With a new year now around, many of us may have a couple resolutions we want to tend to. For some, this may be the year they choose to consider to have a hair transplant done. If you may be a part of this group, then this article is for you. It is not meant to dissuade one from getting a hair transplant, rather we want to make sure if you are, that you are completely aware of what a hair transplant procedure would entail.
Essentially, a hair transplant is a cosmetic procedure that involves harvesting hairs from a certain part of your scalp, and transplanting them onto a different part of your scalp. This donor area for the most part is usually the occipital (back of the head) area of your scalp since the hair here rarely recedes.
For some, the term “hair transplant” can conjure up images of bad, plug-looking results that show full transparency of a procedure having been done. This is no longer the case with modern transplants as the technology in this field has greatly advanced since the 1980s hair plugs’ days.
There are two main methods of hair transplantation involved in the majority of modern procedures: FUE and FUT. If you’d like to learn more about the differences between these two methods, feel free to read our article on that topic here.
At Hair By Dr. Max, Restoration Center, we choose the FUE method as a means of transplantation. We also greatly promote our use of the ARTAS iX Robotic Hair Restoration System which has very much improved the efficiency and accuracy of modern-day surgeries.
When deciding if a hair transplant is the right hair loss solution for you, it’s important to consider the following things:
1. Your Age
Age is an important factor when it comes to deciding whether or not you should have a hair transplant at the moment. The reason for this is because depending on your specific hair loss pattern, a hair transplant at a young age can actually do more harm than good. For the most part, it isn’t until about 25 years old that a person’s hair loss pattern can be predicted. Having a transplant below this age, and before this pattern has set in, can be very risky. Having such a procedure at a young age can result in an unnatural result when you are older. Remember that a hair transplant only “reverses” the growth of hair that is currently gone, not the hair that will continue to recede after the procedure. Ofcourse, every hair loss situation is different so it is best to consult your doctor before deciding on any procedure.
2. Your Expectations
Many patients go into a hair transplant procedure expecting immediate and unrealistic results. This mainly occurs when they are not well-educated on the process or the doctor they go to has not given full transparency on the process. That is why understanding the post-transplant process is imperative to making your decision on whether or not to have a transplant. If one is expecting a full head of hair to appear and for all their external issues to go away after the procedure, then it is best to suggest away from a procedure. Even after the procedure, it will take about 6 months to see the new hairs really come out. It will be about a year until you fully can see the result of the procedure.
3. Have You Seen Your Doctor’s Past Work
The importance of this tip goes without saying. Just like any other cosmetic procedure, knowing a doctor’s past results is a good indication on how your procedure could come out. If the results are positive and contain good reviews then you can be a bit less worried about your procedure. If there are plenty of negative reviews and un-impressive results, it is probably best to keep searching for the right doctor. These results are usually available to see on their website, but if they aren’t then it’s best to be sure you see them when you go for a consultation.
4. Does Your Doctor Specialize In Hair Restoration?
This seems like it’d be an obvious note, but it can be overlooked a lot nowadays since any doctor can get a hair transplant machine/equipment. In other words, no matter what field of study a doctor specializes in, they are still able to get the equipment necessary to perform a hair transplant. This would explain why many hair transplant services have recently popped up out of nowhere. Such a procedure should be performed by doctors/surgeons who solely specialize in this field rather than be performed by doctors as a side service. Though this procedure may not be as invasive as other surgeries, it still is a medical procedure that requires a team of highly skilled technicians to assist a well-trained surgeon.
If you have any questions regarding hair loss or any of our hair loss solutions, feel free to contact us at 954-945-2909. We’d be more than happy to help you on your journey to bring back your hair!
