As our hair follicles age, both men and women start to lose hair. In fact, visible hair loss affects 50% of the population by age 50. Luckily, hair loss treatments at The Art of Plastic Surgery in Chicago, Illinois, can help you have healthy hair once again.
Dr. Gregory Wiener and his team offer various options to preserve hair growth, reverse hair loss, and keep your hair looking its best. Dr. Wiener, a board-certified plastic surgeon and member of the American College of Surgeons, brings his expertise and over two decades of experience to every hair restoration treatment.
Understanding Hair Health and Hair Loss
Your hair naturally goes through a cycle of growth, shedding, and regrowth. Many factors can influence this process, like age, genetics, and lifestyle. For most people, maintaining a healthy hair cycle is key to preventing hair thinning and loss.
- Growth phase (Anagen): Typically lasts three to five years, during which most of your hair is actively growing. As you age, this phase can shorten, meaning your hair may not grow as long or thick.
- Transition phase (Catagen): Lasts for one to two weeks, where it detaches and prepares to shed.
- Resting phase (Telogen): Lasts about three months, allowing old hair to fall out and new hair to grow.
When too many hairs enter the resting phase at once or the growth phase becomes too short, you might notice thinning or hair loss. This cycle can be disrupted by factors like genetics, stress, poor nutrition, or simply getting older.
Our hair follicle stem cells are responsible for regenerating hair. They become less active as we age, which leads to slower growth, hair thinning, and eventually graying or loss altogether.
Choosing a Hair Restoration Treatment: Growth Hormone Follicular Therapy
Our complete hair health solutions include hair nutrition treatments, growth hormone follicular therapy with PRP, IV hair growth vitamin therapy, prescription hair growth medications, and FUE hair transplants. But what’s the difference between them?
Growth Hormone Follicular Therapy (GHFT) With PRP
This treatment uses your own growth hormones to kickstart hair growth. This simple 60- to 90-minute treatment is done in the office and usually involves little to no downtime.
GHFT boosts the special cells in your hair follicles that are responsible for growing new hair. By using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from your own blood, this treatment helps your hair follicles repair and grow stronger, healthier hair. It also increases blood flow to your scalp and helps keep your hair in its growth stage longer.
GHFT is an excellent solution for thinning hair at any stage, whether you're looking for a stand-alone treatment or a complementary option before or after an FUE hair transplant. It can also be combined with vitamin therapy or IV therapy to maximize results.
Prescription Hair Growth Medications
Prescription medications for hair growth, such as Finasteride or Minoxidil, can also slow hair loss and promote new hair growth. These medications work by either reducing hair-thinning hormones or stimulating hair follicles to grow. When used consistently, they can maintain and improve your hair density.
FUE Hair Transplant With NeoGraft
At our practice, we use NeoGraft technology for FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) hair transplants. NeoGraft gently removes individual hair follicles from a healthy area and transplants them to areas where your hair is thinning or balding.
The NeoGraft process is minimally invasive, so it won’t leave a large scar behind. Its automated system makes the whole procedure smoother and more comfortable, creating natural-looking results.
IV Hair Growth Vitamin Therapy
IV Hair Growth Vitamin Therapy delivers essential vitamins and nutrients directly into your bloodstream to potentially support healthy hair growth. This treatment helps nourish your hair from the inside out, giving your body the building blocks needed for stronger, thicker hair. It can be especially helpful if you deal with any nutrient deficiencies.
Major Factors That Cause Hair Loss
Hair loss can happen for many reasons, and understanding the root cause will help you find the right treatment. Below are some of the factors that can contribute to hair loss:
- Family history is the most common factor in hair loss.
- Aging hair follicles will slow hair growth and eventually stop producing hair altogether.
- Nutrient deficiencies like iron, zinc, or biotin may cause noticeable hair loss.
- Some medical treatments will result in temporary or permanent hair loss.
- Scalp conditions such as ringworm or scalp psoriasis can lead to hair loss.
- Extreme stress may lead to hair thinning.
How to Maintain Results After Hair Restoration
To keep your hair restoration results, follow these tips:
- Continue using prescribed medications like Finasteride or Minoxidil.
- Eat a nutrient-rich diet or consider IV vitamin therapy for hair health.
- Schedule follow-up treatments for GHFT with PRP or vitamin therapy as needed.
- Be gentle with your hair — avoid harsh products and excessive heat.
- Manage stress with relaxation techniques or regular exercise.
Why Choose Gregory A. Wiener, MD, FACS?
When it comes to hair restoration, you want to feel confident that you're in the best hands. Dr. Gregory Wiener is a board-certified plastic surgeon with many years of experience and has been recognized by top media outlets. With a reputation for artistic vision and technical skill, Dr. Wiener is thoughtful and caring with every patient he meets. His expertise allows him to provide unique treatments that can meet your needs and goals.
Alongside Dr. Wiener, Vanessa Doyle, RN, brings her passion and finesse to our med spa team. Vanessa has a background in aesthetic medicine and has mastered advanced treatments like injectable fillers and laser therapies. Together, Dr. Wiener and his team provide a welcoming, professional environment where your hair health and beauty are treated with the attention they deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
During GHFT with PRP, your blood is drawn and processed to separate the platelet-rich plasma (PRP). After numbing your scalp, the PRP is injected into thinning areas to stimulate hair growth. The procedure takes 60-90 minutes, involves little discomfort, and requires no downtime. You may have mild redness or swelling, but it usually resolves within a day.
Most patients see the best results after several sessions, typically spaced a few weeks apart. The exact number of treatments depends on your individual hair restoration needs.
GHFT with PRP has minimal downtime, so you can return to your daily activities quickly. FUE transplants may require a few days of recovery before you resume normal activities.
Results vary depending on the treatment. Here’s what to expect from our treatments:
- For GHFT with PRP, it may take several months for noticeable improvements as your hair follicles are stimulated.
- With FUE hair transplants using NeoGraft, new growth typically appears within three to six months, with full results after nine to 12 months.
- IV hair growth vitamin therapy can show improvements in hair health within a few weeks to a couple of months.
- Prescription medications like Finasteride or Minoxidil usually take three to six months for visible results, and consistent use is required to maintain them.
Most treatments, like GHFT with PRP and NeoGraft FUE, won’t cause too much discomfort. We typically use numbing to give you a more comfortable experience.
Restore Your Hair With Personalized Care
Whether you're looking to reverse hair loss or maintain healthy, strong hair, Dr. Gregory Wiener and his team at The Art of Plastic Surgery are here for you.
Call 773.763.3990 to book your consultation and learn more about the hair restoration options we offer. We look forward to helping you feel confident in your hair again!