Problem of baldness is not new and is not unique. Millions of men and women worldwide face the problem of baldness. Sometimes, the baldness happens due to temporary hair loss induced by factors such as poor diet, some disease or due to rapid weight loss. However, such hair loss is temporary and the hair growth resumes after a fact. The more problematic version is permanent hair loss i.e when the hair loss happens and there is no new hair growth. The term often used in this context is called as “pattern baldness” or “androgenetic alopecia”.
This refers to permanent loss of hair on the scalp in men or women. Mostly it occurs in later years of a person’s life and usually due to variation in the levels of hormones over a period of time. Men pattern baldness and female pattern baldness differs usually in the fact that former is most common and that the hair loss happens in a different pattern. In men, hair loss initiates in the front of the head and progresses to the back towards baldness. Women lose hair from the centre of the head, but usually it starts from hair partition lines and sometimes from around temples. Pattern baldness usually happens due to a combination or interaction of three main factors: genetics, age, and hormones. The interplay of these three factors decide when and how much of hair loss will happen.
These factors lead to the gradual shrinkage of the hair follicles on the scalp and the hair from these follicles grow progressively shorter and finer until no new hair grow. Hair follicles on the scalp (other than the back and sides of the head) are sensitive to DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) and thus, high levels of androgens, including DHT can also make it take longer for follicles to grow new hairs once old hairs fall out.
Pattern baldness is usually measured on the Norwood scale that classifies hair loss at 7 stages with 1 being the lowest and 7 is the highest level of balding. However, it is extensively used in cases of male pattern baldness.
Treatments options available to treat pattern baldness include
1. Comouflage hair loss using new hair styles in women or using shaved look in men.
2. Cosmetic Products/Ayurvedic products – Several products in the markets such as hair oils, conditioners, shampoos or tonics are available that claim to help with treating baldness. However, the veracity of their effectiveness is not well established through research.
3. Wigs/Hair patches/Prosthetic Hair – These are usually used to hide the bald spots or scalp, unfortunately the appearance is so easily distinguishable and unaesthetic that it becomes more of a problem. Further, they need frequent replacement and high maintenance.
4. Medications – There are usually two drugs used to deal with hair loss a) Minoxidil. OTC drug that comes in liquid, foam and shampoo forms. It is applied topically and b) Finasteride is a prescription drug for men which comes in form of a pill and is taken orally. The problem with these medications is that they do not treat hair loss permanently which resumes once the medication is stopped.
5. Hair transplant – It is a minimally invasive surgical restoration procedure by which patient’s own hair follicles from donor areas (usually back and side of the head) are carefully extracted to ensure minimum damage and then transplanted to the target bald site. Donor area is chosen on the basis of permanent hair roots (that is the roots which are resistant to Dihydrotestosterone or DHT) and has reasonable hair density. These extracted follicles are transplanted to the desired bald area to achieve natural looking and permanent hair. Hair transplant procedure is a pain free procedure which is performed under local anesthesia.
· FUT hair transplant (Follicular unit transplantation or strip technique): FUT hair transplant technique is performed by harvesting a strip of scalp tissues which are then further dissected under high precision microscopes to separate individual follicular unit comprising of hair follicle and adequate amount of surrounding tissues. These harvested follicular units are then transplanted at the recipient bald site.
· FUE hair transplant (Follicular unit extraction): FUE hair transplant technique is performed by extracting individual hair follicles (instead of a strip) from the safe donor area using a punch like device which are then placed at the target bald site.
6. Hair transplant is the only permanent and effective solution to deal with pattern baldness, New Delhi and Jaipur have become the hub of hair transplant in India. Hair transplant in Jaipur has scaled new heights on account of availability of some world class surgeons maintaining world class set ups deploying global technologies, protocols and techniques. Hair transplant cost in Jaipur is very reasonable and affordable and is only a fraction of what one would end up paying in the US, UK or UAE for a similar quality treatment. Usually the cost varies between INR 60,000 to INR 400,000 depending upon the complexity of the case. Medispa hair transplant clinic Jaipur is a premier name in the area of hair transplant, over 15+ years of experience and successfully dealing with 5000+ patients, Dr. Suneet Soni the owner of Medispa Hair transplant clinic has established such a strong brand footing that his patients (Ranging from common souls like us to international patients to celebrities from across India) do not get tired singing accolades for him. Dr. Suneet Soni is renowned for his precise surgical skills and artistic vision that allows him to design such impeccable hairlines that the results of hair transplant look extremely natural. Now, pattern baldness is not to be feared, Medispa Hair transplant clinic is a call away to help you deal with it!