Everyone at some time in their lives has been desperate to the point of doing something which in normal circumstances would seem senseless. Whether it’s taking a financial risk when we are in need of money or undergoing a medical procedure when there are few other options. We are all vulnerable in these situations, although sometimes we do make the proper decisions which are thought-out and sensible.
When it comes to our vanity combined with desperation, its nearly impossible to make a well-informed decision. In addition to the desperation, there are those who are willing to exploit and prey upon our anguish for the sole purpose to make money for themselves. Its been done throughout history and will continue till the end of times. And when it comes to Vanity for both men and women, there’s a “sucker” born every minute. So, what is the best hair loss treatment for men and what is the biggest scam?
What types of scams are there for those suffering from Hair Loss?
The list is long and keeps getting longer! I would say along with the “fat loss” and “wrinkle removal” scams for women, the Hair Loss scams for men are among the most numerous and diverse. It seems that no matter how much the technology has increased for legitimate hair loss solutions, there are always those looking to waste their time and money on other treatments. With that being said, I have nothing but sympathy for those suffering from hair loss while trying to find a viable solution.
With the advent of the Internet, those touting their hair loss treatments, have another medium to sell their junk. People can and do spend countless hours droning around on the web searching for that panacea for hair loss. For every problem, there are thousands upon thousands of solutions provided on the Internet, with most of them providing bogus solutions for a small or large amount of money.
Vitamins and Herbal Supplements
From curing all types of cancer to fighting severe depression, the “Natural” route is becoming more popular and proving an alternative to medications and in some cases surgery. This industry has become sophisticated and ubiquitous with actual clinics and hospitals providing treatment.
I hesitate to use the word “scam” while referring to Herbal Supplements and Vitamins, as many people who market these products truly believe that they do work. There are accounts of those using specific products such as Lavender, Aloe Vera, Ginseng, Rose Petal and Hibiscus, who have seen strengthened hair, reversing of hair loss, and regrowth of hair, but no pure scientific studies have backed up these claims. You can find plenty of anecdotes of individual verified cases, but I would approach these with some skepticism. In most cases these treatments are not too expensive, although they give a false hope and waste crucial time.
Shampoos, Lotions, and Elixirs
Gone are the days of the travelling 19th c. “Medicine Shows” with the “cure-alls” and “snake oils” for everything that ails you. Now we have the infomercials and the online advertisements which sell the same stuff but with slick packaging and celebrity sponsors. Different than the Supplements mentioned above, these are a mix of unknown ingredients which are rubbed into the scalp to rejuvenate the follicles and regain your former head of hair. These can be considered the bottom of the scam scale and the most dishonest of all the hair loss products.
In some cases, these products can be harmful to your scalp and body as the ingredients could include damaging chemicals. Many of these on the Internet, because of their “natural” ingredients, do not undergo any kind of approval process or even review. They are out of reach of the approval process from the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in the US and the MHRA (The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency) in the UK. The supplements and vitamins also bypass and regulation from the agencies, although many of these have been around for quite sometime and can in some cases provide benefits beyond the prescribed application.
Scalp Massagers, Brushes, Laser Therapy
These have become more popular and “high-tech” with the advent of technology. I use the words high tech with a bit of sarcasm. The only technology these hair loss tools have are a bit of bright lights and 3 speeds for the massage function.
You might be wondering why I refer to these as scams. Many of these are just misleading, but when you are paying £290.00 for the Apira Science iGrow Hands-Free Laser LED Light Therapy then you are being scammed. This futuristic head gear looks like something out of the recent “Tron” movie and touts itself as the answer to hair loss. Another expensive but low-tech product is the Hair Loss Laser Brush for the discounted price of £235.00 of your hard-earned money.
The list goes on and on, but you get the point. These companies prey on the vulnerable and when you are trying to make ends meet and living paycheck to paycheck, at the end of the day, these are just scams. Between the massagers, brushes, lotions, creams, etc., those suffering from hair loss can spend hundreds and thousands of £, €, and $ (or your country equivalent) for treatments that just don’t work. The tragedy is that with that kind of money, there are proven options which can tackle your hair loss problems with fantastic results.
What are the hair loss alternatives that are not Scams?
All the above hair loss solutions are in my opinion a waste of time and more specifically money. Even if you do have the money, the legitimate hair loss solutions such as FUE Hair Transplants and Medications such as Minoxidil and Finasteride have a time limit. All of these should be done when patient is younger and healthier.
Minoxidil and Finasteride can be bought over the counter or a prescription, depending in what country you reside. As proven sources of hair growth, these are the only two that work to slow hair loss, stop hair loss and regrow hair. Their success depends upon the patient and all cases differ from person to person. Before you start a regime using either of these products, we recommend that you consult with your doctor.
Hair transplants as the only permanent solution
The most effective treatment for hair loss is the FUE Safe System. This type of hair transplant has become the most popular and successful procedure available. The procedure consists of taking individual follicles from the donor area and transplanting them into the balding area. An evolution from the “strip method”, the FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) provides natural results for the patient.
As mentioned above not everyone qualifies for this procedure. Because the procedure requires a large and full donor area, it is essential that the procedure is done when the patient is in his 20s or 30s. Younger patients are on average healthier giving the transplanted follicles a better chance of regrowth.
This procedure is offered in just about every country, and more specifically the US, UK, Ireland and Western Europe. The cost of this procedure in these regions is commensurate to the cost of other goods and services. But there is an alternative option which is Budapest, Hungary, one of the largest medical tourism markets in the world. With a 60% less costly procedure (including accommodations) and quality on par or better than the other regions, Budapest is a prime alternative for those looking to bypass the scams and investigate what a proper hair loss treatment offers.
Contact us for a consultation and stop wasting your time with “pie in the sky” promises from those scam artists looking to line their pockets!