Dealing with hair loss is never a fun thing because most men feel it is an attack on their manhood. We can dispense with this idea right at the beginning. About 95% of men who suffer from hair loss, and deal with a hair replacement center, have a condition called androgenic alopecia. This is a genetic medical condition which is passed down from either side of the patient’s family unlike what the old wives tale said about baldness coming from the mother’s side. This problem is tied directly to the male hormone testosterone which is responsible for a man’s muscular growth and deep voice. So you see, male pattern baldness, the common name for androgenic alopecia, is actually a sign of masculinity.
The mechanism by which this hair loss occurs is very well known. When the hormone testosterone is metabolized in the body it creates several substances called metabolites. One of these metabolites is Dihydrotestosterone or DHT. DHT will actually attack the hair follicles and cause them to stop producing keratin. Keratin is the material that makes up a hair shaft and this shaft is what you see sticking out of your head. A normally functioning hair follicle will convert nutrients and oxygen into keratin and this process slowly pushes the hair shaft up and out of the scalp. This is the same way grass grows, from the roots up, as opposed to a tree which grows from the top. If our hair grew from the top once we got a hair cut and removed the top we would not have any more hair growth.
When a man suffers from male pattern baldness the testosterone metabolite DHT actually interrupts this process. The DHT bonds on receptors on the hair roots which inhibits the transfer of nutrients and oxygen. This causes the hair follicle to slowly stop producing hair shaft material and the hair shaft gets thinner and thinner. Eventually it can no longer support itself and it breaks off and falls out. The follicle at this point will no longer be able to grow hair.
Some hair replacement products will help to correct this problem but they need to be used early in the hair loss product. A DHT blocker will actually inhibit the production of this metabolite and since there is less in the body there is less to attack the hair. Other hair replacement products will protect the hair root by not allowing the DHT to bond with the receptors. Either way, much better results are obtained when these are used early.
Once the hair has fallen out many men will visit a hair replacement center to discuss their options. Most of these centers are focused on hair restoration surgery which is the transplantation of hair follicles from one area of the scalp to another. This is a very effective means of dealing with hair loss caused by androgenic alopecia because it actually takes follicles that can still grow hair and places them in the area where the follicles can no longer accomplish that. An interested aspect of male pattern baldness that allows this form of hair replacement to work is the fact that men do not lose their hair at the back of their head. Thus there is a very good donation site here for removal of hair follicles.
Another method for treating hair loss that you may find is a [hair replacement system]. This is actually a toupee or hair piece under a new name. Modern manufacturing techniques have made these hair systems perform much better than the old hair pieces so they changed the name. It seems like they could have picked a better one though.
When you are looking for a hair replacement center it is a good idea to check with the Better Business Bureau in your area to see if there are any complaints. Most centers are well run but there are some scam artists out there. When you go for a consultation be sure you ask to see pictures of former patients. The center should have many photos of different hair restoration procedures they have done, in fact they should have a before and after picture of each one. If they can’t show you examples of their work then you probably want to go somewhere else. Also, the hair surgery will involve a medical procedure on your body so the center of course should be cleanly and the staff well groomed. You should expect nothing less than you would see at your normal doctor’s office.
Men’s hair replacement is a big business and unfortunately this can cause unscrupulous people to get into the business. There is no governing or sanctioning board for hair replacement so you need to do your research well before you opt for a procedure at a hair replacement center.
