Thinning Hair: What is the cost?
A blow to your confidence.
Thinning hair plays a detrimental role on the way you look. A healthy head of hair not only plays a huge role in graceful aging, it also drastically affects one’s confidence. We know the cost of not having a full head of hair, but what about the cost of treatment?
When patients are choosing a hair loss strategy many people forget to look at the long-term investment or the potential side effects.
For men, some of these options work great and offer them a solution to their hair loss. However, treating thinning hair does become a cost benefit ratio in some cases. Many of the options available to men cause unwanted side effects that negatively impact their sex life. That is why we think it is important for men to know the risks of treatment, as well as other effective options that are available to them.
For women experiencing thinning hair, options are even more limited then their male counterparts. Even when it comes to hair transplants, women are less likely to be a candidate due to the likelihood that they have more diffuse thinning vs. a concentrated area of thinning hair. Talk about frustrating.
So what are your traditional options?
Below I have run through the most common hair loss treatments we get questions about in our office. There are many other options, from supplements to laser helmets to promote hair growth. It is important to know what is available to you and to know if that option is in fact indicated in your individual case.
Rogaine (Minoxidil)
What is it? Topical treatment for thinning hair that is effective in both men and women.
Average cost? $360/year
How it falls short? Must be applied 2x/day. Hair loss occurs if discontinued.
Side Effects? Unwanted hair growth on other parts of body. Scalp irritation.
What is it? Oral medication that can only be used for men with androgenic alopecia.
Average cost? $300/year
How it falls short? Not an option for women. Hair loss occurs if discontinued.
Side Effects? Impotence, erectile dysfunction, testicular pain, infertility, breast tenderness.
Surgical Hair Transplantation
What is it? Surgical option that transplants hair to a thinning area.
Average cost? $4,000 – $15,000
How it falls short? Not a viable option for everyone. Not a great option for most women. Hair can fall out after procedure and grow back in 3 months.
Side Effects? Risk of infection, scarring on scalp, hair can sometimes look unnatural.
