Solving Your Hair Dilemma the Wrong Way

Dr. Constance Odom, MD

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Constance Odom, MD

Dr. Constance Odom, MD

About

Constance Tambakis Odom, MD graduated in 1987 with her Doctorate of Medicine from the New York Medical College, and was an Anesthesiologist Resident from 1988 to 1991 at the Brookdale Medical Center PGY II (CA-I)-PGY IV (CA-III). She is Board Certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology since 1998 and American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine since 2002. Constance Odom, MD is affiliated with the American Medical Association, American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, American Society of Anesthesiology, Georgia Society of Anesthesiology, Hellenic Medical Society of New York, North Carolina Society of Anesthesiology, and Society of Ambulatory Anesthesia.

Credentials

Medical Director At:

• Nu Image Medical
• MetroMedispa P.A.

Staff Anesthesiologist at:

• Betsy Johnson Regional Hospital in Dunn, NC
• Onslow Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, NC
• Duplin General Hospital in Kenansville, NC

Director of Anesthesia Services at:

• Jacksonville Surgery Center in Jacksonville, NC

Written by our editorial team.

Last Edited 4 years ago · 4 min read

When it comes to solving the problem of male pattern baldness or alopecia, the answers aren’t always as simple as they seem. The advancements in medicine and equipment have changed the way physicians and patients approach some of the more challenging medical conditions of life, but without the right research, the solution for one might not be a good fit for another. Despite the number of men that suffer from severe conditions of male pattern baldness, there is neither a single cure or solution that fits all men equally. Although the idea of a hair transplant is a default response for men who are experiencing significant and steady hair loss, there are other solutions that might be more affordable and more realistic for those who want to restore their looks. Without the right information and simply wanting a quick fix, you may choose to solve your hair problem the wrong way.

Understanding Hair Transplants

Many men who are experiencing shedding or balding think it is okay to wait until the last minute or the last hair on their head before taking action against loss. There have been many hair medications on the market that have been shown to be effective with hair growth or slowing the rate of loss, but some men choose to head straight for a hair transplant rather than giving these more affordable and easy-to-use products a try, Because they are incredibly expensive and involve lengthy procedures, there are a lot of misconceptions about what a hair transplant is. Hair transplants are not as easy as shaving off hair from one side of your scalp (or someone else’s) and grafting or gluing it onto another area. It doesn’t involve removing hairs from other areas on your body and reattaching them to your head, either. Even though this would seem to be the quick fix that could solve the problem of a bare scalp, the reality of a transplant is much more complicated and painful. A hair transplant first requires the removal of thousands of hairs from the area of your head where your hair is thick and won’t be missed. The doctor then carefully reinserts each hair -one by one- back into your scalp toward the front where most men tend to need it most. The process can take hours and is quite painful.  Although they have been effective for many men, there are no guarantees that a transplant will fix your hair problems.

Understanding Lifestyle Changes

Men who don’t the resources to pursue a hair transplant may think that changing their lifestyle is enough to stop balding. There has been a lot of research that looks at testosterone levels as an influencing factor in hair problems, and many point to the appearance of bodybuilders in support of this argument. It is true that dihydrotestosterone impacts hair growth, as DHT is a testosterone derivative five times more potent than testosterone itself. Too much DHT has been linked to conditions of prostate cancer, but these aren’t mutually inclusive. Many of the reasons for higher than normal DHT levels are linked to genetics. You can’t change your genetic hair structure. Also, poor nutrition can impact shedding and unhealthy hair, just as high stress levels or harsh hygiene conditions can affect hair strength and resilience. While changing these areas can improve your hair health, these aren’t viable ways of completely stopping the loss or replacing what has already fallen out.

Understanding Hair Growth Medications

For men who are looking to both stop the balding and regrow lost hair, medications like NuHair usually the most widely recognized and effective treatment plans. Many attribute the success of these products for hair regrowth in both men and women to the unique ability of the formulas to target DHT levels and the growth requirements of shrinking hair follicles. Hair growth medications aren’t successful overnight, as the combined process of slowing or completely stopping hair and encouraging the production of new hairs can sometimes take months before results are noticed. However, studies have shown that products using finasteride have been effective at slowing loss in about 88% of men who use the products and re-growing hair for 66% of users.

Males and females alike can experience problems with thinning, shedding, and balding, although for a while, most treatment plans were only available to men. Regardless of who is suffering from alopecia or balding, the experience is disturbing both emotionally and physically. It can be hard to accept your new condition, and fortunately, you don’t have too. Before you jump into a treatment plan, consider the underlying factors impacting your loss and select the best solution from there.

Nu Image Medical® offers a new and futuristic approach to achieving optimal health and wellness. The company has been a weight loss, anti-aging and wellness provider since 2004 and offers medically supervised programs for medical weight loss, peptides, erectile dysfunction, scream cream, and hair loss (NuDew) 

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your physician about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Nu Image Medical may not offer the medications or services mentioned in this article.