Bald Hair Treatment - Scalp Micropigmentation

SMP Specialists, doctors and clinicians use the pattern of hair loss to diagnose the root cause behind it. They may go over your medical history and perform an exam to rule out certain health conditions, such as fungal conditions of the scalp, nutritional disorders or cancer; or to determine if the hair loss is rooted in various medications. However, hereditary hair loss, also known as male pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia, is men’s most common type of hair loss, thanks to genes passed down from prior generations. According to the medical research, more than 50 per cent of all men over the age of 50 will be affected by male pattern baldness. And up to 95% of guys with bald hair can blame it on this condition.

Male pattern baldness happens as hormone levels change over a man’s lifetime, especially in the later years. Men impacted by this have hair follicles that are hyper-responsive to a hormone called DHT, which causes them to shrink. As they get smaller, the hair that grows back tends to be finer, thinner, and shorter. Eventually, it takes longer for hair to grow back. Then, the follicles will shrink so that no hair grows at all. Not long ago, there weren’t many treatment options for bald hair. Below are a few of the best solutions out there and perhaps one will be a good fit for you.

Also known as Regaine or Rogaine, Minoxidil is a topical bald hair treatment that penetrates the scalp to awaken inactive hair follicles and increase protein production to lengthen your hair’s active growth phase. Many users enjoy good results with Minoxidil and see improvement within 3-4 months of using the product, and with continued use, most enjoy improved coverage with thicker, fuller hair.

Pro: This medicine has been known to be relatively effective on people with patchy hair loss, and is reasonably priced. Minoxidil is easy to use and can be applied directly to the scalp. It is available in various forms such as a liquid, foam or shampoo.

Con: It does not normally work for people with alopecia totalis or universalis, and side effects may include scalp irritation, itching or scaling. Its also often a “Bandaid” treatment that will not last. Some reports suggest that over time it can actually make the hair loss worse.

Hair grafting — also called a hair transplant — is an outpatient hair replacement procedure performed in the dermatological surgeon’s office. Hair transplantation removes hair follicles from one part of the body, called the ‘donor site’, to a bald or balding part of the body known as the ‘recipient site’. Local anesthetic is injected into the scalp and sedation is available if needed for relaxation and comfort. Grafts can be of various sizes – the smallest, micro-grafts contain only one to two hairs per graft and the largest, punch grafts, hold 10-15 hairs. 

Pros: Regaining actual hair follicles. Hair grafting can provide natural-looking results, with transplanted hair blending seamlessly with existing hair.

Cons: No guaranteed results. It’s a surgical procedure that comes with given risks – swelling, bruising, itching or lack of feeling, among others. Also, many experience a 2-4 month recovery time. Ongoing medication with unwanted side effects. Scarring through the donor area. And results that are not considered permanent.

A scalp reduction is the removal of non-hair-bearing skin from the scalp so that the remaining hair-bearing skin can be stretched to fill in the bald area of the head. Scalp reduction can reduce as much as half of the bald area. The scalp is injected with local anesthetic and a bald segment of the scalp is removed. The surrounding skin is then loosened and gently stretched so that the sections of the hair-bearing scalp are brought together and closed with stitches. 

Pros: Scalp reduction treatments deliver immediate, yet excellent results compared to hair transplants. Scalp reduction can increase the density of hair in the treated area, which can provide a more natural and aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Cons: It can be quite costly and not effective for everyone and mild scalp tightness may be felt for a few months. Very invasive surgery with the risk of scarring.