At Hair by Dr. Max, Restoration Center, in Fort Lauderdale, FL, we aim to help patients achieve their hair restoration goals through custom-tailored treatments. We offer a treatment for hair loss called scalp micropigmentation (SMP). This treatment has become a popular choice for those experiencing hair loss because it’s non-invasive and allows patients to restore the appearance of natural hair follicles.
What Is Scalp Micropigmentation?
Scalp micropigmentation is a non-surgical, non-invasive treatment in which we use a process similar to eyebrow microblading to create the illusion of tiny hair follicles where the hair has thinned, receded, or ceased growing. The result is the appearance of a thicker head of hair. However, unlike a microblading treatment, the goal is not to create the illusion of hair-like strands but instead tiny layered dots that mimic the appearance of a shadow when a shaved head begins to regrow hair.
This treatment is also known as hair tattooing and is a style of micropigmentation similar to pointillism, a type of art defined by tiny colored dots that requires the viewer to blend those dots with their eyes to see the uniform image. After undergoing treatment with this artistic technique, patients can expect natural-looking results, improved hair depth, and visible definition.
Why It’s Effective
Scalp micropigmentation is so effective as a treatment for male and female pattern baldness because it doesn’t provide patients with any false claims about curing hair loss but instead provides an affordable solution that can naturally promote fuller and denser-looking hair. Aside from treating a receding hairline, the treatment can also cover any imperfections and scars on the scalp resulting from past hair restoration or transplant methods.
Patients can expect the best results after just a few simple treatments. There’s no significant social downtime, the healing process is quick, and the results will last for years.
Scalp Micropigmentation for Men
Male pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss in men and leads to receding hairline and thinning at the crown, gradually progressing to more visible bald spots and a total loss of coverage in affected areas. It is influenced by genetics and hormones, often resulting in a distinct pattern that starts at the temples and moves back across the top of the head.
Scalp micropigmentation offers a strategic solution for men looking to disguise these signs of balding. By replicating tiny hair follicles with pigment, SMP provides the look of a full, close-cropped haircut. This non-invasive treatment can effectively cover receding hairlines, thinning crowns and even complete baldness, creating an illusion of denser hair and a sharper, more youthful hairline. For men seeking an alternative to surgical options, SMP serves as a durable, low-maintenance solution that restores the appearance of thicker hair.
Scalp Micropigmentation for Women
When women experience hair loss, it tends to be more diffuse. Instead of a receding hairline, women with female pattern baldness will often notice a widening part and thinning at the crown or top of the head. This form of hair loss is characterized by a more gradual reduction in hair density, making it challenging to maintain the hair’s natural volume and style.
For women struggling with thinning hair and hair loss, scalp micropigmentation provides a subtle, empowering change. It works by creating the illusion of increased hair density, effectively diminishing the contrast between the scalp and hair. This treatment is particularly beneficial for women with widespread thinning or hair loss patterns typical of female pattern baldness. Scalp micropigmentation for women is designed to create a natural-looking fullness, allowing the freedom to style your hair without worrying about concealing sparse areas.
Scalp Micropigmentation at Hair By Dr. Max, Restoration Center
Your Pre-Treatment Consultation
At your pre-treatment consultation, we’ll meet with you to evaluate the areas that you want to treat, discuss your questions and concerns, and then develop the right treatment plan to help you achieve the best outcome.
Scheduling Your Sessions
Once we confirm your treatment eligibility, we’ll schedule your treatments in advance, depending on your needs and treatment plan. Each session takes approximately two to three hours, and you’ll need to wait at least ten days between each. Of the two to three treatments necessary, the third is often optional, depending on each patient and their desired results. We’ll work around your availability when scheduling the sessions to ensure you have the best treatment experience.
Your First Session
When you arrive for your session, we’ll prepare the treatment area for the scalp micropigmentation process and work with you to create the perfect hairline. We’ll discuss the style you’re looking for and then begin the session.
During the process, our technician will use a specialized device similar to a tattoo needle to deposit pigmented dots directly onto the predetermined areas of the scalp. These cosmetic-grade pigments are safe, and you won’t need pre-treatment anesthesia or have to worry about any reactions after your treatment.
Your Second and Third Sessions
When you come in for your second and third sessions, our goal will be to increase your replicated hair density to continuously add to the appearance of fullness and eliminate any evidence of visible hair loss. The main focus of the sessions will be to blend the areas of micropigmentation with your natural hair to ensure the most natural-looking results. During these treatments, we can make minor adjustments to your hairline as needed.
Enjoying Your Results
You can enjoy immediate results as soon as your first treatment is over. You’ll see the improvements in the appearance of those areas where you’ve noticed a receding hairline or thinning hair.
To see just how dramatic a change this treatment can make in the appearance of your hair and scalp, we recommend that patients take a pre-treatment photo to compare it with a photo taken immediately following the treatment to see the dramatic difference in their before and afters.
Scalp Micropigmentation Downtime and Recovery
One of the key advantages of scalp micropigmentation is that, compared to other methods of hair restoration, it involves minimal downtime or recovery. Immediately after the procedure, patients can expect mild irritation and redness in treated areas that subsides within a few days. Because the treatment process involves making tiny wounds in the scalp to deposit ink, itching and scabbing are also common. These side effects are similar to what you’d experience after getting a tattoo. You’ll be advised to apply lotion and sunscreen and avoid picking at these scabs to ensure proper healing and reduce the risk of complications like scarring or infection.
After your SMP sessions, you’ll be able to immediately resume all normal activities — there’s no need to take time off from work as your scalp heals. This treatment method involves no incisions or invasive techniques, making it easy to fit into your normal schedule. Dr. Max will provide you with detailed aftercare guidelines for optimal results. After your scalp has healed, continue to use a broad-spectrum, high-SPF sunscreen (30+) to preserve the color of the pigments. Much like tattoos, the ink used during SMP can fade when exposed to UV rays over the years.
Combing Scalp Micropigmentation With Other Hair Loss Treatments
Scalp micropigmentation is an excellent standalone option when it comes to hair restoration, but it can also be used alongside other techniques to enhance your results. SMP won’t interfere with DHT blockers or topical medications such as minoxidil and finasteride. In fact, many people find that SMP complements these treatments by creating a fuller and denser look and provides a more comprehensive strategy for combating the signs of thinning hair and hair loss.
FAQs About Scalp Micropigmentation
Scalp micropigmentation is a non-surgical procedure that works by depositing small dots of cosmetic-grade ink into the scalp, giving the illusion of increased hair density and mimicking the appearance of a shaved head when the hair has just started to regrow. Patients interested in SMP must begin the process with an initial consultation. Then, we’ll move forward with scheduling your sessions, preparing you for your treatment, and getting you one step closer to experiencing all the immediate results of a scalp micropigmentation treatment plan.
The best candidates for this treatment are patients looking for an affordable solution for hair loss that doesn’t use chemicals or cause any side effects but delivers noticeable and long-lasting results. Patients who have experienced hair loss due to the most common factors, including alopecia, aging, cancer, thinning hair, or male or female pattern baldness, make good candidates.
Patients should have realistic expectations about the treatment and understand that scalp micropigmentation is a treatment for hair loss that will create the illusion of improved hair density but will still feel the same as a bald head. It won’t promote hair growth, but it will reverse the visual effects of hair loss, hair thinning, balding, and receding hairline. Treatments will require minor touch-ups over time to ensure the longevity of results.
Scalp micropigmentation is considered semi-permanent. The pigment used is permanent cosmetic ink and specially formulated to recreate the look of increased hair density. Unlike tattoo ink, it is not made from composite sources, meaning it won’t bleed or separate. That being said, the richness of color can fade over time, especially when exposed to UV rays without sun protection. If needed, periodic touch-ups can help you maintain your results.
Most patients do not have to shave their head before undergoing SMP. For men and women experiencing hair loss, the ink can be applied directly to patchy and balding areas — it is typically “woven” into existing hair patterns to achieve a holistic, blended appearance. However, for men who are aiming to recreate the look of a buzz cut with scalp micropigmentation, shaving beforehand might be recommended to ensure even and consistent results.
You can expect the results of scalp micropigmentation to last for many years, but over time, the color may begin to fade. To maintain the sharpness, intensity and depth of your scalp’s appearance, a repeat procedure every three to five years can be performed. How frequently you may require a touch-up depends on factors like lifestyle, sun exposure and skin type.
About Dr. Max
Dr. Maxim Chumak, the medical director and board-certified hair transplant surgeon at Hair By Dr. Max, Restoration Center, is highly respected and well-known in the world of hair restoration. His extensive experience and patient-centered approach have established his clinic as a leader in both surgical and non-surgical hair loss treatments, including scalp micropigmentation.
Alongside his skilled team, Dr. Max ensures that every treatment is performed with the highest standard of care and precision. His reputation for excellence and commitment to providing personalized, detailed results that meet the unique needs of both male and female patients has made him Fort Lauderdale’s go-to provider for those struggling with thinning hair or hair loss.
Restore Natural-Looking Hair Without Surgery
If you can’t or don’t want to commit to surgery to address thinning hair, balding, or a receding hairline, SMP can help reverse the appearance of hair loss so you can enjoy long-term results. If you want to learn more about this unique treatment, how it works, and whether it’s right for you, we can give you details and schedule your pre-treatment consultation.