When Is A Hair Transplant A Good Idea?

Hair transplantation has many variations in names. Surgical Hair Restoration, Hair Transplant, Hair Transplant Surgery. Or by the actual technique names STRIP Surgery/”FUT” and Follicular Unit Extraction or “FUE”. Some doctors decide to use their own variant of the name. Offering basically the same techniques. With little to no significant changes to the original.

The premise of a hair transplant is the redistribution of genetically strong hair. Hair is first removed from the head. Known as the “donor area”. The hair is distributed over the area of hair loss. Known as the recipient area.

Not all hair is permanent. As a result, hair fall can occur anytime. This may happen rapidly or over the person’s lifetime. Even with advanced stages of hair loss men retain a band of hair around the sides and the back of their head.

Today’s Hair Transplant Techniques

There are two hair transplant techniques. To harvest the hair from the donor area. STRIP Surgery/FUT and Follicular Unit Extraction/“FUE”. FUT hair transplant surgery the doctor harvests the hair from a thin strip of the hair-bearing tissue. removed from around the back and sides of the head. Follicular Unit Extraction/FUE uses a micro punch to extract each follicular unit one by one.

With both hair transplant techniques. Hair can be removed. This is assuming the donor hair is not suffering from hair loss. Including the hair is safely removed. As a result, from genetically healthy hair. This hair will continue to grow after being moved. Keeping the same traits. Including hair characteristics.

Follicular Unit Grafting

A major evolution in creating a natural look has been the use of natural growing groups of hairs known as Follicular Units or “FU´s”. FU´s contain one to four hairs in each group or bunch. When placed strategically in the recipient area they will mimic a natural appearance of hair growth.

Careful alignment of each follicle will ensure they do not overlap and placing them in an asymmetrical manner will help to achieve natural hairline and maximum coverage. As well as a natural looking density from a relatively small amount of hairs. Especially compared to the surface area that needs to be covered in large hair transplant procedures.

The Newest Techniques Now Demand Advanced Skills from Surgeons

Hair transplant techniques have improved. As patients have demanded more natural results from surgical procedures the hair transplant techniques have evolved. The Doctor must master the intrinsic art of hairline design and temple closures.

Hairline design now is an art. To create the natural irregularities we have. Opposed to an unnatural sharp obtuse line. Refined placement of FU groupings gives a gradual increase in thickness. The hairline design has to frame the individual person‟s face. Not one design suits all.

With a greater understanding of anatomy and body proportions, this has aided surgeons to be able to mimic nature. With skills such as recognising angulation, orientation and hair spacing that all play important roles. These medical and artistic skills will determine how the hair will grow in creating a look that is natural.

Hair Loss

Hair loss can affect men and women. There are many forms of hair loss. The hereditary hair loss condition is called androgenic alopecia. Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) in men and Female Pattern Baldness (FPB) in women. This form of hair loss is passed down genetically from family members. There is a pre destined potential this gene will be inherited by one or more family members.

Baldness is a medical condition that affects some 25% of men in their 20‟s and an astounding 2/3 of all men after the age of 60.  Predilection to hair loss can occur at any time through our adult life, as early as in our teenage years. Hair loss is progressive and although can be slow once it starts it will generally continue normally following the genetic pat- terning within the family.

On average there are 100,000 – 150,000 follicles on the scalp. If there are fewer than 90,000 hairs on the scalp, the hair density is considered thin.

There are three major types of ethnic hair: Asian, African and  Caucasian. People of Asian descent will have a low density of hair,  which remains straight along the length. The individual hairs are coarse and will give an appearance of thick hair. Ethnic African hair  has the characteristic of irregular curling along the length, which gives high cover- age and the appearance of high density, yet it is of fine di- ameter. Caucasian hair is between these two extremes and shows great variation. People with blonde hair have the highest number of follicles and those with red hair have the fewest, although they will have coarser individual hairs.

Hair Treatment

As an alternative to surgical hair restoration surgery there are medications available that have been FDA (Food & Drug Administration of America) approved. They can help stem the loss of hair and in some cases even improve the growth of the existing hair. Drugs such as minoxidil and finasteride are used widely in the treatment of hair loss prevention. It is important to understand, medically or surgically there is no miracle cure and results will vary from person to person, no one can promise a specific result and it is vital you research the products and techniques available before making any steps to use them.

Always seek professional advice before starting a hair loss treatment. Multiple hair loss consultations should be requested especially if considering a surgical hair restoration treatment.