I was recently asked to return to WebTalk Radio's Inside Cosmetic Surgery today to discuss female hair loss and menopause with Dr. Barry Lycka. We discussed everything from risk factors and warning signs to treatment options and prevention tips.
You can listen to the podcast, here.
Key takeaways for women at risk for hair loss:
1. A woman’s chance of losing hair after menopause is almost just as high as it is for men at that age, but female pattern hair loss looks different.
2. It’s easy to miss the early warning signs of female pattern hair loss – but catching it early is key, as 50% loss can occur before it’s noticeable to the human eye. There are a number of effective treatments for female hair loss, but the best results occur when they’re started early on.
3. Hair loss around menopause is common due to changes in hormone levels and activity, but it cannot be commonly cured with hormone replacement alone.
4. Genetic predisposition, unusual levels of stress, hormonal imbalances, vitamin deficiencies, crash diets, medications, as well as a history of illness and surgery can also be contributing factors to female hair loss.
5. Most women benefit from a combination of pharmaceutical and lifestyle changes in treating their hair loss and thinning. Results are proportional to your level of discipline and compliance with the prescribed regimen.
6. Medical treatments to protect and enhance hair follicle functioning may include compounded topical minoxidil Formula 82M, platelet-rich plasma injections, Latisse/Bimatoprost or other prostaglandin analogs, low-level laser therapy, off-label anti-androgens (for post-menopausal women only) and nutritional supplements like Viviscal Professional and pharmaceutical grade biotin.
7. Routine diagnostic and tracking methods with scientific HairCam™ microscopic scalp analysis and HairCheck™ measurements are key to help you and your doctor determine how well your treatments are working and when to make changes to your regimen.
8. No-scalpel/No-stitch hair transplant harvesting techniques like NeoGraft FUE can restore density in severely depleted areas of scalp without the risks of scarring, discomfort, downtime and unnaturalness of old-style procedures.
If you have menopause-related hair loss concerns, contact a Hair Restoration Physician who can work with you to determine the most effective treatment regimen for your specific needs. Patients should look for doctor who is a full-time medical hair loss specialist who is certified by the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery and recommended by the American Hair Loss Association. Only a qualified and experienced hair restoration physician can perform natural-looking hair transplants and prescribe the most effective multi-therapy treatment options, including the latest available products.
