Hair Transplants vs. Medication: Which Is Right for Me?

Hair is often a central part of a person’s identity — if it begins to fall out, you may not be comfortable. Although hair loss is common, you don’t have to live with it. You have restoration options, but understanding which ones are real, science-backed treatments can be confusing. 

At NeoGraft Hair Restoration in Westport, Connecticut, Dr. Dana Brownell and her staff understand just how important your hair can be to your self-confidence, and we’re here to help. One question our patients ask often is whether they should try medication before they commit to a hair transplant procedure. In this post, we describe your options. 

Hair loss medications

Despite the proliferation of creams, shampoos, serums, and other products on the market, the two most effective, widely-studied, and proven methods are medications designed to regrow your hair and surgical transplant procedures. There are two main types of medications.

Androgen-dependent medications

Your body converts some of its testosterone to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone, which researchers believe is associated with male-pattern baldness. Androgen-dependent medication blocks that conversion. Finasteride is an example of an androgen-dependent medication. 

Androgen-dependent medicines tend to work best during the early stages of hair loss. It usually takes about three months before you notice increased hair growth. 

Androgen-independent medications

Androgen-independent medications dilate the small blood vessels in your body. Scientists don’t know exactly why that helps hair grow, but in about 40% of people, it does. You need to take the medication for about three months before it begins to work and continue taking it to maintain results. 

Androgen-dependent medications are only appropriate for men, whereas androgen-independent medications can be taken by men or women. It continues to work for as long as you’re taking it. Minoxidil is an example of an androgen-independent hair loss medication.

Hair transplant

Our NeoGraft automated hair transplantation process is a follicular unit extraction (FUE) procedure. It’s one of the most effective and least invasive hair restoration methods in existence. 

In FUE procedures, each follicle is removed from a donor area and implanted precisely where you’d prefer hair to grow. NeoGraft does this quickly and uses pneumatic pressure, which reduces the likelihood of follicle damage.

You end up with hair where you want it. It’s your hair, and it grows and behaves exactly like your hair. You can see the results immediately. NeoGraft hair restoration can work for your head, eyebrows, or facial hair. 

Which is best? It’s not always an either/or choice

Although you may think you have to choose between medication or hair transplantation, the truth is you might benefit the most from both. Dr. Brownell sometimes recommends medication for a time following a hair restoration procedure. 

As you evaluate your options, it’s important to seek advice from an expert. Your family history, your goals, how much hair you’ve lost, and many other factors contribute to how well any treatment is likely to work for you. 

If you’re considering approaches to getting your hair back, schedule an appointment at NeoGraft Hair Restoration to take advantage of Dr. Brownell’s deep expertise and knowledge of hair. You can call the office or use our online request tool.