Note: This article was first published in Boston Magazine.
It wasn’t until the birth of her second child that Melissa realized her hair was thinning. When she looked in the mirror, the 39-year-old New Hampshire mom became more and more self-conscious. She thought about how her daily interactions with people as a director at a day habilitation facility and started feeling her confidence slipping away.
It didn’t help that while thinning hair is acceptable in men, it can be devastating for women. In fact, 40% percent of women have visible hair loss by age 40, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. With most treatments geared toward men, women are often left to suffer in silence with the frustration and fear of losing their locks.
“My mother suffers from thinning hair and I knew that I was genetically predisposed to it, so my fear of it continuing to progress began to grow,” says Melissa.
A hair transplant procedure failed to reverse her mom’s hair loss, but Melissa wasn’t deterred from trying other methods. After a bit of research, Melissa scheduled a consultation with the women’s hair loss specialists at Medi Tresse—a Wellesley-based hair replacement center. She says she felt at ease as soon as she walked into the calm, welcoming office and met her female hair loss specialist.
“She confirmed that I was suffering from genetic hair loss, which was alarming but also made me realize I made the right decision to attack it early,” says Melissa. “She went through the many options that Medi Tresse had to offer, but in no way was pushing anything on me or simply trying to get me to buy their products.”
After going through potential options, Melissa decided to undergo PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) therapy, a revolutionary new treatment that painlessly activates stem cells to help stimulate hair follicles and promote new hair growth. It didn’t take long for the remarkable results to show. After three one-hour-long PRP appointments over three months, Melissa could see previously thinning areas already filling out with new growth.
“This immediately instilled confidence in me that I had made the right decision and I was excited for my future treatments to see even further improvement,” says Melissa.
Along with annual PRP check-ups, the staff at Medi Tresse also prescribed Melissa to use a specially formulated minoxidil (also known as Rogaine) treatment that combats early signs of hair loss. The unique formula means less irritation and higher absorption than most over-the-counter options, with the best results coming in three to six months when combined with PRP therapy.
Since she started undergoing treatments and using the minoxidil product daily, Melissa says she’s continued to see fuller, thicker hair growing back, along with her confidence level. Instead of feeling less confident about her hair, she says she’s been proud to show off her full head of hair and has received many compliments from her friends and family. As for her advice for other women suffering from hair loss, she says it’s simple, there’s no better time than now to get treated. You’re worth it.
“It’s difficult to realize you’re a young woman losing her hair and feel like all eyes are on you and your hairline,” says Melissa. “I highly recommend the entire team at Medi Tresse. I truly believe in their process and the entire staff is knowledgeable, consultative, and welcoming.”
For more information on female hair loss and non-surgical treatment options, visit meditresse.com.
