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Considering hair transplant? Long gone are the days when this treatment was available for rich and famous only. As the treatment evolved, it became accessible to a larger group of people. While most people know the general premise of hair transplants, they usually aren't familiar with different types of procedures and what to expect. We're going to solve that problem in this post. Read on to learn more about the procedure and whether hair transplant in NYC is the best solution for you, or if there's an alternative.
Hair transplant is a type of surgery wherein a plastic or dermatologic surgeon removes hair follicles from the donor site (part of the body with hair) to the recipient site i.e., the balding area. The donor site is usually back of the scalp or the sides.
What most people don’t know is that one of the first successful hair transplant surgeries was performed in New York City back in 1952, and it was done for male pattern baldness. Before that, the very first procedure of this kind was carried out in 1939 in Japan.
The medical community wasn’t welcoming to the idea of hair transplantation, at first. It will take decades for the procedure to evolve. Today, hair transplant is a popular procedure, accepted by both the medical or scientific community and public alike.
The main purpose of hair transplant is to add more hair to an area on the head that is thinning or balding. The general idea is that once transplanted, the hair will continue to grow on the balding site for life.
A common misconception is that hair transplant is a single procedure, but there are two different types. These include follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE).
The FUT is a type of hair restoration procedure wherein the naturally occurring groups of one to two hairs named follicular units are transplanted from donor to the recipient area. For this purpose, the surgeon numbs the scalp and removes a thin strip of tissue from the back of the scalp or the sides. The precise stereo microscopic dissection techniques are used to separate the donor strip in hundreds or thousands of individual follicular units. The surgeon then makes tiny incisions on the recipient sites to transplant the follicular units and, if the procedure is performed properly, results are supposed to look realistic.
On the flip side, FUE is all about extracting or harvesting follicular units directly from the scalp one by one. The surgeon uses a small instrument to create small incisions around the follicular units to separate them from the surrounding tissue. Then, he or she pulls the follicular unit right out of your scalp. This leaves a small open hole, which eventually heals and becomes a tiny white spot on your head.
Generally speaking, the expert you see about hair transplant takes a close look into the affected area and takes into account various parameters to recommend the ideal approach. There is no “one size fits all” rule when it comes to choosing the best hair transplant procedure. What works for one person may not work for the other.
However, FUT usually yields most hair. This procedure is best suited for people with more extensive hair loss because the primary concern here is to get the maximum out of donor supply. The precise method of obtaining follicular units is the reason why FUT maximizes hair supply. Plus, in this method, hair is obtained from the mid-portion of the permanent zone where your hair is most stable and dense.
On the other hand, FUE is more suitable for younger patients who want to keep their hairstyling options flexible. It’s also ideal for people who want to keep their hair very short or can’t limit vigorous activities after the surgery.
If you are considering a hair transplant, it's perfectly understandable to wonder if the procedure is effective. After all, a hair transplant isn’t cheap. It’s quite expensive, actually. So you don’t want to spend money on something that doesn’t work.
You've probably heard all kinds of stories about hair transplants, and most of them claim it's a waste of money. A great deal of those stories isn't true. Generally speaking, hair transplants are more successful than over-the-counter hair restoration products. For many men, and even women, hair transplant is the only solution for their problem because products they've tried didn't do anything to help them.
In about three to four months after the procedure, you can expect between 10% and 80% of transplanted hair to fully grow back. But you do need to keep in mind that transplanted hair becomes thin over time. This has nothing to do with the procedure. It’s a natural hair cycle.
When we are discussing the efficacy of hair transplants, it's crucial to bear in mind the procedure doesn't work for every patient. The procedure is primarily used to restore hair if a patient is thinning or balding naturally or if they've lost hair due to some sort of an injury.
Keeping in mind that transplants are performed with a patient’s existing hair, they’re not ideal for people with thick scalp scars, widespread baldness and hair thinning, hair loss due to medications, and chemotherapy.
Honestly speaking, every procedure carries a certain risk of adverse reactions, regardless of how simple and easy it may seem. A hair transplant is not an exception. The most well-known side effect of hair transplant is the scar. Scarring is inevitable with hair transplant, but its visibility depends on the type of hair transplant and the size of the recipient or donor area.
The existence of scars makes patients feel subconscious about their appearance. This is particularly the case in instances when the scar is prominent. Some FUT scars can be from ear to ear. Others can be smaller. But knowing you have a scar on the scalp is enough to bring your confidence down because people think everyone’s looking at their scar.
Besides scarring, other possible adverse reactions of hair transplant include:
· Bleeding
· Infections
· Folliculitis (inflammation of hair follicles)
· Losing hair
· Crust or pus drainage around the surgical site
· The hair on the recipient site and the surrounding areas don't match, and the difference is visible.
· Pain, swelling, and itching of the scalp
· Losing sensation around the surgical site
The quality of your hair transplant results comes down to the choice of a surgeon. You don’t want someone without the experience. At the same time, you don’t want someone whose clinic pays no attention to the satisfaction and wellbeing of the patients.
If you're interested in hair transplant in NYC, the good news is that there are many surgeons you can trust. You just need to take some time to explore different options and opt for the surgeon whose services and costs of the treatment fit your needs the most.
As mentioned above, scar after a hair transplant is inevitable, and it's a major threat to a person's confidence. Fortunately, you can hide the scar successfully. Better yet, you can do it without going under a knife. The most effective method of scar camouflage is scalp micropigmentation (SMP), the innovative technique wherein the device resembling a tattoo needle is used to place pigment into the scalp and create dots that look like hair follicles. When done properly, SMP yields realistic results and diminishes the visibility of the scar. In people with longer hair, SMP gives more depth into the whole look.
SMP doesn't take long, and it's not expensive. Therefore, it's a great solution that a larger group of people can afford. Results are not only realistic but also permanent.
A hair transplant may not appeal to everyone. If you are looking for an easier, faster, and more durable solution for hair loss, then scalp micropigmentation could be the solution. Besides scars, SMP also tackles other problems such as hair thinning, hair loss, receding hairline, among others. The realistic results allow you to feel confident again, knowing that nobody knows you've had work done on your scalp. SMP requires no incisions, transplants, scars, or any other nuisance that is so characteristic for hair loss solutions. If SMP is your choice, then the best place to get it done is the INKredible Scalp, the best clinic of this kind whose popularity keeps growing by the day.
A hair transplant is a popular procedure for hair loss. Men and women alike can benefit from a hair transplant. Despite many advantages, hair transplant has various disadvantages. The decision on whether a hair transplant is a right thing for you depends on your needs, but it's crucial to consult an expert. On the other hand, SMP can cover both hair loss and scars caused by hair transplant. In the end, take into consideration your needs, preferences, and do a little bit of research before you choose your method.
