Excerpt from the original article published February 2007... “ A new era of nonsurgical hair restoration technology is here for men with hair loss. For obvious reasons, most men are skeptical of treatments that promise to reverse hair loss. But a new era of hair restoration technology, using "cold" laser hair therapy (LHT), offers hope for those who don't have advanced hair loss. LHT alone and in combination with topical and/or oral medications has produced excellent results for men and women.
Also known as "cold" lasers, LHT uses therapeutic soft low-light level lasers (LLLL) that were developed in Europe for healing wounds, treating hair loss and other diseases of the scalp.
The LHT program uses a laser device with multiple lasers on a rotating head. The rotating head is housed in a moveable hood that is positioned directly above the patient's head. The patient is seated while the hood is lowered onto the head, approximately 2 cm from the scalp. The close proximity of the laser to the patient's scalp allows for maximum irradiation and minimal dispersion of the laser light energy.
LHT is effective in treating androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium. Based on the experience in my practice, 80 percent of patients with androgenetic alopecia report increased hair density after the first three to six months of treatment. Nearly all of my patients with telogen effluvium report complete cessation of shedding. The hair growth continues while patients complete the full one year of LHT and will taper after 12 months. Most patients will require monthly follow-up treatments to maintain their results. All patients who take oral or topical medications are encouraged to continue on those as well.
With LHT, we have the enhanced benefits of low-light level lasers that stimulate biophysical repair and neovascularization. This is a remarkable adjunct to the combination of other therapies we now have. It warrants further consideration and integration into practices serious about treating hair loss. “
David P. Melamed, MD, MSc, is in private practice at West LA Medical & Skincare, with offices in Los Angeles and New York. He specializes in nonsurgical cosmetic enhancements and age management medicine. He is a member of the AmericanAcademy of Aesthetic Medicine and the American Society for Laser Surgery and Medicine. Disclosure: Dr. Melamed indicates that he has no affiliations with any commercial entities, directly or indirectly referenced in this article.
