Non-Surgical Options

You've probably heard commercials on the radio or seen infomercials on TV promoting miracle treatments for hair loss.  You may have seen ads in men's magazines for hair systems that claim to look natural.  Unfortunately, the majority of these advertised treatments do not work for the prevention and treatment of hair loss.  At Chicago Hair Transplant Clinic, we only offer FDA-approved solutions to help you re-grow your own hair.

In the past ten years, there have been numerous medical and surgical advances in the treatment of hair loss.  With the introduction of new medicines, such as Propecia and Minoxidil, or with the development of new treatments, such as Low Level Laser Therapy, living with noticeable hair loss is no longer necessary.  We can help you customize a solution for your individual hair loss problem.  Although we specialize in hair transplants, we want to help you understand that there are non-surgical alternatives to your hair loss.  Quite often, FDA-approved medications are used in conjunction with and as a complement to surgical hair restoration.

PROPECIA (Finasteride):                             

Finasteride, an oral medication commonly known by its brand name--Propecia--is the only FDA-approved pill for the treatment of male pattern hair loss.   It has been used by over 1 million men in the U.S. since 1998.  Propecia is taken once-a-day.  It works by lowering the amount of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) in your scalp.  As a result, Propecia slows the loss of hair affected by this hormone and can allow hair to grow thicker and fuller. 

Propecia was developed to treat male pattern hair loss on the top of the head and middle front of the head.  It is available only with a prescription for MEN ONLY.  As with other medications, it is important to have a complete medical evaluation and understand any potential side effects or risks.Although Propecia does not re-grow hair in areas that have become completely bald, its major benefit is that it can slow down or stop further hair loss and promote new hair growth in men with mild to moderate hair loss.

After beginning the use of Propecia, you may see a decrease in hair loss in as little as three months.  By 6-12 months, you may see new hair growth.  Although results may vary, you do not grow back all of the hair you have lost.  If Propecia does not work for you after 12 months, it is unlikely to be of any benefit.  It is important to note, that if you stop taking Propecia, you will likely lose all of the hair you have gained (hair loss will occur gradually over another 12 months).

Propecia works best for younger men who may not yet be candidates for surgical hair transplantation.  Propecia works to regrow hair or minimize further hair loss in the back part of the scalp where surgical hair transplantation may not be necessary.  However, because Propecia is not as effective for the front part of the scalp, surgical hair transplantation may give you the best chance at restoring your your own natural hair's density and weight.

ROGAINE (Minoxidil): 

    In 1988, Rogaine (the brand name for the drug Minoxidil) became the first FDA-approved treatment for hair regrowth.  In 1997, Rogaine was approved for over-the-counter sales, meaning you can purchase Rogaine without a prescription.  It is available in 2% and 5% concentrations. 

Rogaine is a topical liquid that is applied to the top of the scalp twice a day.  Unlike Propecia, Rogaine works without altering hormones.  It works by revitalizing shrunken hair follicles--increasing their size and thickness--allowing hair to remain in the growth phase for longer periods of time.  Rogaine works best for men and women with little to moderate hair loss (or if you have been losing your hair for a shorter period of time).

Rogaine does not grow hair in areas that are already bald.  Generally, it takes 6-12 months of use before you notice any results.  The liquid medication must be applied twice a day, or it will not provide noticeable benefits.  The effects of Rogaine are temporary.  Once you stop using the medication, any thickening of the hair that had occurred will decrease and previous hair loss patterns resume within two to three months.

Rogaine is also available for women.  One out of four women in the U.S. experience hair thinning due to a combination of heredity and hormones (androgenetic alopecia in women).  Similar to Rogaine for Men, Rogaine for Women strengthens shrunken hair follicles, increasing their size and thickness.  Women's Rogaine also is a topical liquid, which is applied twice-a-day to the scalp.  It is available without a prescription and is safe for use on permed or color-treated hair.  

LOW-LEVEL LASER THERAPY (LLLT):

Laser PhotoTherapy or Low-Level Laser Therapy use laser light energy to improve the quality, strength and thickness of hair over time. Using an FDA-approved hand-held LaserComb on the scalp and hair follicles provides a high level of light that is used by hair and scalp cells to assist in the normal chemical processes performed by those cells.  The LaserComb is an effective treatment for both men and women with little to moderate hair loss.  It works without drugs or supplements.  Low-level lasers give off no heat are safe for you to use at home. 

The LaserComb is easy to use.  Users pass the LaserComb over the scalp for fifteen minutes, three times a week.  While individual results vary, many users of the LaserComb may notice thicker, denser and stronger hair within 12 weeks.  Of course, similar to other non-surgical treatments, once you stop using the LaserComb, hair loss will return and may progress.