28 Hair Restoration
January 2016
TLDR Modern hair restoration techniques can effectively treat hair loss and provide natural-looking results.
The document from 2016 provides a comprehensive overview of hair restoration history, causes of hair loss, classification systems, and treatment options. It traces the evolution of hair transplantation from the early 1800s to the advanced follicular unit grafting techniques considered the gold standard. Androgenic alopecia is identified as the most common cause of hair loss, with dihydrotestosterone (DHT) playing a significant role. The document outlines the importance of diagnosis and treatment planning, noting that medications like minoxidil and finasteride can stimulate hair growth and prevent further loss, although finasteride has potential side effects and is not recommended for women of childbearing age. Surgical techniques have evolved to provide natural results, with follicular unit extraction (FUE) being a prominent method that avoids linear scarring. The document also mentions the use of adjunctive therapies and emphasizes that with proper patient selection, modern techniques can deliver results indistinguishable from natural hair growth for both men and women.
