In this hub I will share my experience in fighting hair loss. I hope that it will help!!

I was around 18 when I noticed an increased hair loss. Initially I thought that it could be something normal -the passage from the childhood to the adult hairline, with the typical 'concave' shape at the frontal area.

However, the process did not end, actually the loss increased as I did not act.

So, it started a long series of 'remedies':

-initially I consulted the dermatologist and, in around 6-8 months, a tried several products to apply to my scalp... liquids that had to be applied with a brush, creams, liquids to spry, gels, shampoos... In the end no much benefit.

-then I passed to herbal products: pills, drinks, stuff to put on the scalp.......no good results.

-then I decided to try a specialised hair-centre; not only one but two different centres in 2 years: more products to put on the scalp (lotions, oils, shampoos), steam treatments, bla bla bla...

The point was that I always had an initial benefit, but then the problem returned...

In the meanwhile the problem was becoming a kind of obvious so, after the hair-centres I opted for the 'magic' molecule: the minoxidil (that has several commercial names).

I mean, the idea is great, you put this lotion on the bald area and after a few weeks you have your hair back. Unfortunately there are 2 bad news: (1) reading the possible side effects one has to wonder what is he really putting on his head (2) if one stops to use the minoxidil the new hair will go... What?! Should I use that stuff for the rest of my life!?

Basically, the new hair was just the result of a chemical stimulation that could not be interrupted...

Ok, at this point I was tired of lotions, shampoos, etc.. It was no more the matter of stopping the falling but to have my hair back.

Transplant:

At that time I thought that the transplant consisted of: grabbing hair from the back and plant it on the front (like trees).

Fortunately, I made some research on the web to discover that transplant has evolved and of course there the modern techniques produce a better result and are less invasive.

Of course, there are still transplant centres that continue to propose old-fashioned methods.

For "old-fashioned methods" I mean that the transplant consists of:

-taking a strip skin from the back of the head (donor area)

-cleaning it (eliminating the skin, the blood and obtaining the hair follicles)

-'planting' the follicles into the bald area.

This procedure has several problems: (1) pulling away a strip skin from the scalp is not so nice (knife, scalpel, stitches). A part from the post-operational pain, it increases the risk of infection, the stitches and the strip will leave a permanent sign and the healing process will be long. (2) as soon as the stripe of scalp is removed its hair-follicles will start to deteriorate and die because of the lack of the blood flow and the cleaning process requires time. Let's say that in a strip of skin there is 1000 hair. The first 500 to be taken out from the dying skin and relocated into the bald area will have good chances to survive.

Conclusion: and area will be devastated to obtain a few good grafts.

After a bit of research, where I also consulted google.scholar for scientific advice) I found a recent technique that consists of using a tool (similar to a ball-point pen) and a microscope to obtain single follicular hair units that will be rapidly inserted into the bald area without other stress.

I decided to go for it (I also visited some 'traditional' clinics that proposed me the old-fashioned method).

I was lucky because the clinic that I chose offered a substantial discount plus the accommodation!!! (2 nights). I just accepted.

Of course the day of the procedure I was a bit nervous, but everything was fine. The ‘pen' made tiny incision around the hair of the donor area that was pulled out and immediately put into a ‘terrain' that kept it alive until it was ‘planted' into the bald area. The morning after the procedure the bandage on the donor area was removed (no bandage in the ex-bald area) and I could go home. I just had to was my head frequently to remove dead cells, sebum, etc... The new hair was already in place indistinguishable from the other and looked natural. No scars or other signs on the donor area (when I shaved my head checked the donor area using 2 mirrors, it looks perfect).

In the end I am very satisfied of the result.

So, ma suggestions are:

• 1) Ok, it is possible to have a soft-start, but do not wait for too long!!!
• 2) If you decide for a transplant search for a state-of-the-art technique that will guarantee you the best result and the best way to spend you money (there might be cheaper options but, hey they will not do the job for free and what will you do if your hair will grow patchy like a broom?!).
• 3) Shop around, normally hair clinics have several branches and it is ok to take a flight to have the treatment in another city if that branch is doing a promotion.

-On my blog you could find a more detailed story.

I hope that you found this interesting!

Johnny