FAQ

Hair loss is the process during which a hair shaft detaches from its follicle and remains attached to the scalp for about 1-4 months until the new born hair pushes it and causes it to fall off. Losing 100 to 125 hairs a day is normal. These are constantly regenerated. When more hairs fall than those generated or when the new hairs start gradually growing thinner than the old, then we have to do with a hair loss condition.

Even though it is normal to lose up to about 100 – 125 hairs a day although too much brushing, hair rubbing or excessive washing can add to this. Hair loss may increase with age but male-pattern baldness is not abnormal, or a sign of abnormality, it simply suggests that your pattern of hair loss is, like 95% of hair loss in men, genetically pre-determined.

Androgenetic Alopecia – the modern term for male pattern hair loss – can be broken down into two parts. First, ANDROGENETIC which consists of ANDROGEN, meaning any of the various hormones that control the appearances and development of masculine characteristics such as testosterone. And the word GENETIC, meaning the inheritance of genes from either the mother or the father\’s side of the family. Add the word AGE, when coupled with genetics, and it represents a time clock that will signal the hair follicle to produce an enzyme named 5 alpha reductase. When the testosterone present in the follicle combines with the enzyme 5 alpha reductase, it produces dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Second, ALOPECIA, meaning hair loss, of which there are many types.

Sometimes stress can play a role in diffuse loss. Stress-induced loss ordinarily regrows within a year of eliminating the cause. In the absence of any prolonged emotional or physical trauma that has noticeably affected your overall health, stress is not likely the cause. Crash dieting, medical conditions, certain medications, pregnancy, and other major life changes can initiate stress-shedding however. In some cases extreme emotional tension for prolonged periods of time can have an effect as well. However if you are a male between the ages of 18 and 35 and you are seeing thinning hair or hair loss in the traditional patterns, you are most likely experiencing male pattern baldness, and should consider prevention of further loss now.

Individuals with Alopecia Areata (patchy hair loss), Alopecia Universalis or Alopecia Totalis, can typically be struggling with an autoimmune condition. These could be considered stress triggers, as an overactive immune system is akin to a stress response, but the true condition is autoimmune, versus “stress”.

Thinning and loss of hair can be a devastating experience for women in menopause. At a recent poll, forty per cent (40%) of women stated that losing their hair is like losing a limb. Although 30 million women in the United States suffer from this symptom during menopause, most of them do not notice it early on. Since very few know that hair loss is something that can be prevented or even reversed, panic might be their initial reaction right after they become aware of it.

Nutritional problems that result from heavy dieting or eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, can also shock the hair follicles to temporarily stop growing. As with illness, inadequate nutrition, including insufficient protein, vitamins or minerals, taxes the body, and this may cause a shift into a protective mode that minimizes nonessential functions such as hair growth.

At Austin Hair Graft we highly recommend a minimum of 48 sessions over the course of a year for optimal results. You will start to see improvements in as little as 6 weeks, but the best results come with consistent use of the laser. We recommend the following protocol: 1 session twice per week for 12 weeks, 1 session once a week for 12 weeks, and 1 session every other week for 6 months. Each session takes approximately 30 minutes.

The length of time for a transplant procedure varies depending on the number of grafts a patient needs. During your consultation, our skilled medical technicians will determine the number of transplants needed for optimal results, and will also determine the length of time for your procedure.

During a hair restoration consultation, our highly trained medical staff will walk you through all of your options for hair restoration. We will discuss our hair transplantation system, laser hair restoration devices, medical management, and hair restoring product lines. During consultation, we will evaluate your type of hair loss, determine your goals, and make recommendations for how we can best meet your expectations.