A Look at Hair Loss Solutions Part 1: Medical Treatments

Hair loss remedies can seem a dime a dozen. There are so many of them available and they all of course claim to be the best solution for concealing thinning hair or even re-growing hair. Choosing the right product can be a confusing process, or a long journey of frustrating trial and error. 

To help you along, we’ve decided to put together a series of posts with information around the different hair loss solutions available to you and some important things to consider as you are weighing your options.

In this first post, we will get into the medical hair loss treatment choices currently offered…

Hair regrowth drugs

If you have thinning hair or hair loss problems, of course in an ideal world, you want to find a way to get your hair to grow back.

The FDA has approved a few hair regrowth drugs. Minoxidil (commonly known as Rogaine) and Propecia are a couple of the most well known. These drugs are purported to stop or slow hair loss. Their marketing focuses on them being the best hair loss treatment, thanks their ability to regrow your hair. However it’s important to note that these claims are highly contested. You should not expect overnight miracles. 

Some things to consider:

• While you may have visible hair regrowth, your hair most likely won’t grow back fully and you’ll have a long way to go to get that full head of hair you are after. Don’t be swayed by marketing messaging.
• The hair that does come in is often the wispy hair and tufts we love on babies. Regrowth is usually modest at best.
• These are heavy-duty medications and they come with an array of medical side effects. As with any medications, it’s crucial that you consult with your doctor to discuss all the benefits and the potential repercussions, and that you weigh the pros and the cons carefully. If you decide to use them, do so under the supervision of a medical professional.
• These drugs can be expensive. The costs associated with them can be prohibitive. They generally won’t be covered by medical plans since they are cosmetic, and not health related in nature.

Note that if you decide to take the route of hair regrowth medications, you can consider using Forila at the same time. This is something that must be discussed with your doctor.

Hair transplants

An alternative to taking medications is to undergo a hair transplant or restoration procedure. This involves moving functioning hair follicles to balding areas, where they should continue to grow.

Some things to consider:

• Not all hair restoration procedures are created equal. Carefully vet the doctor or surgeon to ensure you are dealing with a qualified professional. The quality of the procedure and the skill of the doctor are of utmost importance.
• Once the procedure is completed, results should be lifelong and look natural, but outcomes vary by individual.
• Since this is a cosmetic procedure, it is not covered by medical plans or insurance. Contact your insurance provider to ascertain.
• Price is an important consideration. It is a costly procedure.

You can think about using Forila to add further density and thickness to your hair after the procedure. You must consult with your surgeon to determine recommended post operative care and get their advice on what options are best suited.

If a hair transplant is an option you are seriously considering, these online resources can offer some additional information to help guide your decision. Be sure to do your research and due diligence carefully. We are not endorsing the information included in these links. We have listed them here for your reference for educational purposes.

• International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery
• Hair Loss Talk
• Hair Transplant Network

For many, such procedures or medical treatments are either too expensive, too extreme or both. So let’s continue our look at options by shifting to cosmetic, non-invasive, non-permanent options to hide hair loss and thinning hair. Stay tuned for the next post in our series about some of the more classic hair loss concealment options.

Disclaimer: Content provided on this site is solely for informational purposes and is not medical advice intended to replace the counsel of a medical professional. It is your sole responsibility to consult a licensed physician or qualified health care professional for advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment of any health related condition or any condition related to hair loss.