Choosing a hair loss treatment can be difficult with the number of hair loss treatments available today. If you’re looking for a transformative, permanent result, a transplant may be ideal – whereas laser and platelet-rich plasma therapies could be more suitable if your hair loss is at an early stage.
There has never been a broader range of hair loss treatments to choose from [1], including transplants, PRP, topical medications, microneedling, and laser therapy. The best advice is to speak with a qualified practitioner who can offer personalised recommendations.
This guide summarises some of the most popular approaches to hair loss and highlights factors that might influence your decision-making.
Choosing a Hair Loss Treatment: Key Takeaways
- Hair transplants offer the most dramatic results for patients tackling hair loss, as a surgical procedure that involves transplanting individual follicles.
- Non-surgical therapies such as PRP and laser treatments may be suitable when a hair transplant isn’t possible or isn’t yet necessary.
- Medications and topical treatments are further options and are often used in conjunction with other therapies or to slow down pattern hair loss while waiting for a hair transplant.
How Can I Pick the Right Hair Loss Treatment?
The best starting point is to think about what you want from your hair loss treatment and which options you are comfortable with. You can then book a consultation to discuss your preferences and objectives with a professional clinician.
In summary, we’ve listed some options below with their primary applications.
| Hair Loss Treatment | Applications |
| FUE Hair Transplant | Bespoke hair transplant surgery that can correct hair loss on the scalp, eyebrows or beard. |
| Platelet-Rich Laser Therapy | Non-surgical treatment using concentrated compounds from your own blood to activate dormant follicles. |
| Laser Light Therapy | Pain-free therapies that use red light to stimulate cellular activity and blood flow to the scalp. |
| Topical Medications | Slow pattern hair loss or rebalance hormones to stop aggressive balding and thinning. |
| Cosmetic Products | Provides a short-term visual improvement |
When Would a Hair Transplant Be the Best Treatment for Me?
Hair transplants are often a great solution for patients for whom hair loss is causing stress, anxiety or impacting their self-esteem – and who want a one-day, permanent result, rather than a therapy they’ll have to repeat regularly.
The results aren’t instant; it takes a few months to see the final outcome, but once donor hairs have embedded and begun growing, they’ll continue producing new hair.
Are There Any Hair Transplant Alternatives That Offer Permanent Results?
No, currently, hair transplantation is the only procedure suited to most causes of hair loss that delivers results that last a lifetime.
However, advances in medications for hair loss may mean that further treatments become available, with testing underway looking at antibody therapies and follicular stem cells as just a couple of examples. [2]
Dr Matee, Surgical Director at KSL Clinic, says, ‘It’s natural to be unsure or nervous about scheduling a surgical procedure, and patients are best advised to think about their own priorities and ask themselves questions to ensure they’re comfortable with their decisions before they proceed.’
When Is a Non-Surgical Hair Loss Treatment My Best Option?
A non-surgical therapy like PRP is a better choice for patients who aren’t candidates for hair transplants, which could be due to several factors, but usually when there isn’t enough donor hair for a transplant.
Practitioners can also advise that a hair transplant isn’t recommended if the patient has unrealistic or unachievable expectations or is below an age at which hair transplant surgery is deemed safe.
Can Topical Medications Replicate the Results of a Hair Transplant?
Generally, no. A medication might slow hair loss, improve your hair’s appearance, or stop further shedding, but it can’t necessarily reverse balding.
There are two primary hair loss medications prescribed in the UK:
- Finasteride is only suitable for men and works by reducing the levels of hormones that cause hair follicles to shrink, leading to pattern hair loss.
- Minoxidil is suitable for any gender and is sold under the Regaine brand. It improves blood flow to the scalp, which boosts oxygen and nutrients that help to extend growth phases.
Both medications are effective, but they won’t produce the same results as a hair transplant and should only be taken under a practitioner’s care.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Factors Will Influence the Best Hair Loss Treatment?
The stage of your hair loss, the health of your remaining hair, the availability of donor follicles, your wishes and expectations will all affect the recommendations a hair restoration professional offers.
How Many Hairs a Day Constitutes Hair Loss?
Most people lose about 50 to 100 hairs each day, and this is a normal process in which hair enters new growth and resting phases. If you are losing a lot of hair or seeing your hair get progressively thinner, this is more likely to be actual hair loss.
What Factors Will Influence the Best Hair Loss Treatment?
The stage of your hair loss, the health of your remaining hair, the availability of donor follicles, your wishes and expectations will all affect the recommendations a hair restoration professional offers.
How Many Hairs a Day Constitutes Hair Loss?
Most people lose about 50 to 100 hairs each day, and this is a normal process in which hair enters new growth and resting phases. If you are losing a lot of hair or seeing your hair get progressively thinner, this is more likely to be actual hair loss.
