The Permanent Fix for a Receding Hairline

Male pattern baldness results from genetics and the presence of a male hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT causes hair follicles in the hairline, temples and crown to thin and eventually fall out. Although less frequent, other types of hair loss include alopecia areata, which starts suddenly and is characterized by clumps of hair being lost, and telogen effluvium, which is the rapid onset of diffuse hair shedding prompted by illness or extreme stress. Other causes of hair loss include disease, certain medications like anti-depressants or steroids, poor diet, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

While there is no cure for baldness, there is a permanent solution. Performed by a dermatologist, plastic surgeon or hair restoration specialist, “hair restoration surgery is the movement of viable hair from the donor site on the back and sides of the head—where hair is not predisposed to be lost— to the recipient area,” says Maitland, FL, dermatologist Dr. Matt Leavitt. Those with a sufficient amount of donor hair are best suited for the procedure. Each follicle is divided individually and transplanted at the same angle and direction as the previous follicles so it blends in naturally. “It’s important to have realistic expectations,” says hair restoration specialist Dr. Craig Ziering of Beverly Hills, CA. “Surgical hair restoration cannot give you the hair of your youth, but it can significantly improve your appearance.”