You never know what you have until it’s gone. If you’ve started to lose hair, it can feel overwhelming to research the different treatment options, let alone choose one. A hair transplant is the only permanent solution to genetic hair loss, but many people understandably feel apprehensive about getting one – it’s a big step!
If a hair transplant doesn’t feel like the right choice for you right now, you may be wondering what the best non-surgical hair loss treatment options are.
At Gro, we’re all about honest advice and promoting tried, tested and science-backed treatment options. So, here’s the low-down on non-surgical hair loss solutions and what results to expect from each.
Will non-surgical hair loss solutions work?
Hair loss could be caused by many things. It could be genetic male pattern baldness, or you might have gone through a stressful event that caused telogen effluvium, or it might simply be the effects of your lifestyle.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to hair loss. How well a treatment will work will depend on what type of hair loss you’re experiencing, especially whether your hair loss is of a permanent or temporary nature. As a starting point, it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis of the reasons for your hair loss.
So, while the non-surgical treatments mentioned here may work for some people, they may not work for others. It all depends on the type and stage of hair loss, as well as what your desired results are.
Non-surgical hair loss solutions for thinning hair
Medication
There are two hair loss medications on the market that are proven to slow down, and in some cases, even reverse hair loss. We can’t mention their names here for legal reasons (due to regulations on the advertising of pharmaceuticals in Australia), but your GP will be able to tell you more. Alternatively, you can book an online doctor’s appointment with the Gro online clinic to find out about medical treatment options for hair loss.
PRP
You may have heard about PRP (stands for platelet-rich plasma) in the context of skin treatments, where it’s sometimes referred to as a “vampire facial”. But fear not, PRP is not as scary as it sounds – it’s a treatment where plasma from your own blood is injected into the treatment area to boost cell growth. In addition to rejuvenating skin, it can be used to heal sports injuries, as well as on the scalp to stimulate hair growth and strengthen the hair follicles.
Like many of the non-surgical treatments, PRP won’t grow back hair that has been lost completely due to genetics, but it can boost growth in areas that are thinning.
Low-level laser therapy (also known as red light therapy)
A trend you may have come across if you’ve spent any time Googling non-surgical hair loss treatments is LLLT – low-level laser therapy (also known as red light therapy). You may have even seen the various laser hats, helmets and combs promoted online as a cure to baldness (tip: don’t throw your money at them just yet).
In LLLT, photons are irradiated into scalp tissues, where weak cells absorb them, hopefully encouraging hair growth.
The research on the effectiveness of LLLT is inconclusive at this point. Some in the medical field believe it may offer some benefit for sufferers of androgenetic alopecia, while others are more doubtful. There’s one thing we know – LLLT doesn’t work in completely bald areas, as it can’t revive dead hair follicles. Additionally, LLLT can help with the healing process after a hair transplant procedure.
Supplements
Hair growth is one of the first things to go when the body is nutrient-deficient. So, ensure your body has all the nutrients it needs to grow hair by eating a healthy, balanced diet. In addition, a multivitamin supplement is a cheap insurance policy to make sure your hair gets everything it needs to stay thick and luscious.
Lifestyle adjustments
In some cases, hair loss may be triggered by lifestyle, rather than genes. Stress, smoking, poor sleep, a bad diet and a lack of exercise can all have an impact on your hair. A healthy lifestyle won’t cure it all, but it will ensure you’re not making your hair loss worse than it needs to be. Eat healthy, exercise, sleep 7-9 hours per night and quit smoking to help your hair get the oxygen and nutrients it needs to grow.
Hair products
If your scalp is itchy or flaky, it may cause more hair to fall out. While hair products won’t grow your hair back, quality products do help promote hair growth through improved scalp health. Vice versa, poor quality products can damage your hair by drying it out.
But what about those caffeine-induced miracle shampoos that promise to give you thick, long hair in the space of a couple of months? It’s more often a case of good marketing – there is no magic potion to drastically change the rate of your hair growth. However, some of these products (if they’re of good quality) may help improve circulation in the scalp and prevent breakage.
When to consider the non-surgical alternative
Now that we’ve covered the non-surgical hair loss solutions, it’s important to make clear that the only permanent way to reverse genetic balding is through a hair transplant.
What some people may not realise is that a microsurgery hair transplant is also a completely natural hair loss solution – it uses your own hair follicles that are resistant to balding, simply transplanting them to a different area of the scalp.
Because genetics is by far the most common cause of hair loss, hair transplant procedures are becoming increasingly more popular. The demand has grown even more thanks to modern-day transplant techniques that are non-invasive and offer natural-looking results.
Here at Gro, our transplants are done without knives and stitches. The results look completely natural and there is no scarring, so no one will even be able to tell you’ve had a hair transplant.
However, this is not the case for every clinic out there. Never choose a clinic or a doctor just because they are the cheapest one – research your options to ensure you are investing your money in a reliable, long-term solution.
If your hair loss is due to androgenetic alopecia and it’s causing you significant distress, a hair transplant may be the right choice for you. Speak to one of our hair loss consultants to get more information on what a hair transplant micro-transplant could achieve for you.
Hair growth solutions
At Gro, we offer products, treatments and solutions for every stage of hair loss, whether you want to promote healthy hair growth or restore your hair. We offer prescription medications through our online clinic, PRP therapy, hair growth supplements, everyday hair care products and micro-transplant hair transplants.
For more information, see the links below:
- Online prescription medications
- PRP treatment
- Hair products and supplements
- Micro-transplant hair transplant
Book your consultation
Hair loss can take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. The experienced doctors at Gro understand the complex effects hair loss may have on your life and can help you take back control with medically proven treatments. Book an appointment at our online clinic to speak with an Australian doctor who can diagnose the cause of your hair loss and offer a tailored treatment solution. Click on the button below to get started.
