One of the replacement options available to hair loss sufferers is hair transplantation. This is a surgical procedure and prospective patients must be more cautious than when considering non-invasive baldness solutions. And as with other types of surgeries, the practitioners are of varying degrees of expertise and competence.
Thoroughly researching and investigating hair restoration options, and the doctors available to perform transplants are important steps in the process. Choosing the right place to have it done and the right procedure is also vitally important.
The key factors in attaining a good transplant are the surgeon's skill, the procedure that's used, and ensuring that you're a good candidate for the procedure.
Hair can be transplanted because not all of the hair on your head is affected by the pattern baldness that causes hair loss. The hair follicles on the back and sides of the head aren't susceptible to DHT, the hormone that causes follicles to shrink and stop producing hair.
Transplants involve taking skin with hair follicles from these parts that still produce hair, separating the follicles out, and re-inserting them into the bald areas of the scalp. These active follicles can then grow hair in the areas where the follicles have previously died.
Several transplant grafts may be needed to ensure adequate coverage of balding areas. Although pre-baldness hair density will not be attained, careful placement of transplanted follicles can give the illusion of a fuller head of hair and add some coverage.
Those patients for whom hair loss is relatively stable, those past the age of 30, are better candidates for restoration surgery. If the procedure is undertaken any earlier it is hard to know how much more loss will occur before balding stops.
For those younger or for those with recent hair loss, one of the hair restoration drugs, Rogaine or Propecia, is probably a better choice.
To create a successful transplant, it's important that the technique used yields a natural looking result. In the past, the hair plugs that were transplanted were similar to the plugs of hair one finds on a dolls head. Needless to say, this resulted in an unnatural look.
The smaller grafts that are commonly used now, while somewhat more natural, still do not duplicate the hairline most patients want. What is needed is to transplant the hair in the same way it grows - which means transplanting follicular units.
These units are made of 1-4 follicles, and the supporting cells, blood vessels, nerves and tissues. It wasn't until surgeons started using microscopes to ensure that the follicular units remained intact and in their original state that truly natural results were achieved.
The recipient site for follicular units is prepared by using a needle to make tiny holes in the scalp. The grafts are then very gently inserted into these holes. This is where the skill of the practitioner is of the utmost importance because of the close spacing of the holes and the necessity of preventing the follicular units grafts from being damaged.
Before deciding on a doctor, be sure to ask him or her these questions: - How many transplants have you done? - How long have you been doing transplants? - Do you transplant using follicular units? - Can I contact any of your former patients? - How many transplants will be needed and how many at one time? - What will the total cost be? - What are the dangers, concerns or risks? - What board are you certified by?
Any hesitancy or refusal to be forthcoming by a prospective physician should send up red flags to anyone planning to go through a transplant procedure. The best way to find a physician to perform hair transplant surgery is to get a recommendation from someone you know who has had the procedure done.
It is surprising how many people will gladly share their hair replacement story with you and the name of the physician who performed the transplants.
Baldness is a serous matter for millions of men. Get info surrounding hair loss and how to avoid it at hair loss treatments. | |
