Hair restoration is any method to help someone who is balding or has alopecia have more hair. The term usually refers to the surgical procedure of hair transplant. There are, however, also effective non-surgical procedures and medical techniques to get hair to grow. Technological advances allow us now to offer Alma TED, a non-invasive, in-office, pain-free hair treatment for men and women.
What is Alma TED?
Alma TED is an ultra-sound based device that allows delivery of standardized growth factors to the hair follicles in the scalp without needles or surgery. Treatments increase blood flow to the follicles resulting in thicker, stronger hair.
1 month after 1 treatment for traction alopecia
Who is a candidate for Alma TED?
Anyone with hair loss or alopecia who wants to improve the appearance of their hair may benefit from a treatment. This device is FDA-cleared for men and women with androgenetic alopecia. These are also known as male-pattern hair loss and female-pattern hair loss. Like many other hair loss treatments officially approved for androgenetic alopecia, such as minoxidil (Rogaine) and finasteride (Propecia), this, too, has also been shown to be effective in other types of hair loss. It is a good choice for someone who doesn't want to have to do a daily treatment, doesn't want to take pills, and/or wants a burst of hair growth.
In the media: Dr. Strachan, and Alma TED, featured in The Scratch in The New York Times discussing hair loss.
PRP not working for hair loss?
PRP, which stands for platelet rich plasma, is a popular treatment for hair loss. It involves harvesting the patient's own blood and spinning it down to collect growth factors. At times PRP works sometimes. Often, however, the results are disappointing. PRP depends on the quality of the patient's own growth factors which can vary from person to person. Blood growth factors also decline in quality with age.
Alma TED vs PRP
In addition to providing consistent, standardized growth factors, the Alma TED procedure is pain-free, blood-free, and needle-free unlike PRP. The treatment time is shorter and does not require numbing.
Alma TED treatment
The treatment is pain-free, needle free and takes approximately 25 minutes. First, the technician then divides the scalp into 4-5 sections and a vibrating device is placed against the skin. The first pass is to prime the skin to open channels. Then the TED+ Hair Care Formula, which contains a variety of growth factors, is applied and rubbed into the skin. A second round of with the device then drives the hair growth solution into the skin where it stimulates the hair follicles.
How many treatments will I need?
There can be improvement even after the first visit, however, it is generally recommended to do 3 treatments one month apart.
Is Alma TED safe?
This is a minimally-invasive treatment with a low risk of side effects. The procedure involves no discomfort, needles, cutting or trauma. There is no shedding associated with this procedure. A ringing sensation may be associated with treatment. Hair can grow back darker.
Is Alma TED covered by insurance?
No. Like most hair restoration procedures, this falls into the category of cosmetic.
Alma TED cost
The cost of each hair restoration treatment at Aglow Dermatology is $1000.00.
How to prepare for your treatment
Come to your appointment with clean, dry hair. The area to be treated should be accessible. There should be no product in your hair.
Aftercare
After your treatment don't wet your hair, apply product or shampoo for 24 hours. Schedule your follow up in 1 month.
Alma TED reviews
From Healthgrades:
"I am transformed! I wasn't even thinking about my hair loss when I went for a routine visit with the doctor for something else. She is very thorough and noticed the issue. She suggested this new treatment called Alma TED. I gave it a try. My hair is growing back! It works so fast. I didn't think it was possible. I no longer have to hide. See a hair loss expert if you have this problem. Don't start just trying random treatments. There is hope."
Do you want to find out if the Alma TED is the right approach to address your hair loss? Schedule a consultation with our board-certified dermatologist and hair loss expert here!