Collagen is a structural protein in the body that often promotes healthier skin. When used to target areas in the scalp missing hair, it can produce stem cells that help heal damaged tissue in the area, thus encouraging hair growth.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Our hormone levels can have a major effect on our hair’s health. Testosterone, in particular, affects hair growth and strength. When patients suffer testosterone loss, they may also suffer hair loss. Both men and women can experience hair loss as a result of low testosterone levels.

We may suggest hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to help you rebalance your hormone levels. If you are suffering from testosterone loss specifically, we may treat you with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) methods, such as injections or skin patches. However, pregnant or postpartum women may opt for HRT to address other hormone imbalances triggering their hair loss.

Drug Treatment

Finally, there are drug treatment options available to help patients with hair loss. These treatments include:

• Minoxidil: Minoxidil, otherwise known as Rogaine, is an over-the-counter drug that patients can purchase at the pharmacy without a prescription. This drug can come in two forms, a liquid or foam, and can be applied directly to the scalp. However, results may take months to a year to appear.
• Finasteride: Finasteride is a prescription drug, so you must see a physician in order to obtain it. It comes in two brands, Propecia or Proscar, and can be taken in tablet form. Results may become noticeable three to four months after starting.