Looking back at photos from a few years ago can be jarring. That thick, voluminous hair you took for granted has gradually thinned, leaving you wondering whether there’s any way to turn back the clock.
At The Rawal Institute for Hair Restoration and Aesthetic Medicine in Madison, Wisconsin, Shamila Gupta Rawal, MD, works with patients who are experiencing these frustrating changes. Here’s what you need to know about getting your former hair density back.
Every day, you shed about 100 hairs through natural cycles. But when those follicles aren’t producing new hairs at the same rate, you start noticing the gaps. The most common culprit is sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that gradually shrinks hair follicles.
Once follicles diminish below a certain threshold, they stop producing visible hair altogether. The key is catching this process before permanent damage occurs.
It’s encouraging nonetheless that you can reactivate your hair follicles if they haven’t completely shut down. Noninvasive treatments like low-level laser therapy (LLLT) send cool laser light into your scalp, energizing cells within follicles to:
Using a laser cap or similar devices at home, many patients see visible changes within 3-6 months. The earlier you start, the better your results.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a regenerative medicine treatment that takes healing compounds from your own blood and delivers them directly to your scalp. These concentrated growth factors stimulate follicles that have gone into hibernation mode.
During treatment, we draw blood, process it to isolate platelets, then inject the plasma into thinning areas. Most patients schedule three sessions initially, followed by maintenance treatments every 6-12 months.
For advanced thinning, Dr. Rawal offers the practice’s proprietary tRigenera procedure. This process extracts healthy cells from your scalp, prepares them for immediate use, and reintroduces them to stimulate regeneration.
The technique releases 70 billion smart exosomes, which help to repopulate the scalp with healthy stem cells.
If you’ve suffered substantial hair loss, transplantation remains the most effective solution. Modern follicular unit extraction (FUE) techniques harvest individual follicles without visible scarring, while follicular unit transplantation (FUT) remains a fantastic option for female hair transplants and male transplants with limited donor supply.
Dr. Rawal combines surgical transplants with PRP therapy to maximize graft survival and accelerate healing. This approach can help you achieve the density you remember from your thicker-hair days.
Daily maintenance matters. Medical-grade shampoos, proper nutrition, and consistent sun protection all contribute to healthy hair growth. Dr. Rawal’s tR(x)i skincare line includes specialized formulations for scalp health and follicle support.
Don’t wait until more follicles turn permanently inactive. Schedule a consultation at The Rawal Institute for Hair Restoration and Aesthetic Medicine to learn which treatments align with your specific hair loss pattern and goals.
Call our Madison office or book online to start your personalized hair restoration plan. The sooner you address thinning, the more options you have to help you reclaim the thick, healthy hair you used to have.
