Hair Loss Fact Sheet

Introduction

There are various forms of hair loss that can occur throughout your lifetime – from a natural cycle of hair loss in spring and autumn, to extreme cases of alopecia, which can be brought on by extreme stress, use of certain drugs or other lifestyle factors. Alopecia refers to any abnormal loss of hair, ranging from male and female pattern baldness to alopecia areata, the sudden loss of hair in distinct patches or spots. Some of these conditions are permanent, though others can be treated with various different methods.

The Objective

To promote the re-growth and thickening of natural hair across the affected areas of the scalp, as well as nourishing the hair to grow thicker. Other treatments include hair transplants if you are prepared to endure more invasive procedures.

The Procedures

Traditionally the preserve of some of the stranger ‘remedies’ passed down through generations and communities, until recently there were in fact very few effective remedies for the sudden or gradual loss of hair.

Several different companies offer combination treatments that can typically incorporate a number of different treatments all in the same programme. These can include low-level laser treatments to stimulate circulation and promote growth without heating or cell damage; nourishing and repairing treatments, detoxes and courses of supplements. Many of these companies also offer full money-back guarantees for those who put their faith in the treatments, but experts are often divided as to the effectiveness of these treatments across the board.

For a more invasive procedure, or where there is no chance of re-growth, specialist clinics offer hair transplant surgery. This minor surgical procedure involves removing hair from so-called ‘donor’ areas at the back and sides of the scalp which are then transplanted into the thinning or balding parts of the scalp. More than 40 years since the first cosmetic hair transplants were performed, the procedure has evolved to microscopic levels, where individual hair growth ‘units’ can be transplanted. The Follicular Transplantation Technique can be carried out individually, or in what is known a ‘strip harvesting’ technique to place a large number of follicles from the donor area onto the thinning parts of the scalp.

Clinics report that the growth rate of transplanted hair is impressive, though debate continues as to how natural the results appear, and how consistent re-growth coverage is.

Techniques have now developed to such a point that clinics offer single-visit ‘full coverage’ sessions for busy patients.

The Outcomes

Non-invasive procedures for replenishing hair claim that their techniques will lead to an overall healthier scalp area, through cleansing and nourishment processes, thus protecting the scalp.

Most people worry more about the results of hair transplants, with reports suggesting that the procedure is obvious to others and themselves for several months after surgery. Clinics aim for a short recovery time with modern techniques, and say that as long as their post-operative instructions are followed, it should only take a matter of days for the results to be effectively masked.

The Risks

As a minor surgical procedure, there are very few risks involved in hair transplants. The low-level lasers used in non-invasive procedures do not damage cells through heating or risk permanent scarring.

The Costs

The costs of having restorative treatment to your scalp either through combination treatments or via hair transplants vary greatly from individual to individual, and depend on how complete the patient wishes the coverage to be. Transplant procedures in particular can vary to a large extent in costs as there are so many options and time delays over which the treatments can take place.

Combination treatments can cost between £700 and around £5,000 for a course of treatments lasting up to 12 months. For transplant procedures, most patients can expect to pay between £1,000 and £8,000, depending on their requirements.

The Availability

Hair loss treatments are widely available both through specialist clinics and with more general cosmetic surgery practices. Due to the relatively minor nature of even the most extensive procedures to treat hair loss, there is a high degree of flexibility in the treatment times – some clinics offer what they call ‘full coverage’ within one day’s treatment, while combination treatments involve several sessions of short, non-invasive procedures.

The Popularity

Figures show that up to 1.7 per cent of the population suffers from some form of alopecia, which is often frequent and recurrent. On top of this, those prone to both male and female pattern baldness may seek to have cosmetic treatments at some point of their lives.