Hair loss is a common issue experienced by both men and women; however, the condition is most common in men. There can be different reasons for hair loss, including; certain cancers, thyroid conditions, medications, and anabolic steroids. In addition, hair is an essential part of an individual’s appearance, which indicates that hair loss significantly shatters an individual’s confidence and lowers his self-esteem.
So, the question is, what can be done to get rid of male baldness? The most straightforward and most favorable answer is, going for a hair transplant. So, let’s find out what the best hair transplant is and disclose all the meaningful information you need to know about a hair transplant.
What is Hair Transplant?
Hair transplant (also known as hair restoration) is a surgical procedure in which new hair follicles are inserted/transplanted from a hair-loss resistant area to the balding area. Hair transplant is incredibly effective in restoring the balding area. Hence, this treatment is most effective in providing a natural-looking solution for patients suffering from balding conditions or receding hairlines.
Who Should Go for Hair Transplantation?
Hair transplant is an entirely safe and painless procedure; however, it does not suit everyone. The treatment method is best for:
- Men who have lost their hair due to male pattern baldness for five years or more
- Men who have progre3ssed to Norwood class 3. This is the earliest stage of male hair loss, or above
- Men or women who lost their hair due to trauma or burns
- Men having realistic expectations and understand that their hair loss may continue to progress even though they are taking prescription medication to minimize the progression
Which Techniques are used for Hair Transplantation?
Two techniques are generally used for hair transplantation, i.e., FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) and FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation). Let’s discuss them briefly.
· Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
In this procedure, each follicular unit is taken from the scalp individually without removing any strip tissue. Hair follicles are randomly removed, which leads to less density in the donor area, which is not very noticeable. As follicles are removed one at a time, few follicles are harvested during a typical session.
· Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)
This procedure removes a small strip of tissue from the back of the head using which the donor hair follicles are extracted. The hair follicles are harvested from the removed strip by the clinical team and are then individually transplanted to the recipient areas.
FUT is preferred for advanced hair losses because it allows for the most significant number of grafts to be transplanted in a single session.
Getting Ready for Hair Transplant Procedure
If you are about to go for a hair transplant procedure, act upon the bits of advice suggested below.
Avoid taking medications such as aspirin, Motrin, alcohol, and vitamin E. Furthermore, you must avoid taking steroids, creams, green tea, cortisone, and smoking. Taking these things may make you bleed more and make the surgery harder and possibly less successful.
On the day of your surgery, take a shower. Carefully wash your hair with a normal shampoo. Do not use any spray or lotions.
Take light breakfast. Avoid drinking milk, white tea, or coffee for around 12 hours before going for surgery. That’s because when you are under anesthetic, your body’s reflexes are temporarily stopped. If your stomach contains food or drink, there are chances of vomiting.
What are the Pros and Cons of Hair Transplant?
The following are some of the pros and cons of hair transplant
Pros
- The procedure provides long-term and guaranteed results for male pattern baldness.
- The treatment procedures aim towards natural hair growth and bring long-lasting results.
- The surgical results are in the patient’s control, with the eventual aesthetic beauty achieved per the patient’s vision.
Cons
Here are a few cons of hair transplantation
- If precautions are not taken, certain infections may occur, leading to scalp swelling and itching.
- There are chances of losing transplanted hair which is referred to as “shock loss.”
- It is quite probable that the hair follicles may die off before the hair regenerates, which often causes bumps on the scalp.
- The chances of developing wide scars increase because a part of the scalp is reduced during transplantation.
