Should you Get a Hair Transplant?
Is a hair transplant an option for you? Hair transplants are a viable hair loss treatment for many people, and they have a high success rate, but some candidates are better suited for surgical hair restoration than others. You won’t know for sure what hair loss treatment is for you unless you have a consultation with a doctor but here’s some guidelines to help you decide whether a hair transplant could be an option.
Type of hair loss
Some types of hair loss can be temporary. For example, postpartum hair loss and hair loss as a result of stress. These hair loss situations will often solve themselves over time so don’t require treatment. Androgenetic hair loss (male or female pattern baldness) is the ideal and most common type of hair loss treated by a hair transplant. This is a condition caused by hormones and genetics, but it only tends to affect part of the scalp. Providing the rest of the head has a healthy donor supply this condition can be treated successfully with a hair transplant. Hair transplants can also be positive options for people who have lost hair due to burns or scalp injuries. If you have widespread hair loss from conditions such as advanced forms of alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, other hair loss treatments may be more appropriate. The type of hair loss will be assessed on an individual basis when you have your consultation.
Quality of hair supply
Hair transplants work by taking hair from a good supply elsewhere on the scalp to cover the thinning region. You need to have a good healthy donor supply to qualify for a hair transplant.
Age of candidate
Age isn’t much of a preventing factor if you wished to have a hair transplant but if you are younger than 25 your hair line hasn’t settled yet. In your late teens and twenties people can experience premature hair loss and until things settle down as your grow you won’t know how your hairline will develop. You can have hair transplants when you are younger, but you may require further treatments later down the line. This is something you should bear in mind.
Health of candidate
Hair transplants involve surgery so the better your immune system the more chance of a quick recovery you have. Being healthy will also help prevent against infections. Your health is unlikely to affect your chances of getting a hair transplant in the same way your age wouldn’t really affect you, but you should always inform your surgeon of any conditions you have or medication you take before the procedure.
Type of hair
Your hair characteristics can all play a part in the success of your hair transplant. Thicker hair will help cover bald spots, blonde hair and light skin colour as an example will blend with the light to reduce the appearance of baldness and wavy hair is also good at providing more scalp coverage. Curly hair can cause problems for some types of hair transplants as it can be difficult to trace the hair follicle.
Remember that these are guidelines and hair loss treatments very much depend on an individual consultation. Consultations are free at Hillside in Nottingham but we also have other clinics in various locations around the UK. So if you want further advice about your options, get in touch.
Pros and Cons of Hair Transplants
There are many advantages to having a hair transplant including:
- Improved appearance. The aesthetic change is the main reason so many people opt for a hair transplant. It is a promising option for those with thinning areas, bald spots and receding hairlines. A full head of hair can make you look more youthful.
- Improved self-esteem. Hair loss can cause insecurities, but hair restoration can help rebuild your confidence.
- Hair transplants help create a natural head of hair. It is an art to be able to take the grafts from the right place and carefully construct them to achieve the desired effect.
- Great success rate with long lasting results. Hair transplants are more effective than medications and other hair loss treatments.
- The procedure and the recovery process is relatively simple and straightforward.
While not so much disadvantages, there are a few considerations that people should think about:
- The procedure can be quite costly, and you may want or need more than one surgery in your lifetime.
- There can be scarring although if you choose a good surgeon, they will perform a procedure that minimises the appearance of scars.
- Infection can occur as with any surgical procedure, but it is highly unlikely and aftercare procedures are designed to protect the patient.
- There may be more appropriate options for some types of hair loss.
Do Hair Transplants Work?
Hair transplants are a successful hair loss treatment, with a success rate of up to 80%. However, whether they work for you will depend on the various factors described briefly above. Ensuring your hair loss is compatible with a hair transplant and making sure you have a health donor supply will give you the best chances of your desired look.
Hair transplants will last a considerable period, but it is also important to note that the majority of people who have the surgical procedure will have more than one transplant in their lifetime. This is because as you age the transplanted hair along with your normal hair will thin.
Alternatives to Hair Transplants
Hair transplants are a surgical option to combat hair loss but there are many non-surgical treatments to consider. Medications, ointments and shampoos are designed to help with hair restoration but there’s also the simpler option of wigs. New technological advancements also mean there are now different kinds of procedures available such as PRP, microneedling and laser therapy – all of which are designed to stimulate the hair follicles and generate new collagen for regrowth.
