Nadine Dilong In Australia, it is estimated that around 7 million individuals are affected by some degree of hair loss. In one study, when asked the open-ended question “What is the most important consequence of hair loss for you personally?” 30% of the respondents said it was loss of self-confidence, while another 22.8% said it was low self-esteem and becoming more self-conscious.
From the above data, it can be inferred that hair loss affects a significant number of people worldwide and can also have a negative impact on the self-confidence of a person with hair loss. Fortunately, the advancement in aesthetic medicine has led to solutions, both surgical and non-surgical, that can combat hair loss.
Surgical Hair Loss Treatments Offered By Hair And Skin Science
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) Treatment
Follicular unit transplantation is a surgical hair loss treatment in which a strip of hair-bearing scalp is removed from a selected donor area and prepared for transplantation. Potential side effects of this procedure include swelling, bruising, temporary numbness and the procedure may leave a linear scar at the donor site.
A typical Follicular Unit Transplantation procedure occurs as follows:
- Donor area preparation and selection:
The donor area for this treatment is usually selected from the sides or the back of the head. When the donor area has been selected, it is then numbed with a local anaesthetic. Following this, the donor area is then trimmed to facilitate the extraction process.
2. Strip harvesting:
A thin strip of scalp usually measuring around 1 to 1.5 centimetres in width is carefully extracted from the donor area.
3. Follicular unit dissection:
The strip of scalp retrieved from the donor area is carefully dissected under a microscope to separate the individual follicular units.
4. Recipient site preparation:
The recipient site is prepared by making tiny incisions strategically to mimic a natural hair growth pattern. The incisions will ensure that the hair follicular units are properly placed during transplantation.
5. Transplantation:
The dissected follicular units are carefully inserted into the incisions previously made in the recipient site.
6. Closure:
Once the transplantation has been completed, the donor area where the strip of hair-bearing scalp was harvested from will be closed with either surgical sutures or staples.
Scalp Reduction Treatment
Scalp reduction is a treatment that involves removing the bald or thinning areas of the scalp and pulling hair-bearing areas closer together to reduce the overall appearance of hair loss. Recovery times for this procedure vary depending on the severity of the individual’s baldness. Potential side effects include scarring, swelling and discomfort.
Scalp reduction treatments procedures can be described as follows:
- Consultation:
This treatment usually involves an extensive consultation where the practitioner assesses the extent of the patient’s hair loss and the quality of the remaining hair.
2. Incision and excision:
After using an anaesthetic to numb and/or sedate the patient, the doctor marks the areas of the scalp to be excised. An incision is then made along these lines to remove the scalp where baldness or thinning occurs.
3. Further dissection and closure:
Once the affected area of the scalp has been excised, the doctor will dissect the underlying tissue and separate it from the scalp layers. The remaining scalp is then pulled and sutured to minimise the appearance of hair loss.
NeoGraft Treatment
NeoGraft is a hair graft treatment that uses an automated machine to perform a technique used in another surgical hair transplant procedure called Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). In a FUE transplant, hair follicles are individually extracted from a selected donor area and then implanted into the recipient area where hair loss is observed. NeoGraft treatments also use this technique but instead employ the use of automated technology to assist in the extraction and implantation of hair follicles. With NeoGraft treatments the hair transplant will shed within the first few weeks after the procedure however, they will enter the growth phase producing new hair shortly after.
NeoGraft treatments can be broken down into the following steps:
- Extraction:
After using an anaesthetic to numb the scalp, the doctor uses the NeoGraft device to begin the precise extraction of individual hair follicles from the donor area. The device uses pneumatic pressure to gently and efficiently extract the hair follicles.
2. Processing:
After the hair follicles have been extracted, they are carefully sorted based on their quality, size and number of individual hairs they contain. This is also where the follicles are assessed to ensure their viability and health.
3. Implantation:
Once the hair follicles have been processed, the surgeon creates tiny incisions in the recipient area of the scalp where the hair will be transplanted. Using the NeoGraft device once more, the hair follicles are implanted into the incisions of the recipient area precisely and gently.
Non-surgical Hair Loss Treatments Offered By Hair And Skin Science
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatment
PRP treatment involves injecting a concentrated platelet-rich plasma into the scalp. The plasma is retrieved from the patient’s own blood. This treatment works because platelet-rich plasma contains growth factors that can stimulate hair growth.
A typical PRP treatment can be simplified into the following steps:
- Drawing of blood:
A small amount of blood similar to the amount of blood collected during a blood sample, is retrieved from the patient.
2. Processing of blood:
The blood collected is then placed in a centrifuge which uses a high-speed spinning motion to split the blood into components based on its density. Here is where the platelet-rich plasma is isolated from the rest of the blood.
3. PRP injection:
After the platelet-rich plasma has been extracted and the scalp has been prepped, the platelets-rich plasma is injected into the areas of the scalp where hair loss has occurred.
4. Alternatives:
Besides PRP injections, PRP can also be topically applied to the scalp via micro-needling or through a derma roller.
Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) Treatment
PRF treatments are a modified form of PRP treatments and also utilise the patient’s own blood to promote hair growth. PRF differs from PRP as it contains a higher concentration of platelets, growth factors and fibrin.
The PRF process can be simplified in the following steps:
- Blood collection:
Blood is drawn from the patient using a sterile syringe.
2. Blood processing:
The blood collected is placed into a tube without any anticoagulants and is then moved into a centrifuge where it is separated into 3 distinct layers. The red blood cells at the bottom, the PRF cloth in the middle and the platelet-poor plasma at the top.
3. Extraction:
The PRF clot is then carefully extracted from the centrifuge and because the fibrin matrix within the PRF clot provides a scaffold for the platelets and growth factors, it will require no additional activating agents.
4. Application:
After the scalp has been properly cleansed and numbed, the extract PRF will be applied to the scalp via injection or fine needles.
External Growth Factor Treatments
External growth factors work by increasing the body’s natural production of its own growth factors. As these tend to decrease with age, this treatment allows them to be stimulated again. EGF also works to enhance the body’s natural repair process for both hair follicles and skin.
EGFs contain a high concentration of conditioned media, which retain the following components that aid in hair growth:
- Growth Factors:
Growth factors refer to the proteins that regulate cell growth, cell division and cell differentiation. When applied to the scalp it can stimulate the activity of the hair follicle cells.
2. Cytokines:
Cytokines are small proteins that act as a chemical messenger between cells. They also play an important role in immune responses and inflammation regulation. Certain cytokines can modulate the responses in the scalp, reducing inflammation and preventing damage to the hair follicles.
3. Interleukins:
Interleukins are a type of cytokine involved in cell signalling and immune responses. They contribute to hair growth by influencing the interaction between immune cells and follicles.
Both surgical and non-surgical treatments offer viable solutions for people with hair loss, enabling them to regain their hair and boost their confidence. The variety of options allows patients to choose the treatment most suited to their needs and the extent of their hair loss.
Hair and Skin Science has 25 clinics Australia wide. Hair transplants are available in Melbourne and Sydney. In the Sydney location, they exclusively offer the NeoGraft hair transplant procedure.