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Cosmetic Options for Hair Loss

Summary & Participants

Hair loss can be a devastating and embarrassing condition. But it doesn't have to be that way. There are medications and surgical procedures that can help--but if they don't work (or if you simply don't want to pursue those routes), there are a variety of cosmetic options you should know about. Join our panel as they discuss the many alternatives available today.

Medically Reviewed On: June 18, 2008

Webcast Transcript

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: If you're losing your hair, there are medications and surgical procedures that can help, but what if they don't work, or what if you just don't want to take drugs or have surgery? If that's you, there are a number of cosmetic options you should know about.

Here to tell us about them are two experts. First is Dr. Neil Sadick. He's a dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon at Weill Cornell Medical College. Next to him his Nicholas Piazza. He designs and styles hair systems here in New York City. Thanks for being here.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: Dr. Sadick, what are the options, cosmetically speaking, for patients out there?

NEIL SADICK, MD: There are three major cosmetic options that men and women can utilize in terms of hair thinning, and those are basically hair cosmetics, creative styling and hair replacement systems. Those are the three major alternatives that people can utilize.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: What do those terms actually mean?

NEIL SADICK, MD: Creative hair styling means utilizing the amount of hair that you actually have and having it cover areas that might be thinning or balding. Hair cosmetics are usually semisynthetic dyes that can be applied to the scalp and camouflage areas of thinning or balding scalp. Finally, hair systems are usually wigs, hairpieces that can also create the illusion that one has their own hair.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: Nick, you deal with wigs and hairpieces a lot, and they've come a long way in the last few years.

NICHOLAS PIAZZA: Yes, they have.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: What's new about them?

NICHOLAS PIAZZA: The materials that the wigs and hairpieces are made of resemble scalp much more than they used to, and also the methods of putting the hair in make them actually look like they're growing out of the head.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: Can people tell when a person is wearing one of these hairpieces?

NICHOLAS PIAZZA: There are all different qualities and types of wigs. Some of the less expensive ones, it's possible that you can notice, but really good wigs are virtually impossible to detect.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: How does someone decide which option they should choose?

NICHOLAS PIAZZA: Sometimes those types of options depend on exactly what the wig is for. If it's for a permanent situation or a long-term situation, it may be worth the investment in a really good wig or hairpiece. If it's a short-term thing or a fun thing, they may not want to spend the money, or it may not be as important to them. Sometimes the types of styles that people have will let them get away with using a much less expensive wig. If someone didn't have a lot of hair to begin with and they want something that doesn't look like a lot of hair, then a custom wig that's hand-made might be the choice that they might make.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: How do these things actually stay on a person's head?

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