By Patrick Huguenin
The prospect of going bald can be a nightmare, and so can figuring out what to do about it. How do you know what treatment is right for you—or what’s going to work? If you’ve ever worried about side effects, or wondered if there’s a natural solution before you jump to medication, read this. We sat down with a doctor to get the truth about what stops balding, and if you can ever get back the hair you’ve already lost.
What we used to call “hair plugs” are now described as “hair transplantation.” Gone are the days when the surgery resulted in clumps of what looked like doll hair sticking out of the front of your head. Now hairs are moved individually from the back of your head to the areas that need them.
“We don’t understand why, but men do not lose hair in the back of the head,” says Zeichner. “In a transplant, those hairs are moved individually or in small groups to other areas of the scalp to recreate a natural-appearing hair line.”
The newest techniques can blend the hair grafts seamlessly into your natural hair. And, yes, they will grow once they get established.
The bad news: surgery is painful and costly—think $10,000 and up. Plus, it takes time for the transplanted follicles to become active.
So while there’s no perfect option, there are proven ways to slow your hair loss, and for many men, you can get hair back. Talk to your doctor about your concerns. Or, if reaching for medicine isn’t your style, there’s always time to talk to your barber.
