Laser hair growth treatment: Is it the answer?

Something many of us will spend a lot of time worrying about is hair loss. Hair loss is something that will happen to us all at one time in our lives. Although it can still be a worry it is important to remember there are a range of different hair loss and hair restoration treatments on the market that can help with the issue.

At the Harley Street Hair Clinic, we specialise in the successful FUE hair transplant procedure. After years of experience, we know this is the best hair restoration solution on the market. However, we often get asked about other hair restoration treatments. When our clients visit us for a consultation we often get asked about the new laser hair treatments on the market and asked if they are the answer to solving hair loss. Today, we’re looking into laser hair growth treatments to let you know if they actually work.

What is laser hair growth treatment?

With hair loss affecting up to 70% of men and 40% of women at some stage in their life it is a big issue that many people are trying to find a cure for. Due to this, there are always new products on the market that claim to stop or slow down hair loss.

LLLT therapy (low-level light therapy) is just one of the treatments on offer that claims to stop hair loss. The treatment utilizes lasers, or light energy below a specific energy threshold and within a specific wavelength, to help promote hair growth.

The light source used for these products can range between laser and LED devices, the laser devices used are referred to as cold lasers as they produce no heat and are therefore safe to use and will cause no damage to the skin or hair follicles.

How does the treatment work?

LLLT has been shown to promote hair growth for both men and women who suffer from androgenetic alopecia. Research has indicated that LLLT is absorbed into the cells of the scalp and this can trigger enhanced cellular activity. This is thought to then make ageing cells more active which in turn, makes the cells more effective when it comes to hair growth.

The treatment is still relatively new and at current, there is not enough research to be sure how the treatment works exactly.

Is it possible laser hair treatment can actually work?

At current, there is not enough research on LLLT treatment to explain the exact mechanism of how it works. It has only been indicated how the treatment is believed to work. As mentioned above, some studies have shown that the treatment has promoted growth for some of those that are trailing it.

It is important to remember that the treatment has only highlighted growth on those who have androgenetic alopecia. The treatment works best on those with thinning hair and pattern baldness caused by a hereditary condition. The treatment will not work on everyone, and it is unlikely to work on those with very little to no hair.

How much will it cost to see results?

The LLLT devices can range in prices from £200 to £900 at current. This will be a one-off cost for the device which you can use as much as you wish, different devices will work differently and not all results will be the same. As for the results, studies have shown that the treatment can on average show results after around 26 weeks of using the treatment. The results on different areas of the scalp can vary, this means that the treatment could potentially work on one area of the scalp but not another.

Although the initial cost might seem cheap, at this present moment there is not enough evidence to indicate how the treatment actually works, or how well it works. With this in mind, buying into the treatment could be a potential risk. We advise that you consider other hair restoration treatments or even medication for the time being until more research is taken out for LLLT laser hair growth.

If you would like any information about our treatments, please contact us today for a no obligation consultation.

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