Hair Loss Treatments: An Overview

1. Hair transplant surgery

A surgeon moves hair follicles from a denser area of your scalp (usually the back) to thinning areas. The two common techniques are FUT (a strip of scalp is removed and divided into grafts) and FUE (individual follicles are extracted one by one). It's the most expensive option — typically several thousand dollars — and results take months to show as transplanted hair sheds and regrows. Choosing the surgeon matters enormously: see our companion guide, how to evaluate a local hair transplant surgeon.

2. FDA-approved medications

Two medications are FDA-approved for hair loss: finasteride (a daily pill, prescription only, for men) and minoxidil (a topical liquid or foam, available over the counter). Both have been studied for decades and both require ongoing use — stopping usually means losing any gains. They work for many people and not for everyone. Telehealth providers like Hims, Keeps, and Roman prescribe these online after a consultation.

3. Everything else

You'll see plenty of other products marketed for hair loss — shampoos, supplements, laser caps, PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections. The evidence for most of these is thin or mixed compared to the options above. That doesn't make them scams, but it does mean you should be skeptical of dramatic before-and-after photos and ask what independent evidence exists.

4. Questions to ask any provider

• What are the realistic outcomes for someone with my pattern of loss — and what does it cost in total, not just per session?
• What are the side effects and risks, and what happens if I stop treatment?
• Can I see unedited photos of your own patients (for clinics), or independent reviews (for products)?
• Is there a consultation fee, and is there any pressure to decide on the spot?