Medical Therapy for Hair Loss

Medical Therapy for Hair Loss

Hair Transplantation Therapy for Men

Part of your treatment plan as a hair transplantation patient will include medical therapy to maintain and prolong your hair density after the transplantation procedure.

The two medical therapies with proven effectiveness in preventing hair loss, and regrowing hair for patients are minoxidil and finasteride.

1. Minoxidil has been shown to maintain hair density and even regrow hair when used on a consistent basis. There are oral and topical forms of the medication, and pros and cons for each. The surgeons will discuss prescriptions and recommended usage of minoxidil for each individual surgical patient.
2. Finasteride is a prescription only medication that is now ‘generic.’ When taken daily in appropriate doses, the medication can regrow hair and prolong hair density in most patients. The medication does alter the effects of a testosterone metabolite and can have sexual side effects in a small fraction of patients. We recommend that all hair transplant patients use long-term, daily finasteride.

There are a number of medical therapies that make claims to re-grow hair and support transplanted hair – including A Cell and platelet rich plasma (PRP). Based on the medial literature that we have reviewed, we don’t believe these products offer any marginal benefit for hair growth over placebo.

There are a number of non-medical hair products – shampoo and hair styling products that make thinning hair appear to be thicker. We recommend daily use of these products and will make recommendations post operatively.