Of all the options people have when it comes to treating male pattern hair loss, there are only two that are officially approved by the Food and Drug Administration: hair transplantation and Propecia. All other treatment methods are yet to be studied and approved for their effectiveness, but there’s clear evidence that only these two options are really helpful when it comes to treating hair loss problems. Needless to say, most people confronting hair loss spend a lot of time weighting in on the pros and cons of each method and often find it hard to choose between them. But the task gets much easier once you learn the main facts about these two methods and realize their true effectiveness. So let’s look closer at each of the two methods and compare them.

What is hair transplantation?

Hair transplantation is exactly what it sounds like: transplantation of separate hair follicles from one area (not affected by hair loss) to another (affected by it). The logic here is very simple: take stronger and healthier hair follicles to where they are actually needed. The first hair transplantation surgeries have been performed during the 1930’s in Japan and since then the methodology, equipment and skills have improved drastically. Today hair transplantation surgeries are associated with only minor discomfort and are performed with state-of-the-art precision and hi-tech equipment. Nevertheless, it’s still a surgery, so there’s some pain and recovery involved. Besides, the most modern transplantation techniques are often associated with high prices, so this method is mostly available to rich people.

What is Propecia?

Propecia, in contrast to hair transplantation, is a simple prescription drug taken orally on a daily basis. It doesn’t involve any external procedures so it may be a bit confusing t first. However, its mechanism of action is based on hormone level adjustment that allows strengthening the weaker hair follicles from the inside and thus stopping and reversing the process of hair loss. The process is rather lengthy as the body needs to adjust to the changes gradually, but there’s no discomfort involved and no recovery period needed. You just keep using the drug until you notice that the hair stopped falling out and some of it has grown back. Simple as that.

How do the two methods compare?

Comparing the two methods is somewhat difficult since they involve completely different methods and bring the desired results through different means. On the one hand, hair transplantation is very rapid when it comes to obtaining results: you see the new hair right after the surgery whereas Propecia may take up to a year to show any signs of improvement. On the other hand, hair transplantation doesn’t offer any guarantees for keeping the transplanted hair – there’s always a risk that the new hair will fall off just as the old did due to ongoing male pattern hair loss. At the same time, Propecia works exactly by minimizing the risk of new hair loss. Sure, it take a lot longer to get the results but once you get them and continue using the drug you won’t be bothered by hair loss again. Besides, taking Propecia costs only a fraction of the price usually paid for a hair transplantation surgery. So it’s also a rather affordable option that has its advantages against hair transplantation techniques. Yet again, deciding on which option is the most convenient is always up to you!