Why diagnosis comes first
Pattern thinning, shedding after a trigger, patchy loss and scarring loss are different problems. Treating one as another wastes time, and time matters when follicles are shrinking.
So a plan starts with an examination by Dr Sin Yong. The options are chosen only once the type of loss is known.
What assessment involves
The layers of a hair loss treatment plan in Singapore
| Layer | What it is | Its limit |
|---|---|---|
| Prescription medicine | Finasteride (oral or topical) and minoxidil (topical, or low-dose oral, which is off-label) | Does not bring back follicles already lost |
| H2LT | Drug-free laser energy aimed at the dermal papilla | Does not block DHT, and is not a stand-alone answer for late-stage loss |
| Regenera Activa | Millimetre punch grafts from the back of the scalp are processed into a cell-rich suspension and injected into thinning zones | Not for smooth, bare zones |
| In-clinic exosome and growth factor treatment | Proposed delivery of growth factors to the scalp | A proposed mechanism, not an established outcome |
| PRP or polynucleotides | Injected adjuncts | Used only where they fit an assessed plan |
| Derive Serum and Nourkrin | A daily exosome topical at home, and oral nutritional support | Supporting roles only |
Who it may suit
Follicles are still surviving, so there is something to work with.
The trigger is dealt with as part of the plan.
Only where follicles are confirmed under the scope.
H2LT may suit people who would rather avoid needles.
Hair responds slowly. The plan suits people who will commit to reviews over a long period.
A closer look at the main layers
Finasteride acts on the hormonal driver of pattern loss. Minoxidil acts on the hair cycle. Medicines are prescribed only after assessment, and low-dose oral minoxidil is an off-label use. For most pattern loss, this stays the base of the plan.
This is a drug-free option. Laser energy is calibrated and aimed at the dermal papilla at the base of the follicle. It may suit someone who prefers a no-needle route, usually as one part of a plan.
A small tissue sample is taken from the back of the scalp, processed and injected into thinning zones. It relies on surviving follicles, so the area is checked under the scope first.
Exosome products, PRP and polynucleotides play a supporting role. Evidence for proposed mechanisms is not the same as evidence of outcome, and these are added only where they suit an assessed plan.
Who should wait or avoid certain options
Pregnancy or breastfeeding, active scalp infection or inflammation, and any loss with an unconfirmed cause.
Not for pregnancy, planned pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Known hypersensitivity, open wounds, untreated inflammatory scalp disease, significant liver disease and uncontrolled heart or blood pressure conditions. Bleeding disorders and blood thinners are reviewed before any scalp procedure.
Late-stage loss with few surviving follicles, scarring alopecia, or patchy loss that has not been typed.
What treatment cannot do
No treatment here can regrow a follicle that has already gone. Laser does not block DHT, so it does not replace medicine for pattern loss. H2LT alone is not an answer for late-stage loss. A hair transplant moves hair, but it does not stop the process behind the loss, and medicine usually continues after it. Dr Sin Yong does not perform transplants. They are referred out. No regrowth can be promised, and each person responds differently. If your loss is at a stage where these options are unlikely to help, you should be told that at the first visit. It is better to know this before you spend time or money.
Risks and side effects
Tenderness, redness, swelling or bruising at treated points. Infection or allergy is uncommon.
Scalp irritation.
Hair may appear to fall more at first.
Sexual side effects, mood changes and lowered PSA readings. Pregnant women should not handle crushed or broken tablets.
Unwanted hair growth, ankle swelling, a fast heartbeat and light-headedness.
Spreading redness, warmth or pus, increasing pain or swelling, facial or lip swelling or a rash after a medicine, or mood, breast or sexual side effects on oral therapy.
Sessions and aftercare
Every programme is designed after assessment, and not from a fixed protocol. Review timing and programme length are set at consultation. In the first 24 hours after a scalp procedure, keep the scalp clean and avoid scratching. Avoid hot showers, saunas and vigorous exercise if it feels tender. In the first week, use only the scalp products you were advised to use, and keep taking your prescribed medicines. Cover the scalp or use suitable sun protection. Pause irritating actives and harsh styling until told otherwise. Hair grows in slow cycles, so please judge any change at your planned reviews and not from day to day.
Pages for your situation
Read about male hair loss treatment, including the medicine and review pathway.
Read about female hair loss treatment, including iron, thyroid and shedding after pregnancy.
See the hair thinning guide for what can and cannot be regrown.
How fees are set
No prices are published. The fee depends on the type and stage of loss, which treatments are combined, the area involved and whether a micrograft is advised. Trichoscopy and blood tests form part of the assessment. A written quote is given at consultation, and that visit also decides whether treatment is advised at all. Read how we quote to see what a quote covers. Please bring records of any earlier hair treatment.