Are you experiencing hair loss? If yes, you are not the only one. According to studies, two-thirds of men will begin to see their locks lose some of their lusters by age 35. The highest rates are found among Caucasians, and less common to black men. Asian men have the lowest rates. Due to this alarming rate, hair restoration procedures became popular in the market.
Are you contemplating on having a hair transplant soon? You better read this first before making your final decision. This procedure can be costly and extremely painful.
Famous people like David Beckham and Sylvester Stallone admitted undergoing a hair transplant. Most of these rich people were satisfied with the result and has been recommending it to other men who suffer the same problem.
In spite of their recommendation, bear in mind that hair transplant is not for everyone. To help you decide, we will give you a complete guide on how hair transplant is done and how much it will cost.
Hair Transplant Procedure
It is a surgical process that involves removal of hair follicles from any site in the body like face or legs and planting them on the hairless portion. There are two different methods in performing transplants, Follicular Unit Transportation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FEU). The best option for you will depend on your individual needs and the recommendations of your physician.
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)
FUT involves taking a strip of skin with hair follicles from the donor area, typically the back of your head where the hair is naturally fuller and less prone to balding. The strip containing the hair follicles is divided into grafts consisting of one or two follicles. Thousands of these follicular unit grafts are placed into tiny incisions made on the bald areas of the patient’s scalp in a single session, which can cause scarring.
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
FUE is a hair transplant method in which the doctor extracts the follicular units of hair from the patient’s donor area, one by one, using a microsurgical needle. While the detailed FUE technique requires more time in surgery, this method eliminates the linear scar and advanced wound care needed with FUT.
Expectations and Recovery
Your scalp may be very tender right after the surgery. Your surgeon might prescribe an antibiotic or an anti-inflammatory drug for you and will have to put on bandages over your scalp for at least a day or two.
Within 2 to 3 weeks, you will experience hair fall but you should notice new growth within several months. A lot of people will see 60% of new hair development after 6 to 9 months.
Expenses and Risks of Treatment
The price of a hair transplant will depend on the amount of hair you’re moving, but it generally ranges from $4,000 to $15,000 and most insurance plans don’t cover it.
Common to any kind of surgery, transplants have some dangers which include bleeding and infection. Scarring and unnatural-looking new hair development will probably occur. Some individual experience inflammation or an infection of the hair follicles referred to as folliculitis. Antibiotics can help relieve the issue. Now that you already have the idea on how hair transplants are done, let us try to understand what causes hair loss?
Causes of Male Pattern Hair Loss
Hormonal factors appear to play a role, and especially a male sex hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). When DHT attacks hair follicles on the scalp, the follicles slowly become miniaturized until they shrink completely and stop producing hair. Not all men are prone to DHT. Some genes can resist DHT which means some may still have their hair even if they are already in their golden years.
Medical conditions such as alopecia areata and alopecia universalis can cause a few bare patches on the scalp or all of the hair including eyebrows and eyelashes, facial hair, body hair, and hair on the head. Sadly, hair transplant is not advisable for these cases. Hair loss can also be a side effect of medications and supplements. Excessive hairstyling or hairstyles that pull your hair tight can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia. Stressful events can also trigger hair fall. Is it possible to slow down male hair loss?
Slowing Down Hair Loss
Here are some tips that may help you avoid hair loss. Avoid tight hairstyles such as buns and braids. Treat hair gently when washing and brushing. Keep away from harsh treatments like hot rollers or curling irons. Protect your hair from sunlight and other sources of ultraviolet light. Stop smoking. Some studies show an association between smoking and baldness in men. Unfortunately, most baldness caused by genetics may not be preventable. Should you consider a hair transplant?
Is Hair Transplant For You?
Going through surgery such as hair transplantation should never be a snap decision. It is a big commitment in terms of money. Apart from the serious procedure that cannot be undone in case you realize it is not the result you wanted. Changes that will take place during and after the operation may be a factor to consider as well. You can discuss things with your practitioner before signing up for anything. If you want to learn more about hair transplant, Surehair International can provide you information regarding this matter.
Whether you opt for surgery or just show that you are confident and sexy with your bare head. It is all up to you as long as you feel good about yourself.
