The debate around nature vs nurture – i.e. whether our genetics or environment play the biggest role in human development. And the quantifiable science of epigenetics – i.e. the turning on and off of genes caused by our environment and our habits – helps us understand how important and impactful hair growth treatments can actually be.
If you’re experiencing hair thinning, or hair loss and think that hair transplant surgery is your only option then think again. Equally if you do undergo hair transplant surgery, regular treatments to support your surgical results can actually help turbo charge hair growth.
Lets get into it…
“We offer a unique Hair DNA scan that magnifies a single strand of hair enabling us to identify the emotional, nutritional, hormonal, environmental and genetic factors affecting the health and condition of your hair and scalp,” shares Ricardo Vila Nova. “First, I look to determine hydration and toxin levels to see if the scalp is getting the vitamins and minerals it needs. I also examine cellular activity, which is responsible for the production of cuticle cells. Finally, I check for cellular reproduction, which determines the thickness of the hair, as well as evaluating the condition of the scalp, looking for bacteria, hydration and pH levels, which can all contribute to the current density and strength of the hair,” he adds.
The scans’ ability to help determine the genetic constitution of each individuals hair alongside the factors that may be contributing to hair thinning, and loss (think diet, stress, toxins, hormones, medications, styling products, pollution etc) makes devising a targeted treatment plan a whole lot easier.
1. Biohacking your genes
“We specialise in regenerative medicine hair treatments, that promote hair health, enhancing the functioning of the follicles in order to delay cellular degeneration. This type of care slows down and often prevents the permanent hair loss predicted by genetics. It also helps restore density and coax back hair from once dormant follicles,” explains Vila Nova. Making a visit to 212.2 Ricardo Vila Nova Hair Doctors a must before even considering hair transplant surgery.
2. Alopecia 101
Understanding the difference between dormant follicles (non-scarring alopecia) and expired follicles (scarring alopecia) is a key factor in whether a hair transplant is the right course of action for you.
If you’ve developed a non-scarring alopecia like androgenic alopecia, telogen effluvium, alopecia areata, traction alopecia, and anagen effluvium then your hair follicles still have the ability to grow hair. This is where treatments like exosome therapy, PRP, microneedling, light therapy, vitamin injections, and bespoke haircare can reboot hair growth
However, if you develop a scarring alopecia like frontal fibrosing alopecia then your follicles are no longer able to produce hairs. Equally if your hair loss is caused by traction and you don’t change your styling habits, this can lead to the death of your hair follicles making your traction alopecia irreversible. When this occurs it’s no longer possible to reactivate hair growth and that’s where a hair transplant might be your only option. Though Vila Nova warns it’s worth noting that, “when it comes to hair transplant surgery the most compatible forms of hair loss are androgenetic alopecia, and irreversible traction alopecia.”
3. Enhancing hair transplant results
Prejuvenation, aka a preventative approach to your haircare should start way before you notice any changes to your tresses advises Vila Nova. However, if you’re at a stage where you’re a good candidate for hair transplant surgery, you’ll absolutely benefit from the range of follicle boosting treatments on offer at 212.2 Ricardo Vila Nova Hair Doctors, post-transplant.
“Exosomes for example help enhance the healing and growth process of transplanted hair follicles, by encouraging cell proliferation and optimising hair follicle health,” shares Vila Nova. But that’s not the only treatment that will compliment your hair transplant, light therapy, and microneedling can offer some major benefits thanks to their regenerative capabilities. While ensuring that your scalp is in good health by way of regular scalp treatments, and personalised hair care can make a big difference to the final results of your hair transplant too. And by final results we don’t just mean the 18 months post-surgery, but the long-term maintenance of your implanted hair strands.
And it’s not just your implanted hair that will benefit from regenerative treatments, your remaining hair will too. Vila notes it’s important to understand how hair transplants work, especially for those with androgenic alopecia. “While a hair transplant will replace lost hair with donor hair unaffected by your predisposition to genetic hair loss, it can’t stop surrounding hair from falling out over time – because it is programmed to do so,” explains Vila Nova. This is where the concept of nature vs nurture and the science of epigenetics comes into play, as treatments like exosome therapy, PRP, microneedling, light therapy, vitamin injections, and bespoke haircare have been shown to slow down and, in some cases, halt genetic hair loss.
To discover the best way to tackle your hair loss contact us using the link below and get in touch.
