OVERVIEW
Male Hair Loss Treatment
Plano, TX hair transplant surgeon, Dr. Joseph Yaker, is a male hair loss specialist and hair transplant surgeon offering nonsurgical and surgical treatments for men who desire hair restoration. Hair loss among men is more common than you think. More than 50 million men in the U.S. will experience some degree of hair loss at some point, with 50% having noticeable hair loss by the time they are 50. Unfortunately, hair loss is not detectable until around 50% of one’s normal hair is lost. Because of this, frequently, men don’t seek help until they have lost a significant amount of hair.
MALE PATTERN BALDNESS
MALE PATTERN BALDNESS OR ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA IS QUITE COMMON IN MEN.
About 80% of men experience this by the time they turn 80. It results from age, genetics, and DHT (dihydrotestosterone). DHT messes with hair growth by shrinking hair follicles and slowing down their growth. This leads to hair fall. It keeps happening, affecting different parts of the scalp. Luckily, the area at the back and sides of the head escapes it. These areas are permanently safe thanks to genes and can be used for hair transplants.
EMOTIONAL IMPACT
A full head of hair is seen as youthful and strong. Hair loss causes stress, frustration, and low self-esteem. Many men feel powerless and depressed due to hair loss. Hair restoration creates fuller, thicker hair, overcoming these feelings.
HAIR LOSS PREDICTABILITY
Hair loss can start after puberty when male hormones increase in the blood. The timing, speed, and extent of hair loss are uncertain. Generally, male pattern baldness will start in the late 20s and early 30s. It often starts slowly, with times of both slow and fast hair loss, mixed with times when hair loss stays the same. Hair loss in the frontal area is usually the first place where hair is lost. The hairline near the temples usually goes back, making an “M” shape. Some men stop losing hair in the front, while others continue losing it in other areas, like the crown. These two areas of hair loss can merge over time, leaving the head’s front, top, and crown bald. This creates a horseshoe or U-shaped hair pattern around the head’s sides. Hair follicles may succumb to DHT-driven miniaturization process or age-related volume loss. Even those with no genetic predisposition may be affected. Most men in their 70’s and 80’s will show signs of hair thinning or loss.
NORWOOD CLASSIFICATION SCALE
The Norwood Classification Scale helps identify a man’s stage of hair loss. It categorizes baldness from Stage 1 (no hair loss) to Stage 7 (near total hair loss). Male pattern baldness is classified from Stage 1 to Stage 7. Stage 1 means no hair loss, while Stage 7 means near-total hair loss. Hair remains only around the back and on the sides of the scalp in Stage 7, creating a “horseshoe” pattern. Male pattern baldness mostly follows this pattern. Rare patterns include overall thinning. The Norwood Classification Scale categories include:
STAGE 1
Represents a young person’s hairline with barely any or no pullback. No need for treatment.
STAGE 2
Indicates it is moving to an adult hairline, showing a slight turn back at the front. It’s not a sign of balding.
STAGE 2A
Represents a young one’s hairline with little or no recession. No treatment is needed.
STAGE 3A
The front hairline recedes the most, and more hair thinning is in the front.
STAGE 3
This is when male hair loss starts. It forms an ‘M’ shape due to a deepening recession. These spots are bald or covered sparsely by hair.
STAGE 3 VERTEX
Early hair loss is indicated, mainly in the crown (vertex).
STAGE 4
This condition causes more hair loss at the front and an increase in size at the top. However, a thick band of hair in the middle of the scalp still separates the front and crown.
STAGE 4A
Resembles Stage 4 but with additional hair loss at the top and front of the head.
Is similar to Stage 4 only with more thinning on the upper and frontal part of the scalp.
STAGE 5
In stages 5 to 7, hair loss worsens at the front and crown, and the hair bridge between them starts to thin. From above, you can see that the sides and back form a horseshoe shape with remaining hair.
STAGE 5A
Stage 6 is like Stage 5, but there is more hair loss at the top and front of the scalp.
STAGE 6
When the hair bridge disappears and only a little hair is left, it causes more hair loss on the sides of the scalp.
STAGE 7
This is the most severe type of hair loss. Only a small amount of hair stays on the back and sides of the head, and it might be very thin.
DIAGNOSIS OF MALE HAIR LOSS
We diagnose male pattern baldness by looking at hair loss and patterns. We consider your medical history, medication list, and hair loss history and perform a thorough scalp check. This lets us determine hair follicle miniaturization and rule out scalp skin disorders, meal-related factors, or health conditions causing hair loss. If we’re unsure or scarring alopecia worries us, we can also do a scalp biopsy. Dr. Yaker uses advanced hair and scalp tech to help spot hair loss and study hair shapes and scalp surfaces. This involves a special digital microscope and a smart trichology app. The result? A complete measurement of hair thickness, lengths, and hair count in a specific area.
SIGNS OF HAIR LOSS
Health or skin issues might cause hair to thin or fall out, including scalp itchiness, redness, hair breaking, hair falling, soreness, flaking, in patches, sudden hair loss, or abnormal hair loss patterns.
MALE HAIR LOSS TREATMENTS
Male hair loss can be effectively controlled with state-of-the-art nonsurgical and surgical treatments. Once a diagnosis is confirmed, Dr. Yaker crafts a tailored treatment based on hair characteristics, hair loss severity, and the patient’s desired look.
NONSURGICAL TREATMENTS
The nonsurgical route includes hair and scalp therapy with Dr. Yaker’s fortified Glycolic Acid Shampoo and Conditioner. These enhance hair health via deep scalp cleaning and balancing scalp and hair moisture and pH levels. Dr. Yaker’s unique Aminoplex hair repair supplement consists of amino acids, keratin’s key constituents, which form about 97% of our hair. The doctor also prescribes FDA-cleared medications like Finasteride (Propecia®) and Minoxidil (Rogaine®), which have proven to slow, stop, or even reverse hair loss. Other nonsurgical options are Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) combined with placenta-derived extracellular matrix therapy and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for thinning hair. Lastly, Dr. Yaker offers Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP), a technique involving tiny pigment dots on the scalp to mimic natural hair follicles. Combining these treatments offers even better hair improvements than using them individually.
HAIR TRANSPLANT SURGERY
Basic hair loss remedies may not be enough for those with major hair thinning. In such cases, a hair transplant can be an effective solution. These surgeries boost confidence and life satisfaction through advanced hair replacement methods. Cutting-edge techniques include Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). These involve relocating hair from the rear of the head to bald patches. The transplanted hair won’t fall out because it behaves like the hair in the original area, a feature known as genetic permanence. Either method promises lasting and natural-looking results. The main difference between them is the method of hair extraction. Dr. Yaker will assess if you have enough healthy hair in the permanent zone to transfer to hair loss areas..
