How does hair restoration compare with drugs like Rogaine?

Over the counter products (such as Rogaine) are best used to slow balding and retain what hair is left on the head, but Rogaine is not considered a viable solution for those looking to restore hair on the top of the head or at the hairline. Unfortunately, it does not cure baldness. While it can delay the loss of additional hair due to androgenic alopecia, any hair retained or regrown with Rogaine will be lost within a few months after the drug is stopped.

The manufacturer Johnson & Johnson have noted that Rogaine is not effective in the frontal area, which is the area of most concern to most patients, especially the frontal hairline. They claim that approximately 8-10% of users achieve cosmetically effective growth and another 20% get vellus (or peach fuzz) growth.

Hair restoration is a permanent and relatively simple procedure that actually restores hair. It achieves a natural look. The Bosley hair transplant procedure takes hair follicles from the very back and sides of the head and artfully transplants them to thinning or balding areas. Our skilled physicians take hair from where you have more than you need (the back of head) and put it where you need it most (front of head). It’s the ideal solution to baldness because it uses your own hair.

Bosley hair transplants can help people experiencing virtually every level of hair loss, at any age (over 21) depending on whether the patient has enough hair in the donor area. First we would determine which class of hair loss a patient is in.

Class 2 is characterized by the beginning of a receding hairline and a “widow’s peak” on the forehead.

Class 3 patients exhibit a more significant decline in hair above the temples as well as receding from the forehead. In Class 3 Vertex, hair loss is starting to become significant on the crown.

Class 4 hair loss may become more noticeable on the crown or patients may have significant hair loss above the temples and/or front anterior areas.

Class 5 hair loss approaches significant levels with most hair loss occurring on the top of the vertex and crown. Hair transplantation for this Class and higher Class levels may require more grafts to provide coverage and density.

Class 6 patients show major hair loss, but still have areas with donor hair available. Transplanting this hair can still have excellent results.

Class 7 patients show the most significant loss of hair. There may still be sufficient donor hair for transplantation; however, results may be limited.

Hair restoration at Bosley is a relatively simple outpatient procedure. Many of our patients go to work the very next day. And side effects of hair transplantation are almost minor. Infection occurrences after a hair transplant procedure are rare. In the very few cases where infection does occur, it is often due to the patient’s failure to fully follow post-operative instructions. Unlike Rogaine and other over the counter hair loss treatments, the hair transplantation procedure provides a permanent solution to hair loss that involves re-growing your own natural hair.