Baseball caps, dandruff, maternal grandfathers, ancient hexes cast by witches who live in the woods—there are a lot of alleged causes for thinning hair, and the overwhelming amount of them aren’t real. Tangible, convenient solutions to hair thinning, however, are real. Hair transplants remain one of the most effective and popular of them all.
What is a Hair Transplant?
Like heart transplants, kidney transplants, and lung transplants before it, hair transplants involve moving one healthy piece of tissue to an area that needs it; at least with hair transplants, another person’s tissue isn’t required.
Hair transplants, also known as follicle renewal, involve taking portions of healthy hair, removing them, and relocating them to places where hair has disappeared. The removed pieces are often strips of several inches in places where removal will largely go unnoticed; in men, this often the wreath of hair around the scalp where there are many “excess” layers of hair hidden by other hair.
The surgeon then sews up the donor area. The removed strip is then split into hundreds or thousands of tiny grafts; they’re divided in ways to account for color, thickness, and appropriateness for location. Holes are created in the receiving location and are ultimately filled with the new skin grafts.
What is the Recovery Process Like?
Though it varies from person-to-person and surgery-to-surgery, hair transplant patients should expect some basic similarities. The scalp will likely be sore for several days and many patients will need to take several days off from work. Patients will likely wear surgical dressings in the first few days and will have pain medication and/or antibiotics prescribed to them.
The newly transplanted hair will fall out within a few weeks, but, if successful, a majority of the new hair will grow back within a few months.
Is Hair Transplant Surgery For Me?
Hair transplant should primarily be considered for men and women over the age of 25 who have lost hair in the front or top of their scalp. People under the age of 25 are encouraged to wait until they are older; hair loss at such a young age could have unpredictable sources and doctors want to have the best understanding of its root cause.
Prospective patients should also know that hair transplants won’t cure hair loss—it will just place hair in otherwise barren areas. These patients should consult with their doctors on how this will affect their scalp’s landscape as they age.
Depending on the size and nature of the transplant, the surgery will likely cost several thousands of dollars and is very rarely covered by insurance. Patients should consider their financial situation before the surgery.
We Are Your Hair Loss Prevention Experts
Struggling with hair loss is common and treatments are available to help. We encourage you to find out more about the variety of options available to treat hair loss in men and women. It’s important to consult with an experienced and trained restoration professional.
To learn more about which treatment option is right for you, schedule a Frank & Honest Hair Consultation or contact our team in New York City or Columbus, Ohio.
