Hair Loss Awareness Month and the 3 Solutions You Should Know About

August is National Hair Loss Awareness Month, an initiative designed to bring more attention to the detection, prevention, and treatment of a concern that many face. The main goal of awareness efforts such as this one is to encourage people to talk freely about the issue and share information that could help, in this case, solutions for hair restoration. Hair loss is incredibly common, but many sufferers avoid seeking treatments because they are self-conscious about the issue itself. However, hair loss is nothing to be ashamed of, and there are amazing restoration options available. Below, we cover the causes of hair loss, and three solutions anyone concerned about hair loss should know about.  

What Causes Hair Loss? 

Hair loss affects both men and women. It’s estimated that by the age of 35, as many as two-thirds of American men will suffer from some degree of noticeable hair loss, and approximately 85% of American men experience thinning hair by the age of 50. As many as 30 million women in the U.S. alone report experiencing some sort of hair loss as well. The emotional repercussions associated with hair loss are significant and tend to overshadow all areas of life, including dating and one’s professional career and social life. The impact of hair loss comes as especially unfair considering that, in the majority of cases, the hair loss is not the sufferer’s fault.  

Your susceptibility to hair thinning and loss, especially at an early age, is primarily genetic. In scientific terms, hair loss can be tied directly to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. For people (especially men) with a higher sensitivity to DHT, the hormone causes hair follicle shrinkage, leading to weaker hair, and eventually, less hair growth. DHT-related hair loss typically manifests as a receding hairline, thinner hair, and the telltale bald spot at the crown of the head. 

Beyond genetics, lifestyle factors can impact how long you can maintain a thick head of hair. Stress has been shown to trigger hair loss, so taking care of your mind and your physical well-being is important. For women, life events that cause major hormonal shifts, like pregnancy and menopause, contribute to thinning hair as well. Unlike with genetic causes, sometimes hair loss due to external factors will grow back over time—but all too often, once the hair is gone, it’s gone for good.  

3 Hair Loss Solutions You Should Consider  

Medication  

If you’ve tried first-line solutions to hair loss such as dietary changes, topical products, and supplements to no avail, you may want to consider a prescription medication such as Minoxidil (brand name Rogaine) or Finasteride (brand name Propecia). The benefit of medications such as these is that they restore the hair to some extent without requiring surgery, and they aren’t especially costly. The cons are mainly the unpleasant side effects that can occur when taking the medication, which include itching, depression, sexual dysfunction, and temporary hair loss known as “shedding.” While these are worth trying, the truth is that medications may not be effective at restoring your hair to its prior glory. A key feature to know about hair loss is that it’s not just that the hair is falling out. Hair loss means that the follicle, which generates hair growth and anchors the root of the hair to the scalp, is no longer viable. In this case, surgical hair restoration is the only way to completely restore the hair.  

Follicular Unit Transplantation 

In FUT surgery, a surgeon cuts a strip of skin from the back or side of your head and extracts individual hair follicles. These follicles are then inserted into the balding parts of your scalp. During FUT, a surgeon cuts a strip of skin from your scalp, usually from the back of your head. Individual follicles are then removed from the strip for transplantation in the areas where more hair is desired. After the procedure, the hair grows as normal. While this method does offer permanent hair restoration, it has drawbacks such as the linear scar at the site of the strip removal; it requires stitches, a longer recovery time, and the procedure itself can be quite painful. For these reasons and more, many surgeons recommend the FUE method for hair restoration instead. 

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is the new gold standard in hair restoration. During an FUE session, the treatment provider extracts individual hair follicles from the back or sides of the head using a specialized device and then implants them in the area where more hair growth is desired. The newly implanted hair follicles continue the natural hair growth cycle, and results improve each week with full realization at 9-12 months post-procedure. Unlike earlier methods such as FUT, FUE procedures are minimally invasive, enable a faster recovery process, and leave no linear scarring. The only drawback to the FUE method is that it necessitates shaving of the donor area; a shortfall that most patients are happy to overlook when they see the outstanding results of their hair restoration procedure.  

Venus Concept Hair Restoration Procedures 

Venus Concept offers two state-of-the-art devices for hair restoration, NeoGraft® and ARTAS®. Both use the FUE method and enhance it even further using robotics, automation, and AI integration for a seamless experience with no scalpels, no linear scarring, and a quicker healing time. With either device, your results will be natural-looking and long-lasting—our procedures boast an average 94% "Worth It” rating from patients on RealSelf.com.  

NeoGraft® Hair Restoration Treatments 

During a NeoGraft^® hair restoration treatment, the treatment provider extracts individual hair follicles from the back or sides of the head using a specialized device and then implants them in the area where more hair growth is desired. The newly implanted hair follicles continue the natural hair growth cycle and results improve each week, with full realization at 9-12 months post-procedure. Unlike previous methods, which involved surgically removing a strip from the back of the patient’s scalp and grafting it to a new area, this procedure is minimally invasive for a faster recovery process and no linear scarring. 

ARTAS^®Robotic Hair Restoration Treatments 

ARTAS^® Robotic Hair Restoration Treatments use the FUE method as well, except in this case using, Artificial Intelligence (AI) to design the ideal extraction and placement of the hair follicles. The device’s precision and speed protect your existing hair and maintain a natural appearance for the newly implanted hair. Both devices ensure that you can restore your hair discreetly and successfully, with long-lasting results that look great. 

Begin Your Hair Restoration Journey Today  

Let National Hair Loss Awareness month be your jumping-off point to a happier, more confident you. Our certified treatment providers will work with you to create a hair restoration plan that works with your aesthetic goals and lifestyle. Speak to an expert near you today by using the search field below.