Our televisions are bombarded with infomercials all the time. Some infomercials tell you about a great way to lose weight. Other infomercials try to sell you fancy kitchen gizmos. One of the most popular types of infomercial is for hair restoration products or surgery. In fact, most of what the average person knows about hair restoration is through television commercials. So, are the hair restoration products you see on television legitimate, and do they tell the truth about hair restoration products and procedures?
In short, not usually. The overwhelming majority of commercials for hair clinics are meant to make money for the company offering them. The information you hear through the television is either distorted or not the whole picture more times than not. When you watch a hair restoration infomercial, try to objectively analyze the claims that are being made.
This can be tough since many hair restoration infomercials use strong emotional appeals to cloud your judgment. They will say things like women do not prefer bald men, or how baldness is an embarrassing sign of aging. They might even try to frame it positively by saying everyone will look at you in a new way with a hair transplant. Don’t buy into this silliness. The existence of many bald or balding celebrities and politicians disprove the idea that bald men are weak and powerless. Consider figures such as Patrick Stewart, Michael Jordan, or Jason Alexander. If nothing else, remember that many cases of baldness are related to high testosterone. That would make baldness a sign of manliness.
Also, don’t take too much stock in before and after photos. There’s nothing from stopping the company running the advertisement from digitally manipulating the photos so you see only what they want you to see. Most transplants will ultimately thin your hair out overall. Keep note of any small print on screen, like “results not typical.”
You can basically discount most pills and creams that claim to restore your hair. Only a few products receive the endorsement of the FDA, and there’s a good reason for that. Most products, especially holistic ones, are often nothing more than snake oil. If anything looks too good to be true, or is being offered at an absurdly low price, you are most likely going to pay dearly if you follow through.
The best way to receive accurate information about hair restoration procedures is simply to talk to your family physician. Ask for a referral to a specialist who is willing to talk to you about the objective truths behind replacement surgery.
