About Hair Loss

Hair plays a very important role in any individual’s appearance. One only needs to see a person with different hairstyles to understand the role hair plays in deciding the overall appearance of a person. Since a lot of your confidence comes from the way you look, a receding hairline or a balding head can suck confidence out of you and can thereby wreak havoc in your social and personal life.

There is always a reason behind hair loss and it is very important to detect the cause before going for any kind of hair treatment. While, generally, hair loss is caused due to genetic factors, it can also be caused from stress, pollution and an unhealthy lifestyle.

Since hair is so vital in maintaining one’s levels of confidence, people experiencing hair loss are always on the lookout for different types of treatment to get their precious hair back. Hair replacement service (or hair transplantation) is one treatment that has always been very popular with people with hair loss problems.

About Hair Replacement Service

In hair replacement treatments hair follicles from the area of your head that is genetically resistant to going bald (called the donor area), generally the back of your head, are used for hair transplantation. Therefore, it is imperative that you have some good quality hair on your head if you wish to go for the hair replacement service. This is usually not a problem as male pattern baldness will cause hair loss on the top and front of the scalp predominantly.

The Hair Replacement Treatment

The modern hair replacement surgery is done using local anesthesia and so the patient hardly feels any pain. The whole surgical procedure may involve more than one session, the exact number of sessions depending on the extent of hair loss and the patient’s requirements. There are generally no side effects after the treatment and even if there are any, they are not very serious and subside in a couple of days. There may be some redness such as from a pin prick at the donation sites.

Before going for the treatment, one must carefully research about the clinics offering hair replacement treatment that you are interested in. You should get the treatment done only from a good clinic (and by an experienced surgeon) even if it is costlier than other clinics, because the cheaper clinics will probably use old methods of replacement that might prove disastrous and may leave you regretting your decision for the rest of your life.

The first visit to the clinic is very important because in the first visit, the doctor gets to understand your particular hair loss problem in detail, which in turn helps him or her to decide the course of your treatment. The doctor may advise you to take antibiotics before the treatment and might also suggest some other pre-treatment precautions. In addition, you must clear all your doubts regarding the treatment in the very first visit and should also ask the doctor in detail about the exact procedure of the surgery.

Hair Replacement Cost

The competition between clinics providing hair replacement services has greatly increased in recent years owing to its increasing demand and popularity and therefore the cost of the surgery has drastically gone down.

These days, while a basic hair transplant procedure on your crown may cost you between US $3,000 and US $10,000, a full hair transplant surgery can cost you between US $5,000 to US $30,000 depending on the amount of hair loss. Most clinics will allow you to opt for monthly financing with low payments to help make it more affordable.

Recovery From Hair Replacement Surgery

If done with modern equipment by an experienced professional, no bandage is generally required after the replacement surgery and one can even go back to one’s routine the same day. The transplanted hair grows slowly and one must not expect immediate drastic results after the surgery. In fact, the full results of the hair replacement service might even take a year to show. Therefore, the patient should actually be patient in order to see the proper results.

The treatment can give you an approximation of your prior hair density and generally it does not show even on a close examination of the hair, something that has made this treatment very popular. Another advantage of this service is that the transplanted hair requires no special maintenance or care. Though hair replacement surgery is not very cheap, it is worth the requisite investment considering the fact that it can bring about a huge positive change in your life.

True or False

(1) Baldness can be caused by vitamin deficiencies or poor circulation to the scalp.

Answer: False. Common baldness or male pattern baldness (MPB) results from family history, aging and the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which is found at the temples, at the crown and on top of the scalp.

(2) Surgery for hair replacement requires that a patient has a good growth of hair on the sides and at the back of the head in order to qualify for transplantation.

Answer: True.

(3) There are a number of methods used in transplanting hair. Sometimes several techniques are used to achieve a desirable outcome.

Answer: True. Different types of grafting techniques as well as plastic surgery can be incorporated into a transplant procedure.

(4) Scalp reduction, a technique used in hair replacement surgery, is also known as advancement flap surgery.

Answer: True. This technique involves advancing the portion of scalp with hair forward to fill in a bald area.

(5) Hair replacement surgery can’t give you the same coverage you had when you had hair.

Answer: True. Hair replacement systems can furnish more fullness and fill in thin areas but you won’t have the same head of hair you once had.

(6) Broad scars known as “stretch-back” scars can result from some scalp reduction techniques.

Answer: True. As with any surgery, there are a certain number of risks when undergoing hair transplantation, such as scarring, bleeding and infection.

(7) Surgical hair replacement cost is determined by the techniques employed, the number of grafts needed and the condition, color and texture of a candidate’s existing hair.

Answer: True. All the aforementioned factors are taken into consideration when determining hair replacement costs.

(8) Among the hair replacement systems that are currently available, flap surgery is one of the newest techniques used in surgery.

Answer: False. This type of plastic surgery has been performed now for over twenty years.

(9) It can take as long as two years before you complete all your sessions of transplants.

Answer: True. Of course, much depends on the nature of your existing hair and the amount of baldness.

(10) Hair transplant surgery typically requires a hospital stay.

Answer: False. Surgery normally takes place in a physician’s office at a hair treatment facility or at an outpatient surgery center.

(11) Total surgical hair replacement cost can be broken down in payments or financed on a monthly basis.

Answer: True.

(12) The cost of non surgical treatments for hair replacement such as medications or hair replacement systems, over time, can exceed the cost of surgery.

Answer: True.

(13) The average cost of hair grafts is $5 to $6 per graft.

Answer: True. Grafts can range from $3 to $8 per graft depending on the procedure but the average price is about $5 to $6 per graft.

(14) The charge assessed for each hair graft increases if the client must undergo several sessions.

Answer: False. The price for each hair graft generally decreases if the patient must undergo several sessions.

(15) The cost for a custom hair piece for men is, on average, $500.

Answer: False. The average price tag for a custom hair replacement is around $1200. In addition, this type of hair replacement must be replaced yearly and reattached and styled about every month which adds to the cost.

How’d you fare? Did the quiz cause you to lose a few more hairs?

Types of Grafts

Rounded punch grafts typically contain about 12 hairs per graft. Smaller mini-grafts include about four hairs. Very tiny micro-grafts contain only one to two hairs. Slit grafts contain about 10 hairs while strip grips which are long and narrow usually contain about 30 hairs.

It’s all in the Numbers

When using larger grafts in a procedure, usually about fifty grafts are used per session. Keep in mind that several surgical sessions may be necessary if one wants to obtain a fuller head of hair. If it’s determined that you’re a better candidate for smaller grafts, such as micro-grafts, then as many as 500 to 700 grafts can be transplanted in one session. As you can see, a consultation is necessary if one wants to assess overall hair replacement surgery costs for a transplant.  You can often times get a wide variation in the hair replacement cost estimate based on type of grafts and the clinic used.

Other Factors

The texture and color of the hair also factor into what types of grafts are used. Naturally, coarse hair is thicker and requires less grafting than finer hair. Also if the color of the hair is contrasting to the skin there will be more grafts needed to cover up the Hair Loss. The worst case is very pale skin covered with very dark hair. The skin really shows up through the hair covering.

The Grafting Procedure

When a replacement surgery is performed, the doctor removes a small strip of hair from the back of the head which is called the donor area. He then transplants this strip to the front of the head and top of the crown. Each graft he removes contains one or more hair follicles. He sutures the donor area where he made the incision. Normally this will cause a minor scar to form but this scarring will be covered by the hair already in place. The doctor then creates tiny incisions in the region where he transplants the grafts. The incisions or slits are referred to as the receptor sites. The slits must be placed in such a way as to replicate the pattern of the hair that once was there. Therefore, the number of grafts used depends on the texture and color of the hair follicles and the amount of area that needs to be covered.

Non Surgical Options

Should you opt for non surgical hair replacement, there are a number of methods currently available. You can employ fusion, bonding, cabling, micro links, beading, adhesive or weaves to attach hair pieces to the scalp or existing hair. As the hair grows, some of these methods require that the hair piece be adjusted or reattached to keep it in place. Hair pieces can be made of synthetic hair, natural hair or both synthetic and natural hairs. Hair replacement prices then are mainly determined by the type of hair restoration one prefers.

The Final Cost

Take a look on the Internet. You can find a number of hair replacement systems that will suit you personal needs and preferences. The final hair replacement cost is dependent of course on your specific situation.

An Overview of MPB

Primarily MPB or male pattern baldness is a result of family history, aging and the hormone dihydrotestosterone or DHT. This hormone is concentrated on the crown of the head, the top of the scalp and at the temples. The hair at the lower sides and on back is unaffected by the hormone; therefore, if one chooses hair transplantation, hair is normally grafted from these areas and transplanted to the areas where hair loss has occurred. Once transplanted, the hair in these areas will remain as it is resistant to the DHT hormone.

Permanent Results

Besides MPB, hair loss can be attributed to disease, such as diabetes, any trauma or stress, certain medicines as well as hormonal changes. There are a number of topical treatments and shampoos that block DHT in the case of male pattern baldness. Two treatments, minoxidil and finasteride, have FDA approval. These products are effective in stopping the progression of MPB; however, for permanent, long-lasting results, hair transplantation is still the best option for individuals who still have a good amount of hair growth at the back of the head.

Opting for Surgery

Although, as stated, there are several topical treatments available, if you have enough growth at the back of your head to substantiate a transplant, this is a preferable option to consider. The best way to find out if hair replacement surgery is right for you is to set up a consultation. Still, it’s helpful to be armed with a bit of knowledge about the process before you take such a step.

The Transplant Procedure

Since patients are given a local anesthetic and typically a medicine to relieve any anxiety, the experience can be facilitated without any type of undue discomfort. No hospital admittance is involved because most of these procedures only require an office visit to the center where hair transplants are performed. Most of the sessions take only a couple hours.

Post Surgical Care

After a hair transplant, you will probably experience some swelling although it’s hardly noticeable. Generally, you can shampoo about 24 hours after undergoing a transplant operation. Sutures for the transplant can be removed by your doctor in about two weeks’ time.

What to Expect

After a transplant, you can return to normal activities although you should not pursue any type of activity, such as any intense exercise, that may harm the grafts. During the next couple weeks, the new hairs will grow rather speedily. Thereafter, the new follicles will become dormant for up to six months. This is known as the “shedding” phase after which time the “new” hair will resume growing. You can see results generally after about a half year from the date of the procedure. After a year, the area of the transplant will have realized almost 100% of its overall growth.

Hair Replacement without Surgery

If you’re not the right candidate for a transplant, then there are a number of non surgical hair replacement options you can consider. Many of these of these methods involve attaching a hair piece made of natural or synthetic hair to the hair already in place or using adhesive to affix the hair piece to the scalp. Whichever hair replacement system you choose, you must feel comfortable with the method and the cost for hair replacement.

Stay within your Budget

Survey your options online. There are several hair loss treatment centers that can offer you the type of hair replacement system that will accommodate your lifestyle at a hair replacement cost that will fit into your budgetary plans.