A full head of hair is something that people have always desired. People from all walks of life, from celebrities to your neighbor, use hairpieces, extensions, and wigs to make their hair thicker and more luxurious. And it seems like every shampoo commercial shows someone with thick, gorgeous hair.
While it can be easy to think you are just stuck with the hair you were born with, that isn’t always the case. Today there are more options than ever before for both women and men who are looking to grow hair faster and thicker.
We’re sharing the following helpful guide to help you better understand how hair growth occurs and the practical steps anyone can take to get a fuller, thicker head of hair.
What factors affect hair growth and hair loss?
It is true that you don’t get to choose how quickly or thick your hair grows naturally. Hair follicles come in many different thicknesses and densities, all of which are largely related to genetics and family history. This is why, along with hair color variance, some people have naturally thick and curly hair and others have thin and straight hair, and every combination under the sun.
Hair loss and hair thinning also have genetic contributors, but there are other factors that can cause balding or thinning hair as well. While male and female pattern baldness often runs in the family, aging, hormones, medications and treatments, stress, and even certain hairstyles and treatments can also be contributors to thinning or balding hair.
If you are dealing with what you believe to be abnormal hair loss, make an appointment with a doctor or qualified medical professional to diagnose the underlying cause. Hands-on pull tests, blood work, scalp biopsy, and other examinations can help you determine the cause and develop an effective treatment plan.
What are your options for achieving thicker, faster-growing hair?
While there is still no cure for baldness and thinning hair, there are more options than ever before for people looking to achieve a thicker, faster-growing head of hair. Doctors may recommend:
- Lifestyle Changes and Basic Cosmetic Options: There are a wide array of products available that can help add volume, and many people are able to find hairstyles that accentuate their hair in a positive way. Many people seeking a thicker head of hair also try wigs, toupees, and hair extensions.
- Medications: There are many prescription and over-the-counter medications and shampoos that have been available for years that can stimulate hair growth, including Minoxidil (Rogaine) and Finasteride (Propecia). Minoxidil is usually applied once or twice daily to the scalp as a shampoo while Finasteride is taken in pill form. These medications don’t work for everyone, and there can be side effects, including irritation and unwanted hair growth.
- Laser Therapy: Techniques that use a low-level laser device have been approved by the FDA to treat hair loss in men and women. There is compelling evidence that laser therapy can improve hair thickness and stimulate growth in patients by increasing the blood flow to hair follicles.
- Hair Transplant Surgery: Hair transplant surgery involves moving hair from a fuller part of the scalp to a thinner area. Although this can be done on an outpatient basis, it can be painful, so it will usually involve sedation. Fortunately, newer techniques have developed to make hair transplants more effective and less intensive.
When developing a hair loss treatment plan, it is important to be patient and find a provider who can help you develop a personalized hair growth and appearance plan. It may take some time and trial, but it is possible to achieve your goals.
Dr. Bill Johnson and the Innovations Medical team have been helping men and women overcome hair loss for years with an array of hair restoration options, including our innovative Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) and Auragraft system Hair Transplant procedures.
LLLT and Auragraft Hair Transplant at Innovations Medical
In-office LLLT from Innovations Medical delivers several times more energy to the scalp than commercially available devices that purport to deliver the same benefits. We recommend beginning LLLT with two 20-minute treatments a week for eight consecutive weeks. The treatments should be at least two days apart and not on consecutive days.
After the first eight weeks of twice a week, we recommend once a week for four additional weeks. Then, all you need is once a month to maintain the gains. Most patients start seeing results by six weeks, but we do not see final results for six months. Monthly maintenance must continue to keep the results.
Hair transplant is typically a treatment of last resort. If all other methods have been unable to restore a fuller head of hair, the state-of-the-art Auragraft system for hair transplant offers several advantages. This new tool minimizes infection risk by using fully disposable components and was developed especially to leverage newer follicle unit extraction (FUE) methods.
This approach is less intensive than previous hair transplant methods, leading to minimal downtime and discomfort. Care instructions include avoiding full submersion of your head and strenuous exercise for two weeks. Some results are noticeable immediately, while full results will generally be seen after nine to 12 months.
Contact Innovations Medical for More Information on Hair Growth Treatment Options
If you’re looking for faster-growing, thicker hair, Innovations Medical is here for you. Our skilled professionals help you decide which treatment is best for you – keeping you informed and confident in the next steps. We’ve been helping our patients look and feel their best since 2005, and even our most advanced procedures are often minimally invasive.
To find out if our hair restoration treatments are right for you, and to learn how Innovations Medical can improve your life, call us at (214) 643-8665 or schedule an appointment.