Types of treatments
There are several types of treatments for both male and female
hair loss and baldness, some of which are available from Dr.
Shiell. He will discuss these with you during your consultation,
which you can book on our ‘A
Word with the Doctor’ page, but below is a quick outline
of their relative merits.
If you would like more information, please click
here to notify one of our team members.
Minoxidil
Originally developed for the treatment of high blood pressure,
Minoxidil is a drug which produces modest hair growth in about
30% of patients. Unfortunately, to maintain this hair growth,
Minoxidil treatment must be continued daily for life or the
results will be quickly lost.
Finasteride (Propecia and Proscar)
Developed to counteract prostate enlargement, this drug retards
hair loss in males and in about 50% of patients some regrowth
can be seen after 6-12 months. Please note that the doses are
smaller than for its original intended use.
It is also quite costly, as treatment must be maintained
for life. Newer drugs are being developed, but none of these
are expected to produce a full growth of hair.
Wigs, Toupees, Hair Fusion, Hair Extensions, Hair Weaves and
Hair Pieces
No matter what they are called, all of these devices are artificial
prostheses, which are attached to the scalp by varying methods.
The most common is by the aid of double sided adhesive tape
and miniature clips. Other methods have involved the use of
wire loops sewn into the scalp.
In the process of hair weaving, the hairpiece is firmly attached
to the remaining natural hair but needs to be adjusted every
5-6 weeks as the unit becomes looser due to growth of the
underlying hair. Problems may occur at these points of attachment
as the continuous pulling may lead to permanent hair loss
in these regions.
A further problem is that scalp sweating may cause odours
and deterioration of the hairpiece. You can shower or swim
in a wig but these activities may hasten the deterioration
of the unit so that frequent refurbishment is necessary. Generally
speaking, hair pieces need to be replaced every 1-2 years
and re-tinting can be necessary every 6 months or so.
Artificial Hair Implants
These have been available for a number of years and have improved
greatly in appearance and texture so that they are difficult
to distinguish from natural hair. They suffer from the major
disadvantage that these hairs are gradually shed over a 3 -
36 month period and need annual "top-up" procedures.
There are many other minor problems but the big advantage is
that there is a limitless supply of artificial hair fibres.
Types of Surgical Procedures
1. Hair Transplantation - this is by far the most common
procedure world wide.
2. Alopecia excision - once popular but now only used
occasionally in selected cases.
3. Flap reduction surgery - still used on rare occasions
by some Plastic Surgeons.
Modern Hair Transplantation
The aim of today's hair transplantation is to mimic the natural
hairline and randomness of normal hair growth. Thankfully, it
is very successful in doing so. Since hair transplantation was
invented in Japan in 1939 and then reborn in America in 1956,
things have progressed significantly. In those 50 years, hair
transplantation has developed, just as much as the car! From
the early days of crude but effective plugs, hair transplantation
and hair replacement now uses state-of-the-art techniques. All
Dr. Shiell’s procedures are completed under mild sedation
and a "local" anaesthetic in our purpose-designed
and equipped, Shiell Clinic.
Our Contact Us page
shows you where we are located or you can make your specific
enquiry with our A
Word with the Doctor enquiry form.
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