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The Blog A Guide to Hair Restoration Options

Dr Josh Wall shares his thoughts on hair restoration options.

Experiencing hair loss can deeply affect one’s self-confidence and overall quality of life. Whether due to genetics, hormonal changes, stress, or medical conditions, thinning hair and baldness can leave many searching for reliable solutions. But with numerous treatments available—from medications and LED light therapy to PRP injections and emerging technologies like exosomes— we get it could get confusing. Sorting good marketing, from great evidence can be challenging for the lay person. How do you choose what’s right for you?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the most effective hair restoration options available today. We’ll break down the science, benefits, limitations, and help you make an informed decision tailored to your specific needs. Let’s dive in and uncover the path to restoring thicker, healthier hair.

The Medicine of Hair Restoration

Before considering specific hair restoration treatments, it’s essential to first rule out common secondary factors that could be contributing to your hair loss, including:

  • Nutritional deficiencies (e.g., iron, vitamin D)
  • Hormonal imbalances (thyroid disorders, androgen excess)
  • Autoimmune conditions (alopecia areata)
  • Medication side effects
  • Scalp infections or dermatological conditions

 

Clues to secondary hair loss

Signs that hair loss might have a secondary underlying cause include:

  • Sudden onset or rapid progression of hair thinning.

  • Patchy or irregular hair loss, rather than a uniform pattern.

  • Accompanying scalp symptoms, such as redness, itching, flaking, or tenderness.

  • Systemic symptoms, including fatigue, weight changes, irregular menstrual cycles, or temperature sensitivity.

  • Recent initiation or discontinuation of medications.

  • Hair loss coinciding with significant physical or emotional stress.

  • Brittle, dull hair that breaks easily, potentially indicating nutritional deficiencies.

  • Hair loss in atypical areas, such as eyebrows, eyelashes, or body hair.

  • Family history or personal history of autoimmune or endocrine disorders.

Identifying these signs early can guide you toward addressing the root cause, improving the effectiveness of your treatment plan. Your Contour Clinics doctor will explore your pattern of hair loss and recommend further investigation if required, along with a treatment plan that suits your unique baseline hair characteristics and goals of treatment.

Proven Medical Treatments

Due to Australian TGA regulations, specific medication names cannot be mentioned here; however, several clinically proven mechanisms exist for addressing hair loss. Treatments that enhance scalp blood circulation can significantly stimulate hair follicle activity, promoting new growth. Additionally, oral medications that decrease the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone strongly associated with genetic hair loss, have demonstrated effectiveness in clinical trials. For female-pattern hair loss specifically, treatments that block androgenic (male hormone) effects can be particularly beneficial.

Furthermore, a topical antifungal shampoo containing 2% ketoconazole can reduce scalp inflammation and mildly lower androgen activity on the scalp, making it a helpful adjunctive treatment. This shampoo is typically used two to three times weekly; it is applied directly to the scalp, left on for 3-5 minutes, and then rinsed out. It can be purchased over-the-counter at most pharmacies in Australia.

Regenerative and Natural Therapies

Several regenerative, adjunctive, and natural therapies have demonstrated promising results in supporting hair restoration and enhancing overall hair health, including:

  • Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP): Uses your body’s growth factors to stimulate hair follicles, enhancing thickness and density.
  • Exosomes: Derived from stem cells, these cellular messengers show promising regenerative potential in hair restoration.
  • Regenera Activa Therapy: A minimally invasive regenerative treatment that uses your body’s own micro-grafts to stimulate dormant hair follicles, promoting increased hair density and thickness with promising clinical outcomes.
  • Low-Level Laser Therapy (LED Light): Clinically shown to improve hair thickness and stimulate hair follicles.
  • Scalp Massage: Regular massage boosts scalp blood circulation, contributing to thicker, healthier hair.
  • Nutritional Supplements: Correcting deficiencies through supplements like Biotin, Zinc, Vitamin D, and Iron can improve hair growth.
  • Saw Palmetto: A natural herbal remedy mildly inhibiting DHT, useful as complementary therapy in androgenic alopecia.

Hair Transplant Surgery

Hair transplant surgery is widely regarded as the gold standard for treating significant and advanced hair loss having one of the highest patient satisfaction rates of any cosmetic procedure.

This procedure involves carefully harvesting healthy hair follicles from areas of dense growth and relocating them to thinning or bald regions, providing natural and permanent results.

Performed under local anesthesia, modern techniques ensure minimal downtime, scarring, and discomfort. When performed by experienced specialists, hair transplant surgery offers unparalleled outcomes in terms of aesthetics, density, and long-term satisfaction.

We have written an education page on hair transplant which you can find out more.

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