The Top Hair Restoration Technologies to Consider in 2019

It’s not hard to imagine that hair restoration treatments and technologies have come a long way since the first known hair loss solution was introduced more than 3,500 years ago. The oldest known prescription for baldness dates back to 1550 BC with the application of a complex mixture featuring iron-oxide, onions, honey, alabaster, lead, and an assortment of animal fats, including lion, snake, crocodile, hippopotamus, and more. The results of using this ancient mixture are undocumented, but we’re confident in assuming that today’s technologies are much more likely to afford better results in a much safer way. 

Still, not all hair restoration treatments are equal, even today. Treatment plans, durations, follow-up care, and results, among other factors, can all vary widely between treatments and technologies, but which may offer the best outcome for your aesthetic goals? Here, we explore today’s most popular hair loss treatment options alongside those just starting to see more interest in 2019.

Top Treatments to Stop Hair Loss and Boost New Hair Growth

Drug Therapies: The Most Common Prescriptions

Minoxidil was the first drug treatment approved by the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for hair loss and remains one of the most commonly prescribed topical treatments for hair restoration. Usually offered in a shampoo or topical serum, minoxidil-based hair care may be the first thing a doctor prescribes if you’re just starting to experience hair loss or thinning. When used properly—following the directions really matter here—minoxidil-based treatments can slow hair loss, though they are less likely to stimulate new hair growth. 

Finasteride is another drug-based topical hair loss treatment that your doctor may prescribe, but only if you’re a male. At its core, finasteride’s effects work by directly impeding testosterone hormones from creating DHT, the androgen hormone that’s usually the culprit behind decreased hair growth. Because finasteride works on testosterone alone, this is not the best treatment option for females experiencing thinning or hair loss. 

For women, minoxidil is the most suitable topical treatment, but know that it offers the best results when it’s used to complement another hair loss solution. It’s worth underscoring that these drug-based hair loss treatments are only effective if used properly and consistently. Skipping out on applications may render these products ineffective and stopping use altogether will result in continued hair loss, meaning you’ll miss out on any gains you experienced while using it.

PRP Treatments

If you’ve heard of PRP therapy before, it was likely in reference to a new facial. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy works by using your own blood plasma to stimulate healthy cell renewal. How exactly does this work? First, note that your blood contains two major components: red blood cells and plasma. Plasma can be broken down into two further components: white blood cells and platelets. Platelets are the component that is rich in growth factors, which are essentially little messengers that tell skin cells to regenerate or, in the case of hair restoration, tell dormant hair follicles to get growing.

Hair Cloning: The Experimental Treatment

Still in the early stages of research, hair cloning may eventually offer an ideal way to stimulate inactive hair follicles to encourage regeneration and new hair growth. Essentially, in hair cloning, healthy hair follicles are extracted and grown in a lab, sometimes using artificial skin as a temporary base for growth. Once hair growth occurs, the hairs are extracted and recombined with living skin cells to create new active hair follicles. In simpler terms, hair cloning duplicates healthy hair follicles. This offers a greater yield of transplants with fewer extractions. Unfortunately, because the treatment is still being tested, we’re at least a few years out from seeing if it really can be an effective hair loss solution. For now, it’s an interesting option to keep an eye on.

Hair Restoration Procedures: The Current Frontrunners in Results

Hair restoration procedures focus in on the transplantation of healthy hair follicles from areas where hair is thicker, like the back and sides of the head, to areas where hair is typically thinner, which is usually towards the top of the head. Having evolved since the late 1980s, when massive grafts of 12–20 hair follicles were transplanted, today’s hair restoration treatments utilize smaller grafts for more natural-looking results. 

Generally speaking, hair restoration procedures can be divided into two classifications based on method: Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). Both methods first extract hair follicles from the back and side of the head, where the scalp and hair are usually  more resistant to the effects of DHT, the hormone that is usually at the root of your thinning hair concerns. However, there are a couple of key differences to note between FUT and FUE procedures. 

With FUT procedures, your physician will use a scalpel to remove a strip of hair from the scalp where growth is thicker. Your treatment provider will then divide this strip into smaller units to be implanted in the areas of the scalp where hair is thinning. FUT can be an effective hair restoration treatment, but it is also a much more invasive procedure that often leaves behind a long, linear scar where the strip was removed. FUT treatments also require a longer recovery period post-treatment.  

In comparison, during your typical FUE procedure, your treatment provider will extract naturally-occurring groups of hair follicles in smaller grafts, rather than removing a long strip. Each group contains one to three hairs, on average. These smaller grafts are then sorted to make it easier for your treatment provider to create a natural-looking hairline during implantation. With this method, your treatment provider is also able to better implant hairs at an angle that best matches the way your hair naturally grows. The FUE method is minimally invasive, leaves no linear scarring, and offers a quicker recovery period—all key benefits for those who may be unable to take too much time away from their busy schedule.

Adding to the advanced FUE transplant method, the NeoGraft® hair restoration system makes use of controlled pneumatic pressure that allows your treatment provider to more smoothly and gently extract hairs. Along with making it more comfortable for you, the hair follicles are more likely to survive implantation as a result of this gentler extraction method. The system also supports real-time graft counts, which helps your treatment provider determine when enough hairs have been extracted, preventing any unnecessary extractions. With these advanced features, you’re able to reach your aesthetic goals in less time with no linear scarring and minimal downtime. This gives you greater freedom in the hairstyles you choose post-treatment and minimizes the impact that your complete treatment plan will have on your schedule.

Next Steps 

Regardless of which hair restoration method you choose, the first step is to ensure you are using an experienced, certified treatment provider who starts with a thorough consultation to determine whether you are the right candidate for the procedure. They should also be able to give you a realistic idea of the results you can expect with quality before-and-after pictures. When you’ve found a provider that you’re comfortable with for your treatment of choice, you’ll be able to rest assured knowing that you’re taking the first step to revealing the new you!