A new hairloss treatment has been developed which seems to have improved significantly on the traditional methods of hair transplant surgery.

Called Follecular Unit Extraction, the technique involves the hairs at the back of the head being transplanted. Men experience male-pattern hair loss because their hair becomes sensitive to the male hormones DHT, which attack the scalp and the hair follicles. The hairs at the back of the head are less sensitive, so the inventors of the transplant system claim that it makes the hairs at the back of the head ideal for transplant.

It has been estimated that nearly half of all British men will experience some hair loss by the time they are 35. While some are comfortable with this unfortunate side-effect of aging, others find the process extremely distressing. Surveys have shown that many men who lose their hair find that it strongly affects their self esteem as well as making them feel less attractive, though women participating in the same studies said male hair loss did not affect how their felt about their partners.

Hair implants have become increasingly popular over the last decade, partly fuelled by rumours that various film stars and celebrities have opted for the procedure, in an attempt to keep their fan base and continue to appear youthful. However the hair loss treatment is usually extremely expensive, as well as being fairly invasive.

Unfortunately, there are few other options for men coping with the problem. There are two medications which have been available for some time, both of which have been clinically proven to stop hair loss. Propecia is a prescription only hair loss remedy which contains the active ingredient finasteride. Finesteride reduces the amount of DHT in the body, which stops the hair follicles from being attacked and prevented from supporting hair growth. Propecia can even encourage new hair growth.

Regaine is a topical solution available in pharmacies which is applied twice a day to slow down hair loss.

Men are not the only ones struggling with balding, as male pattern baldness is not the only cause of hair loss. Increasingly, women are reporting hair problems, caused by stress, over-treatment of hair, hormonal imbalances and use of hair extensions. As Propecia is not suitable for women, they are forced to seek other solutions to stop hair loss.

A doctor from the Follucular Unit Extraction clinic, Dr. Vernikos, said, ““Often there is some pride or embarrassment from men when they’re losing their hair,” he explains. “We’ve seen so many women come to us because their husbands or partners don’t feel confident enough.

But people shouldn’t feel this way because if surgery can make their lives easier, then of course they should do it.”

That’s if they’ve got the spare £1500 to spend on the surgery of course – for most of us, unfortunately, hair loss is something we must just grin and bear.