There is a hairy little secret no on in the pharmaceutical industry wants to discuss. A surprising number of popular medications can cause hair loss, but all the drug companies want to talk about is hair growth.
Clearly hair loss is an emotional; issue. Until recently, dermatologists believed nothing could be done for male pattern baldness (alopecia). Now that is all changed. However, few drug industry spokespeople ever mentioned that many prescription drugs may cause hair to thin, and doctors rarely mention baldness as a potential side effect. Many physicians don’t realize it is possible. When patients discover through their own experience that their medicine makes their hair fall out, the emotional consequences can be devastating. Baldness is a well-known consequence of many cancer chemotherapy medications. When treating potentially life threatening diseases. Most people are willing to put up with temporary hair loss. But in less dire circumstances – for example hypertension or elevated cholesterol – most people would prefer to be forewarned that their drugs might thin their hair. Medications occasionally reported to be associated with hair loss include oral contraceptives, blood thinners, seizure medications, male hormones (anabolic steroids), and vitamin-A derived drugs. Drug industry spokespeople may not mention baldness as a side effect of common medications, but don’t overlook this upsetting possibility.
I’d often toyed with the idea of electrolysis. But I had been hesitant to try it because of the time and expense required, and because of the possibilities that the hair would grow back and the procedure would leave scars. My biggest fear was that it would hurt. Because electrolysis requires a series of treatments, I wanted to find a local electrologist. Electrologists use several variations on two main types of electrolysis (permanent removal of hair at least partly using electricity). The older type is galvanic, suing electricity to convert body salts to lye to kill a hair root. The other main type, thermolysis, kills the hair roots by converting electricity into heat. The hair also goes through three phases: the first is active growth. In the second, the resting phase, the hair stays in the follicle as it dies. In the third phase, the hair follicle becomes dormant and the dead hair falls out.
Electrolysis is effective only on hairs in the growing phase. Dormant follicles need to be zapped again, because when the dead hair falls out a new hair will take its place. If the discomfort of treatment is closer to pain, or there is re growth, switch to another electrologist. If a bump persists, have it checked by a dermatologist to be sure it is not scarring. Pain, re growth, and scarring should be things of the past.
Liposuction is a surgical procedure with all the complications and health risks that go along with that. And, as more than a few people will attest, there is a chance you won’t achieve cosmetically acceptable results. Proceed with caution. Before you submit, get the facts and, most important, make sure you are in good hands.
To perform liposuction, a doctor inserts a blunt-ended metal tube, called a cannula, through a small incision in the skin, and then tunnels repeatedly under the skin in a radiating pattern to dislodge and remove fatty tissue. The cannula is connected by a plastic hose to a vacuum aspirator, which suctions out the fat, which is mingled with blood and body fluids.
The procedure can be done under local or general anesthesia. Usually, an intravenous line drips a glucose solution into your arm during the 30 to 90 minutes it takes for the surgery. Afterwards, you must wear support garments. Such as a girdle or chin strap, depending on the liposuction site, for a few weeks. This helps prevent dimpling by smoothing out the fat that remains under your skin. If your thighs, buttocks, or hips are suctioned, you may not be able to walk or sit comfortably for a few days. Bruising, selling, and some pain may linger for up to three months.
