Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Center of Texas is offering nonoperative hair restoration for men and women. There are four main strategies that we employ. All of these are effective for restoring hair thinning or hair loss that is occurred over the previous 6 to 12 months. For long-standing male pattern baldness (MPB) only hair grafting is effective. Male pattern baldness is influenced by genetics particularly on a patient’s maternal side. Once baldness is established restoration must occur within 6 to 12 months or the hair follicles will not recover.

Platelet rich plasma involves the withdrawal of 60 mL of whole blood from the patient and centrifuging at down to separate red blood cells from the plasma. The plasma is then collected and ultra centrifuged so that it is divided into the platelet rich portion. Platelets are the cells that are normally involved in clotting but they also contain high content of growth factors. It is this part of the blood that is then injected diffusely through the bald area and it stimulates regrowth of vasculature and stimulates hair follicles to turn back on so to speak. Typically, a series of three treatments are employed separated by a month to month and a half.
An annual treatment may be beneficial afterwards as well. The series of three treatments are charged as a package price of $3200. Results should be evident in 4 to 6 months.

Rogaine, also known by its generic name minoxidil, is derived from what was an antihypertensive medication which is seldom used for that purpose anymore. It was noted however that a side effect of minoxidil was hair growth. It comes as a 5% solution and Rogaine is the trade name. Generic versions of 5% minoxidil such as sold by Costco are equally effective at less than half the cost. Unfortunately, only 65 to 70% of patients respond well to minoxidil. To be effective, the patient has to have a certain enzyme to properly converted into its active form and that enzyme is missing in roughly 1/3 of the population. Minoxidil has only been FDA approved for men because no one has been willing to go through the expense of testing in women. This is because men are affected by baldness far more commonly than women. Therefore the money for testing was directed towards their larger male demographic.

We stock the LaserCap. It really works and is FDA approved for hair restoration. It works by improving cellular respiration and stimulation of the hair follicle cells. It looks like a simple baseball cap with a laser diode grid within it attached to a battery pack which is rechargeable. It is worn three times a week for 30 minute sessions. The LaserCap we carry can only be prescribed by physicians. It comes in two sizes. The standard cap has 224 laser diodes. The larger Is for men with larger heads or for women who want coverage of the side of the heads from thinning rather than male pattern baldness. The larger has 300 diodes. The patient charge for the standard Is $1600 and the larger Is $2000. Results are usually seen within 4 to 6 months. The nice thing about this company is they really back there product with a lifetime warranty on the laser diode grid and a one-year warranty on the rechargeable battery pack. Speaking from personal experience, I have used mine for 26 months with no problems. The battery pack should be recharged once a week. Also, if the patient is not satisfied with the result, he/she may return the cap and receive 75% of the cost back.

Our practice would refund the patient 75% of their cost back and the company will restock our inventory with a new LaserCap. This means the patient is only at risk for $400-$500. There are cheaper over-the-counter versions online or at Costco for around $700 but typically have only 64 diodes and simply don’t have the power of the physician prescribed LaserCap. In addition, they do they carry the warrantee that we offer.

Propecia is the trade name for the now generic medicine finasteride. Is effective for restoring recent hair loss in men but is ineffective in women.
It is normally prescribed as a 1 mg per day tablet. Restored hair growth is noted in 3 to 6 months. This is the same medication that is used to treat enlarged prostate but in a larger dose of 5 mg per day. Unfortunately, it carries a number of side effects that make it less popular among patients such as erectile dysfunction, loss of libido, and can cause birth defects in the male fetus if exposed.

There are a number of over-the-counter shampoos and conditioners that also strengthen the hair shaft to slow down the normal hair loss turnover that we carry or can be purchased on line.

The attachment shows my results after use of Minoxidil and LaserCap after
4.5 months.