Medical Treatment

Non-Surgical Treatment for Hair Loss

A hair transplant is often not required to counter hair loss. Many of our patients at Southwest Plastic Surgery come in worried about hair loss and are ‘motivated’ to get a transplant. Not everyone with hair loss needs or is a candidate for a surgical treatment. To such patients we advise medical, non-surgical solutions, or a combination of medical & surgical treatment for their hair loss problems.

Medication

Medications help treat as well as prevent hair loss. Mostly useful in the earlier stages of balding, the medications are instrumental in preventing baldness once the onset is recognized.

Finasteride (Propecia)

Propecia is an oral medication containing 1mg finasteride. It works by inhibiting DHT which is a key factor in hair loss. Propecia works especially well as a reversing agent in the early stages of genetic baldness. A prescription is needed for finasteride. This medicine is most effective in younger patients and least effective in the front portion of the scalp where a hair transplant would be more suitable.

Finasteride is only FDA approved for use by men. It is associated with a 2% risk of sexual side effects, including loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, and decrease in the production of semen. In studies, men who stopped taking the medication due to sexual side effect returned to normal.

Minoxidil (Rogaine)

Rogaine is a topical medicine that works by directly stimulating hair growth. It is most effective against hair loss if it is used along with Propecia. Solo application of this drug is not as effective. As minoxidil is a generic drug you don’t need a prescription to get it. Women are more susceptible to Rogaine’s side effects that may include the growth of facial hair. However, the facial hair usually disappears once a woman stops using the medicine.

Formula 82M

Formula 82M has shown increased results compared to standard strength minoxidil alone. It is comprised of a combination of extra strength minoxidil, tretinoin, a topical steroid, and a natural alpha reductase-blocking agent. The combination of active ingredients increases absorption of the minoxidil and efficacy. Formula 82M is a prescription medication available through a compounding pharmacy. Talk to Dr. Agullo to learn more about this medication.

Low Level Laser Therapy

Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a non-surgical hair loss treatment based on the photo-biotherapy principle. For this treatment a laser light is used for stimulating hair follicles which then start to grow thicker hair. This stimulated cell growth ultimately creates a fuller look.

It has been noted that LLLT is particularly useful against diffuse hair loss, the prevalent female pattern baldness. This is because the laser therapy is most effective on thinning hair areas rather than complete bald patches.

Low level laser therapy is available in several versions. The most convenient form is done at your home using a combing device to apply the laser to the scalp. You can visit Southwest Plastic Surgery to take advantage of our advanced medical grade low-level laser therapy devices, which are not available at retail stores or online.

PRP (Protein Rich Plasma)

Protein Rich Plasma is blood plasma that has been enriched with platelets, which are then activated to release multiple growth factors, and cytokines that promote healing. PRP is currently used to treat hair loss, improve graft take after hair transplantation, to improve wound healing, and as filler for facial rejuvenation (referred to as “Vampire Facelift”).

The application of Protein Rich Plasma (PRP) is not new to hair loss treatments. For many years it has been used to improve hair take after transplantation and wound healing. Recently, through advances in techniques and research, treatments with PRP have shown to wake up dormant hair follicles in hair loss patients, resulting in hair growth and hair loss cessation. This technique is especially useful in patients with miniaturization of the hair shafts, since the technique can awaken these to resume normal hair growth. It is less effective in areas of complete baldness. The treatment consists of drawing blood from you’re a vein in your arm in a similar fashion as when blood is drawn for labs. The blood is then processed to obtain the protein rich plasma, which is then injected into the scalp’s area of hair loss and activated. The process is then repeated every 4 to 6 months.

Cost for Medical Treatments

Pricing varies depending on the extent of the treatment. You can see a list of the approximate prices of each procedure on our current fee schedule.  Generally speaking, cosmetic plastic surgery is considered “elective” and is not covered by most insurance plans. The prices listed on our fee schedule represent the minimum cost of the procedures, including anesthesia and surgical facility fees, medical tests, garments, and recovery products. The cost of prescription medications, however, is not included. The exact price of each procedure can only be determined after a thorough consultation. All fees must be paid in full prior to the scheduled treatment.

Dr. Agullo is proud to offer the latest technological advances to his patients, including PRP treatments for hair loss for patients in the Southwest, including El Paso, Las Cruces, Alamogordo, New Mexico, Juarez, and Chihuahua. Please feel free to visit Southwest Plastic Surgery where we will help you make the best hair loss treatment decision. Contact us.