Learn about Hair Transplant terms.

#18 and 19 guage needles
these needles are tiny and nearly have the same circumference as a “flu shot” needle; similarly tiny, even finer needles are also used during a procedure

Androgenetic Alopecia
male pattern style of hair loss that implies the interaction of hormones and genetic influences on hair loss

Antiseptic
a solution that cleanses and removes germs

Autosomal
a pattern of inherited traits that arises from either the maternal or paternal sides; to be distinguished from sex linked

Avodart
Avodart® (dutasteride), manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), was approved in February, 2002 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as a supplemental new drug application for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate. The drug became available in pharmacies in December, 2002. This new medicine for these patients will improve urinary symptoms, reduce risk of acute urinary retention (AUR), also reducing the risk of the need for BPH-related surgery.

• Hair Loss Issues
  GSK is believed to have entered Phase III trials with Dutasteride for hair loss. Their Supplemental New Drug Application for hair loss is thought to have been submitted to the FDA sometime in 2001. Avodart™ appears to have a much greater and longer inhibition of DHT than Propecia (Finasteride) in the early testing phases. Is it better than Propecia, and are its side effects greater or more serious? These are questions that are unanswered at this time – but time will tell. It's currently approved in a 0.5 mg softgel form.
  
  Dutasteride, a second-generation 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, is the first and only medicine to inhibit both the type 1 and type 2 enzymes responsible for the conversion of testosterone to DHT (dihydrotestosterone), the primary cause of prostate growth. Dutasteride's dual inhibition has been found to decrease levels of DHT by 90 percent at two weeks and 93 percent at two years.
  
  
• Dutasteride Phase 2 Hair Counts
  After six month of treatment, the hair counts measured in a 1 inch diameter circle increased by about ~96 hairs with 0.5mg Dutasteride, compared to about ~72 hairs with 5mg Finasteride.