Hair loss, called alopecia, can affect the scalp and other areas of your body. Fortunately, you can take steps to slow it down and even restore your lost hair. There are many different ways to treat hair loss, but a hair transplant surgeon can help you find the right treatment option that works best for you.
Hair transplant surgery, also called hair restoration surgery, your surgeon will first remove a small amount of healthy hair follicles from other parts of your head, such as near the neck of your neck. The follicles are then transplanted into the bald areas, in groups of only one to four hairs per section, and placed in such a way as to match the natural pattern of your hair growth. You may need more than one session to achieve the desired result. Hair transplant surgery is considered the most effective hair loss treatment thanks to the permanence of the results. Full hair growth from hair transplant surgery usually occurs within 12 months. However, hair transplants tend to work better for men than for women for a variety of reasons.
What is Propecia?
Propecia is the world’s best-selling hair loss treatment and is the only drug approved by the American FDA for the treatment of hair loss.
Propecia actually belongs to a group of medicines called alpha reductase inhibitors 5. It is a black octagonal Merck 1 mg tablet.
It works by blocking a type II alpha-reducing enzyme, which in turn reduces the level of the hormone in the scalp that is responsible for reducing the hair growth phase. This effectively treats the hormonal cause of this type of hair loss, which can prevent further hair loss and increase new hair growth in men with bald men.
Clinical trials conducted on thousands of men showed that after 2 years of use 66% (two thirds) of men showed increased hair growth. 30% of men showed a slight improvement, 31% showed a moderate improvement and 5% showed a large increase. 83% of men on the test showed no further hair loss.
How to use Propecia
Take exactly as your doctor advised. Do not take it in larger quantities or for longer than recommended follow the instructions on your recipe label.
Take this medicine with a full glass of water.
Propecia can be taken with or without food. Take the medicine at the same time every day.
Propecia Possible side effects
Taking Propecia at the recommended dose, the side effects are usually very mild and generally do not cause men to stop taking the medicine.
Men reported decreased sexual drive, erectile dysfunction and decreased ejaculation volume.
Any sexual side effects with Propecia (decreased libido, erection, ejaculation problems) are usually stopped if you stop taking this medicine.
The FDA added new warnings about the use of Propecia in 2012, stating that sexual dysfunction including erectile dysfunction (ED) can continue even after treatment is stopped.
The success of Finasteride hair growth is due to its ability to specifically inhibit 5-alpha-reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to a more potent androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
A dose of 1 mg Propecia finecide can effectively reduce DHT levels in the scalp by up to 60% when taken daily. It is DHT that shrinks or minimizes the hair follicle, which eventually leads to baldness. This 60% reduction in DHT has been shown to stop the progression of hair loss in 86% of men taking the drug during clinical trials. 65% of test participants had what was considered significant hair growth
During trials in men with prostate problems, the researchers noted an interesting side effect: hair growth. Since finasteride had already been approved by the FDA for the treatment of enlarged prostates in men, Merck decided to pursue the possibility of developing finasteride as the first pill to treat male pattern baldness. Minoxidil, a topical solution, was already on the market (see below).
In December 1997, the FDA approved a 1 mg dose of finasteride for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) in men. Propecia is the first drug in history to treat male pattern baldness effectively in the majority of men who use it.
Propecia was developed to treat mild to moderate hair loss in men on the top of the head and in the middle forehead only in men. Propecia has not been shown to restore forehead hair. Propecia generally only works to stimulate the rejuvenation of thinning hair in the scalp area, although this is not fully understood. Only hair transplant surgery was successful in restoring hair in the forehead area after loss.
Propecia is also less effective in hair growth in older men. It works best for men who look bald for less than five years. Propecia can only work in the long run if you continue to take it. If you stop taking it, you will probably lose the hair you have acquired within 12 months of stopping the treatment.
Side effects from Propecia at the standard daily dose of 1 mg are rare and fortunately if they occur, they are not permanent. However, it is important to know what side effects may occur and what they are.
In a study of men taking Propecia 1 mg, about 2 to 4 percent developed some form of sexual dysfunction (decreased libido, erectile dysfunction or decreased ejaculation volume) compared with just over 2% of men taking placebo. For men who reported cases of sexual dysfunction immediately after starting medication, it generally occurred within months. A small number of men have seen a change in their libido or sexual function months or years after taking the drug.
Recovery from hair transplants
If you suffer from hair loss, hair transplant surgery can be an effective way to improve your appearance and confidence. With advances in hair restoration procedures, this means that hair transplant surgery can offer patients permanent and more natural results, with minimal recovery time.
Hair loss can be caused by a variety of factors, such as genetics, hormones and aging, as well as conditions such as thyroid disease and alopecia. It can be an unpleasant situation that can lead to low self-esteem, depression and anxiety.