Baldness Treatment: Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Baldness is a condition wherein a person starts losing hair. It may be due to aging, hereditary conditions, hormonal changes, stress or a particular hair treatment or hairstyle. It could be full body hair loss, patchy bald spots or gradual thinning of hair at the top of the head. There are medications available in the form of pills, liquid or gel to stop hair loss and grow more hair. Your hair can be transplanted by a cosmetic surgery if you want a permanent solution to it. You can go for wigs or hair pieces if you do not want to go undergo surgery or medications.

Medications include minoxidil, available in the form of liquid or foam that you will need to rub into your scalp twice a day for 16 weeks. Most people experience less hair loss, hair re growth or both after the use of this medication. Finasteride is another drug specifically prescribed for male baldness. It is available in the form of pill that men need to take daily to prevent hair loss and grow new hair. Hair transplant or surgery is a fairly permanent treatment to your hair loss woes. If the top of your head is facing permanent hair loss, this is a good option to go for. Tiny plugs of skin, containing a few strands of hair, will be removed from the sides or back of your scalp. These plugs will then be implanted in the bald sections of your scalp. However, this process is more expensive and painful.

If you have been facing serious hair loss situations, you can go for medications to treat the condition. If you are facing hair loss in the top portion of your scalp, surgery can put things right for you.

If you are undergoing some other medical treatment, hair loss could be a short term side effect of that treatment.

Consuming minoxidil may result in scalp irritation, unwanted hair growth on your face or hands and rapid heart rate. Finasteride may rarely cause diminished sex drive. Pregnant women should not touch these pills when crushed or broken. One may experience a little pain, infection or scarring after getting hair restoration surgery done.

You must keep taking the prescribed medications regularly even after the treatment is over. Ensure that you are having a nutritious diet including fish, dairy products, nuts and food items rich in vitamin C.

Minoxidil takes about 16 weeks to show results. Surgery will be done in 2-3 sessions depending on the severity of your condition.

The cost of hair transplant surgery may be between ₹50000- ₹250000 depending on the number of plugs that need to be implanted to treat your condition.

The results of the treatments are permanent if you keep consuming the prescribed medications after the treatment is done.

You may try to use coconut oil, lavender oil and rosemary oil on your scalp to prevent hair loss. Wigs or hair pieces are a good option if you do not want to invest your time or money on medications and surgery.