Light and Laser Hair Growth San Fransisco

Hair loss is a distressing, albeit common, problem for men and women alike. As many as 60 percent of men over the age of 60 experience at least some degree of thinning or baldness, and 20 percent of women face a similar fate. In the past, hair restoration treatments were not ideal and rarely gave a patient the kind of results they wanted. Today, all that has changed. The Maas Clinic^TM offers a wide variety of both surgical and nonsurgical hair restoration treatments that allow us to cater to the unique needs of our patients. Nonsurgical hair procedures come in both topical and oral medications and can be used alone or in combination with surgical methods to create the fuller, healthier head of hair many of our patients desire.

Topical Medications

Topical medications are applied to the area where hair needs to grow, whether that is the scalp to address pattern baldness or the eyelid in the case of insufficient lash growth. The following topical products are prescribed at The Maas Clinic^TM:

Rogaine

Minoxidil, which is sold under the brand name Rogaine, is a topical hair loss treatment with a lengthy record of safety and success in the U.S. the medication was initially introduced as an oral treatment for high blood pressure. However, one of the noticeable side effects was hair growth in different areas of the body. This discovery led to the creation of topical minoxidil, which can be applied directly to the scalp to treat androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness. The medication works by stimulating the follicles to produce hair and extends the growth phase of the hair cycle to improve your results further.

Latisse

Bimatoprost, the active ingredient in the topical medication Latisse, was initially designed to treat glaucoma. However, doctors noticed that when the drops were placed into the eye, they also seemed to encourage the growth of the eyelashes when the medication came in contact with the skin. Like Rogaine, this discovery led to the development of Latisse, a topical drug to encourage the growth of thin or insufficient eyelashes. The medication is brushed onto the eyelid daily to stimulate lash growth. Results begin to appear in about four weeks, and an optimal outcome is achieved after 16 weeks of daily use. The medication must be continued to maintain the positive results.

Latanoprost

Like bimatoprost, latanoprost is a medication created to treat glaucoma as well as ocular hypertension. Physicians have also noticed that latanoprost can have the same positive effects on eyelash growth. Unlike bimatoprost, latanoprost has not been FDA-approved for the treatment of insufficient eyelashes. However, the medication can be prescribed off-label for this purpose, and Dr. Maas has recommended it for some of his patients as an alternative to Latisse. The application is the same, and the results appear in about the same time frame.

Oral Medications

Topical products are not the only solution in hair restoration today. Oral medications are also available for hair restoration. Dr. Maas uses the following oral medications in his practice:

Propecia

Finasteride, also known by the brand name Propecia, is a medication that was first prescribed for the treatment of an enlarged prostate. Like the topical medications listed above, physicians noted a side effect of this medication was hair regrowth on the scalp. Eventually, the drug was approved by the FDA for this purpose as well. Propecia treats male pattern baldness by blocking DHT, the primary androgen responsible for hair loss. By decreasing DHT levels in the body, follicles that have not been producing hair due to the androgen may begin to grow hair once again. This medication is only prescribed to men and tends to work best in those in the earlier stages of hair loss.

Hair Restore

Dr. Maas offers his own proprietary formula of finasteride that he typically prescribes in place of Propecia. The brand drug contains one mg. of finasteride, which men take once daily as prescribed. Dr. Maas’s formula has 1.5 mg. of finasteride and only needs to be taken three times per week. In addition to the convenience of fewer dosages, men find they can achieve similar or better results with this proprietary formula by consuming less of the medication on a weekly basis. Dr. Maas’s formula is offered under the brand name Hair Restore™ and is available at The Maas Clinic^TM.

Spironolactone

Women also have an option in oral medication to treat their hair loss today. Spironolactone is a diuretic used to treat fluid retention. However, the medicine also works as an androgen antagonist, reducing androgens that often lead to hair loss in women. As the androgen level decreases, follicles that were previously unable to grow hair may become functional once again. The FDA does not approve the medication for this use, but Dr. Maas has seen success in many of his female hair loss patients when he has prescribed it off-label as a hair restoration treatment. Before prescribing the drug, he will perform a blood test to confirm the hair loss is related to androgens. If it is not, spironolactone will not be useful, and other hair restoration treatments will need to be explored.

Non-Surgical Hair Restoration at The Maas Clinic^TM

Hair loss can be a very traumatic event, affecting an individual’s confidence and self-esteem as much as their appearance. Dr. Maas understands it is distressing to watch your hair thin or discover bald patches on the scalp where hair used to grow.

In addition to these nonsurgical treatment options, Dr. Maas also features procedures like hair transplantation using the FUE technique to both men and women wanting to restore a full head of hair. To learn more about any of our hair restoration treatments, contact The Maas Clinic^TM today at (415) 567-7000 or contact us by email.

The information about non-surgical hair restoration was reviewed by Corey S. Maas MD^TM. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us using our contact form below.