What is a Hair Transplant?

Thinning hair or balding is something that significant amounts of men and women face each year. Eighty percent of men and nearly half of women will experience this in their lifetimes. Despite the huge numbers, this doesn’t improve the feelings of anxiety, insecurity, and stress that hair loss can evoke.

Fortunately, there are a variety of options available to people who are experiencing hair loss. One of the quickest ways to achieve a full head of hair is through hair transplants.

Are you interested in hair transplants but don’t know a lot about them? Do hair transplants work? Read on as we answer all your hair transplant questions in this guide!

What Causes Hair Loss?

Remember that it’s important you speak with your doctor about your hair loss because it can be caused by other reasons besides hair loss. Scalps normally hold 100,000 to 150,000 hair. On an average day, you’ll lose about 50 to 100 of them during the normal growth cycle.

When the shedding outpaces the normal growth cycle due to a follicles sensitivity to hormones, this is called alopecia. Shedding could also be caused by acute stress, such as bankruptcy, a breakup, or a loss.

There are also a number of health issues that cause hair loss, such as:

• Chemotherapy

• Pregnancy

• Menopause

• Anabolic steroids

• Smoking

• Some prescription medications

What is a Hair Transplant?

A hair transplant is pretty straightforward–hair you already have is moved, or transplanted, to places where your hair is thin or where you have no hair. Doctors have been performing this procedure since the 1950s and will choose one of two ways in order to transplant your own hair.

What is Follicular Unit Transplantation?

Follicular unit transplantation (FUT) is also known as follicular unit strip surgery (FUSS). This is when, with a scalpel, the surgeon takes a 6 to 10-inch strip of your scalp from the back of your head. Afterward, they’ll close that area with stitches.

That strip is separated into thousands of tiny pieces called grafts that are inserted with a needle into the balding or thinning places on your scalp.

What is Follicular Unit Extraction?

This is a less invasive procedure compared with FUT. It’s also the newest method available to surgeons, though it does take more time to learn and master.

The surgeon shaves the back of your head instead of taking a strip of your scalp. Then, they’ll take individual follicles out of your scalp skin and grafts the hair follicles that they shaved into those holes.

FUE is a great option if the patient is worried about the appearance of scars. FUE will still leave scars, but they are small and round compared to the long strip that a FUT scar will leave.

Recovering from Hair Transplants

Patients typically find that their scalps feel tender after the procedure. You’ll need to wear bandages for your scalp for a few days and pain medication may be necessary.

Your surgeon may also prescribe antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs in order to aid the healing process. Some surgeons may also prescribe Rogaine to aid with hair growth.

You’ll want to wait a few days after surgery before you wash your hair and should only do so with a mild shampoo. For about three weeks you should also avoid pressing a brush or comb against your new hair grafts.

After two to three weeks after the surgeon, your transplanted hair will fall out, but this is completely normal because most people will see new hair growth six to nine months later.

Remember to ask your doctor if you’re unsure about anything! Hair transplants are a common procedure and your doctor is sure to have the answers to all of your recovery questions.

Do Hair Transplants Work?

It can be nerve-wracking to agree and pay for a procedure along with go through the recovery process if you’re unsure that a hair transplant will work for the longterm. Studies have shown that anywhere from 10 to 80 percent of your hair will grow back in about three to four months.

You’ll also want to be aware that hair transplants aren’t a good option for everyone. For instance, if you have thinning and baldness throughout your entire scalp and not just patches, your hair loss is due to chemotherapy or medications you’re currently taking, or you have a thick scalp from injury scars, then it won’t be as effective.

You have to keep in mind that once you have a hair transplant and your hair grows back, it will begin to start thinning again just like normal hair. So if you’re going through chemotherapy or taking medications that cause hair thinning, your hair transplant won’t make this stop.

How Do You Cover Scars?

Scarring is also the top worry of people who get hair transplants, especially if they opted for FUT, which will leave a long, horizontal scar across the back of a person’s head.

Scalp micro pigmentation is a popular way to eliminate these scars for good and also increase the appearance of a full head of hair. Similar to receiving a tattoo, small amounts of colored pigment are injected underneath the scalp in small dots.

Micro pigmentation is also used for individual’s who are still experiencing hair loss and are waiting for their hair transplant surgery.

Gain Confidence in Your Hair

Losing hair is common for both men and women for a variety of reasons, but the feelings of insecurity that hair loss brings are still just as real. If you’ve ever considered and asked yourself the question “do hair transplants work,” hopefully we’ve given you the knowledge necessary to make the most informed decision for yourself.

Are you waiting to receive a transplant or have already received one? Micro pigmentation will successfully cover both thinning spots and scars. Contact us today to book a free consultation!